Uow Outlook Magazine Issue 1 University of Wollongong 2013/2014 Annual Alumni Magazine

ISSN 2203-1375 UOW OUTLOOK MAGAZINE ISSUE 1 UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG 2013/2014 ANNUAL ALUMNI MAGAZINE

Inside

SAFETY Why is a mining company CEO so committed to safety? PRIVATE OR PUBLIC? Privacy in the digital age LEADERSHIP Inspiring female leaders HUMANITY Lawlessness and how humans exist when boundaries don’t MEDIA EVOLUTION The changing face of media SUSTAINABLE LIVING Retrofitted home an international winner UOW Outlook Magazine ISSUE 1: 2013/2014 UOW Outlook Magazine is the University of Wollongong’s annual alumni magazine. It is produced by the Alumni Relations The act of looking out Team within the UOW Office of Advancement.

Connect with us +61 2 4221 3169 [email protected] uow.edu.au/alumni facebook.com/uowalumni t has been over 10 years since UOW linkedin.com [search UOW Alumni Group] produced a dedicated alumni magazine. In Iplanning its relaunch, we waded through Content ideas, submissions, feedback the archives of back issues of Wollongong [email protected] Outlook, The Outlook and Outlook dating back to 1990. They all told a story of a regional Subscription preferences university that had a strong sense of identity uow.edu.au/alumni/preferences and the courage to express its point of view, +61 2 4221 3169 to stake a position in the world of education The UOW Outlook Magazine team regardless of being a relative newcomer in a landscape of history and sandstone. Editor in Chief: Monique Harper-Richardson Director of Advancement In refreshing this publication, we not only held President, University of Wollongong USA onto the title, but also the magazine’s essence Foundation of providing an outlook: of melding the B Comm Econ, M Strat Mktg outward views of our alumni, academics and Managing Editor: Leanne Newsham leaders to stimulate discourse and debate. Alumni Relations Manager BA Communications UOW Outlook Magazine showcases the alumni Editor: Evette Deaves community, with its rich and diverse pool Senior Alumni Communications Coordinator of talent, expertise and voices. In our first BA Communications issue, we interviewed Mark Cutifani, CEO of Editorial Committee the world’s fourth largest mining company Cathy Cameron, Evette Deaves, Nick Hartgerink, Anglo American and unveiled a man with an Monique Harper-Richardson, Leanne Newsham unwavering commitment to safety. We gave Contributors Walkley Award winning journalist Alexandra Jenna Bradwell, Jack Breen, Shawn Burns, Fisher the freedom to express her inquisitive Melissa Coade, Evette Deaves, Alexandra Fisher, mind in a confronting and firsthand account Nick Hartgerink, Monique Harper-Richardson, of a world where borders and people collide. Leanne Newsham, Elise Pitt, Vicky Wallace, Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE We addressed the issue of privacy in a public world and spoke with a selection of inspiring Alumni Research: Samantha Nguyen Alumni Research Coordinator women about their take on leadership. B Psych Within the pages of UOW Outlook Magazine, Design: Anthony Petre we aim to be fearless in discussing the big Design & Creative Services Coordinator issues, humble in celebrating the wins and B Creative Arts (Graphic Design), M Strat Mktg inspirational in shaping your own outlook. Illustration: Claire Foxton Graphic Designer We hope you find that this magazine inspires B Creative Arts (Graphic Design) in you a feeling of connectedness with your Photography UOW alumni community, and a sense of Mark Newsham, Bernard Richardson Wollongong pride. Print and Distribution The UOW Outlook Magazine team UOW Print & Distribution Services

Copyright © 2013 University of Wollongong. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the University. The University of Wollongong attempts to ensure the information contained in this publication is correct at the time of production (December 2013); however, sections may be amended without notice by the University in response to changing circumstances or for any other reason. CRICOS Provider No: 00102E. In this issue

Global mining company CEO’s 2 unwavering commitment to safety A conversation with Mark Cutifani, UOW mining engineering graduate and Anglo American CEO. The question of privacy in our 6 endless pursuit of visibility The voices of UOW researchers and alumni weigh in on privacy in the digital age. Women’s business

10 From board members and engineers to academics, directors and champions of the arts, UOW’s inspirational female leaders and alumni span backgrounds, professions and the globe. UOW OUTLOOKUOW Humans without boundaries 1 17 Few places on earth evoke a sense of lawlessness like eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, but for all its unruliness it offers a telling look at how humans exist when boundaries don’t.

The changing face of media 24 We talked to five UOW graduates who have all forged successful careers in the media in Australia and across the globe, for their perspectives on the changing face of media.

Students who shine 32 Team UOW were the first Australian team to gain entry into the Solar Decathlon, and took a unique approach by being the first to enter an existing retrofitted home.

14 Vice-Chancellor: Join us on an exciting journey 20 A conversation with Emilio Robles 23 Alumni helping Australia’s next generation of leaders UOW Outlook Magazine 29 Opinion: who said that journalism can’t change? For digital versions, visit: 30 Building better lives for people with dementia uow.edu.au/alumni/outlook 34 In the spotlight with Dr Weihua Sun 35 Connecting alumni 39 The year at UOW

UOW OUTLOOKUOW 2 Global mining company CEO’s unwavering commitment to safety

Mark Cutifani, UOW mining engineering graduate and Anglo American CEO, talks to Nick Hartgerink.

UOW OUTLOOKUOW 3

ark, you are now some months and operational dynamics of a mine; AngloGold Ashanti, you are credited into your role as CEO of global appreciating the processes and systems with making a dramatic improvement Mmining giant Anglo American. and how to improve them; and most to the company’s safety record, with How important is it for you to have importantly, adding value to the safety fatalities dropping by 70% in the first a mining engineering background in processes. For me, mining engineering two and a half years and continuing running one of the world’s top five was an introduction to the opportunity to improve after that. What drives mining companies? of solving mining problems, each and your special passion for mine safety? every day, to unlock the potential of I was delighted to accept the position A dear colleague and mentor of mine, every operation. I was also lucky enough of Chief Executive of Anglo American in Stanley, lost his life in a fall of ground to start my career at Coalcliff Colliery, January 2013. I started the role in April incident in the early years of my career. where I worked while completing my and for the last seven months I have I will never forget that feeling of loss, studies. There, I learned the value of spent a lot of time on the road, getting which has had an irrevocable effect on hard work, productivity and camaraderie to know the people and the operations. me and ultimately how I would approach as well as the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the I appreciate even more now the great mine safety for the rest of my career. operations. I must admit that I was never potential of the organisation – the high the most productive of miners in my Safety is, put simply, the most quality of our assets; our commodity and early years, but I certainly learned a lot important aspect of mining. The geographic diversification; our expertise from the older guys that would put me processes, and the compliance and in exploration; and most importantly the in good stead. adherence to those, supports a safe high calibre of our people. operation but we have to think beyond Mining has traditionally been a My background in mining engineering that. We must strip all of the parts dangerous industry, especially has been fundamental, not only to my down to the value of human life – we in what could be described as current role but throughout the past have an obligation to preserve that. developing countries. You are widely 36 years. In fact, my whole career acknowledged as an industry leader There is no excuse for anything less than has been about building on the strong who champions worker safety. an absolute, unwavering commitment to foundation that mining engineering gave In your previous role as CEO of keeping our people safe and healthy at me: understanding in detail the technical all times. It’s simply non-negotiable. What kinds of initiatives did you put better. Continuous improvement in place at AngloGold to achieve such requires commitment from top to improvements? bottom, leadership, discipline, speaking up and listening to colleagues. We started with a conversation around relationships and why it was so Mining has helped Australia important for us to take the time to get weather the global financial crisis to know and understand our people. better than most economies, yet Building an understanding of who we mining is often a divisive element in are working with – to build a sense of the Australian political/community our own humanity is the first step in landscape – particularly with making a fundamental change to the issues such as coal seam gas and way in which we lead conversations the preservation of agricultural in the workplace. From this we build a lands from opencut mining? How sense of what is possible, that every do you think the industry is viewed accident is preventable. In tandem with in Australia and do you think the the focus on leadership we started to industry needs to do more? build a different operating model that Australia, like most other mining focused on planning our work for safe countries, is adjusting to this relatively outcomes. In short, we focused on short term slowdown in demand for leadership, in a very personal way, and commodities coupled with added we complemented that leadership with pressure on prices. At the same time, a sharp focus on managing risks and our shareholders are expecting us to

behaviours in the workplace. generate greater returns and focus on What steps have you taken at productivity and managing costs to Anglo American regarding improve margins while repairing balance workplace safety? sheets. It’s not a straightforward path UOW OUTLOOKUOW for the industry. With that, Australia still 4 Anglo American’s safety record has a strong position to take advantage improved significantly under the of China’s ongoing development, but we leadership of Cynthia Carroll and I am are in an increasingly crowded space. proud to be leading an organisation Competition for market share from where the cultural values support countries such as Colombia, South safe mining. My focus is to continue Mark Cutifani (centre) at Los Bronces Africa and Indonesia is increasing. the journey of ‘Zero Harm’ that is, copper operation in Chile, June 2013. And now the US and Canada, which zero injuries and zero deaths. As an Photo: Laura Dunne via Francisco Ibanez were formerly high cost producers organisation, we have made great compared to Australia, have emerged as strides towards our ultimate goal, but aggressive cost competitors. there is more work to be done and it’s my role to keep the team focused and Australian mining productivity and costs maintain the great momentum. Our really have borne the brunt of regressive focus this year has been on ‘planned industrial and tax policies over recent work’ – planning and preparation. More years, while other countries have been rigorous planning reduces the amount applying technologies and cooperative of unplanned work, which tends to industrial policy structures to rebuild be where safety risks are at their their competitive positions. greatest. So, planning prevents people I am well known for being frank, but from getting hurt and it saves lives. I do like to think that my comments Our Global Safety Day on 4 November are constructive so I will say this: if 2012 was focused on how to shape Australia doesn’t get back to building the best, safest plans and how to hold a competitive industry, we risk falling everybody accountable for these. Our behind other countries. I welcome the Global Safety Day is an opportunity early suggestions and signals by the to learn from each other about what new government and I hope that we see works and what doesn’t through open genuine progress as we tackle the many conversations about how to do things challenges ahead. What are the main challenges There is no substitute for hard work. grips with the big picture; in my opinion facing the mining industry in I learned that very early on in my life it is just as important (if not more so) Australia and globally? and it served me extremely well as than the technical and operational I progressed through university and aspects of mining. There’s no doubt that slowing my shift-work at Coalcliff Colliery, to growth in China and the continued Put yourself in the shoes of your leading Anglo American. Nothing is uncertainty in Europe and the US employees, local community, more important than compassion – to has created a challenging macro- government, supplier, customer, understand different stakeholders’ and environment for mining, which is competitor, investor, and so on and try to colleagues’ perspectives and trying to testing us all – in all countries. imagine where the common ground lies find common ground will give you great As prices for commodities have and how you can build a constructive insight and advantage. I have spent many dropped across the board, the costs relationship with them. Finding shared years lobbying for of production have continued to value in mining for mining and helping increase. What we need to remember, all stakeholders will our industry stand up however, is that mining is a long‑term “Finding shared drive the success of for itself and to feel industry and we need to put the our industry and you proud of the critical value in mining for immediate pressures we face into will be in a strong, role it plays in all of context. While the short term will be all stakeholders competitive position our day-to-day lives tough, the industry fundamentals for to create real value. and our futures. will drive the the medium and long-term outlook Many of our are strong. The world is short in I also learned early success of our challenges as an commodities. on in my career that industry and you industry are the safety is the most In China and other emerging economies, will be in a strong, result of our poor

important part of further urbanisation and industrialisation relationships with mining and it should will create significant demand for competitive stakeholders and be at the heart of the commodities we produce and the this, from my every decision. It position to create emergence of the expanding middle perspective, is due to

became clear to OUTLOOKUOW class will support the consumption for real value.” poor communication me some time ago 5 the later cycle products: platinum and and in many cases that true, wholesale diamonds and have a positive benefit total silence. We innovation in mining on the phosphates industry as greater have to accept that is lacking. We must, numbers of people need feeding. we all have a role in as an industry, look Coupled with a strong demand outlook telling our story and forward to reap some of the lessons in the long term, we expect supply we must be proud to be an ambassador from our more progressive sector constraints to drive a recovery in price for modern mining and the positive peers, like the aerospace industry, performance. benefits it creates for communities. for example. This brings me on to Mining is one of the most important my final point which is the value of Finally, we must all remember we are industrial activities on earth and drives a collaboration and team work, within only as good as our last decision or role large proportion of the world’s economic your own company and sector but also that we undertake. Never get too far activity – it is part of everything we touch outside of it and between public and ahead of yourself. If you do a good job and do. I believe that one of the critical private organisations and groups who today, tomorrow will look after itself. challenges we face to help our industry may seem at the peripheries. We can all I believe you still have family in prosper in the future is to be bolder learn from each other and improve the Wollongong. Do you get the chance to about what we do and how critical we way we operate and the positive impact come home very often? are to the lives of seven billion people we have on our communities. with whom we share this planet. I am a Wollongong boy and there is What advice do you have for young certainly no keeping me away. I visit my You have come a long way from your mining engineering graduates as they hometown as much as I possibly can to days as a coal miner at Coalcliff begin their careers? spend time with my friends, my family, Colliery, studying mining engineering My advice to graduates is to look enjoy a break from the English weather, at UOW. What were the key lessons forward and try to visualise where our and catch up on my local sporting you learned in those early days that industry will be in 20 years. Now, work teams’ results. I love Australia and all it he set you on such a successful backwards and concentrate on what has to offer. career path? needs to change in order to get there. I would advise graduates to really get to The question of privacy in our endless pursuit of visibility

The voices of UOW researchers and alumni weigh in on privacy in the digital age. By Melissa Coade

y latest personal splurge was an activities are constantly being imported, digest-sized magazine documented. Life is no longer fleeting.

UOW OUTLOOKUOW Mfrom England. Hot off the press It is archived, can be retrieved and will 6 and airfreighted direct to my hot little eventually be accessed by someone, hands, it featured the usual trending somewhere, one day for any number fashions, relationship ‘do’s and don’ts’ of reasons. I am aware of this, as are and sumptuous images of beautiful my tech-savvy contemporaries. Our women wearing expensive shoes. This sacrifice for being constantly connected, monthly femme bible, along with others entertained and empowered by online like it, is aimed squarely at the modern information is agreeing to a digital “Our sacrifice for woman. ‘Should you respond to Twitter legacy, which means that our past trolls?’ one double spread queried. ‘Stop indiscretions and the future risk to which being constantly Googling your dates!’ advised another. we are subscribing become permanent connected is that our Even the centre-feature was dedicated fixtures of our identity. to a writer on assignment, chronicling past indiscretions her one week experience dressed up as Our ideas on privacy become permanent different cult fashion-bloggers. According to UOW privacy law academic fixtures of our identity.” These days, you cannot resonate with Yvonne Apolo, ever since the emergence your readers unless the issues being of the computer, privacy-invasive aired are contextualised by their online developments in technology and the world. Ever more, my generation and subsequent transition to electronic those to follow engage with others and personal records, the world has paid understand life and the world through more attention to the issue of privacy an electronic filter. We share, like and and its legal protection. push information through our different “Deeper conceptual issues of privacy channels. We create, publish and curate remain uncharted in debates, and are things that we care about and can relate thus the focus of my research. Whilst to, implicitly and explicitly leaving digital the attempt of much privacy law footprints as we go. literature is to inquire into the ways in The upshot of our electronic which the law should evolve to meet engagement is that our day‑to‑day contemporary privacy concerns, seldom does it address the manner online engagement, the pool of select in which contemporary technologies others we choose to share ‘private’ and practices are challenging information with is ever-expanding,” existing conceptualisations of privacy she explains. and existing understandings of what “A yearning for visibility and associated it means to be human subjects,” social acceptance means that Apolo says. contemporary subjects are often She says that our way of thinking has complicit in the demise of their own changed, not necessarily about what is privacy. I argue that this ‘pathology’ is or is not private, but in the way that we what characterises the current crisis of now perceive those intimate circles privy privacy in Australian law – it is certainly to the details of our personal lives. a complex issue.” “Our way of thinking “Privacy, I argue, is ultimately relational The real world implications in nature. A cocktail of a growing culture has changed, not of confession and self-disclosure, Indeed the complex relationship adoration of celebrity and an endless between privacy and technology necessarily about what pursuit of visibility, muddled with rapid can often transcend all theoretical is or is not private, technological advancement and online discussion with alarming consequences. social platforms at our fingertips, means Carl Minette has been working as a but in the way that we that much ‘private information’ now Criminal Law Solicitor for Legal Aid New now perceive those invades the public arena,” she says. South Wales for 15 years. In this time he has seen an upsurge in the abuse intimate circles privy “It has always been the case that of technology and online platforms to information of a private nature is that to the details of our facilitate criminal conduct. which a person chooses to disclose to

personal lives.” select groups of intimate others. With “There simply wasn’t the capacity to do the advent of pervasive technologies what people can do to each other today,” that allow and encourage increasing Minette says. UOW OUTLOOKUOW 7 “Some years ago, you could threaten allows us to do it more quickly and often CBD office blocks, as more people someone over the telephone – if you had from a ‘safe’ distance.” work from home and become micro- one at home or if you could be bothered entrepreneurs.” Minette does not have a Facebook walking down to the phone box to call account – he doesn’t feel the need to – “A downside to this change is the scope someone. You could also send someone and although he has a Twitter account, for greater corporate and government a nasty letter by snail mail – if you he has never tweeted. awareness – and possibly monitoring – could be bothered buying a stamp and of our personal lives. This collection posting it. People are shocked when they “It’s a personal choice. I tend to be a of more and more data will make both discover the maximum penalty for this private person,” he says. corporate and individual decision-making type of offence can be imprisonment for “I am not a technophobe; I have an iPad more difficult and possibly irrational, up to 10 years.” and I always have the latest iPhone, both at least in the short term. I believe According to Minette, threatening or full to capacity with useful and useless that more and more innovation in the harassing others via texting and social Apps,” he adds. consumer sector will lead to an increase networking platforms are in self-gratification and a reduced the most prevalent and basic interest in others.” criminal offences that come “Throughout history, humans Vohradsky speaks from a before the Courts. have always found new ways background of operating and “Technological advances to harm each other regardless improving IT governance, security have also led to an increase in framework and management offences such as ‘sexting’, or of, and sometimes because systems. To his mind, the brave taking and sending intimate of, advances in technology.” new technological world that photographs of each other (or we face poses significant risks,

ex-partners) by SMS,” he says. not just to the individual but also companies. “What may seem like harmless fun can have “Around 90% of advanced cyber- potentially life-changing attacks are attributed to a

UOW OUTLOOKUOW David Vohradsky relies on one device ramifications, particularly if the person certain foreign government phishing, 8 to telephone, diarise, email, catch in the image is less than 18 years of age. deploying malware and then hacking the news, record audio and check his The person who takes and/or transmits for classified government information, train timetable. The independent IT that image may find themselves insider information or trade secrets from consultant believes that the impact facing the Courts and lengthy gaol foreign companies in their region,” he of our more connected lifestyles is an sentences for procuring and dealing in says. opportunity to focus on ethical questions child pornography. They can also find and determine the kind of global culture “Take for example the 2004 ‘Titan Rain’ themselves on a sex-offender’s register, we all want. attack on NASA, Lockheed Martin and which limits their ability to work in some its Sandia Energy Research Lab, as well areas. This is concerning when you take “Predictions are that the impact of as the Redstone Arsenal (a US military into account the number of young people disruptive technology will not only command centre). with access to mobile phones.” continue but will accelerate, particularly in media and entertainment, banking and “Most attacks originate in the US or “Throughout history, humans have telecommunications,” Vohradsky says. Eastern European countries such as always found new ways to harm each Romania, Bulgaria and the Russian other regardless of, and sometimes “The upside is that there will be greater Federation. These attackers have now because of, advances in technology. opportunities for self-realisation as established sophisticated online markets Unfortunately I can’t see that changing location constraints disappear. I believe to buy and sell attacking tools as well as anytime soon. Today’s technology just there will be a greater focus in the the stolen data and their normal staple future on neighbourhoods rather than

Yvonne Apolo Carl Minette

Yvonne is a Sessional Lecturer within the UOW School of Law. For 15 years Carl has represented socially and financially She is currently completing her PhD in the field of privacy law, with disadvantaged people working as a Criminal Law Solicitor with Legal an emphasis on examining how evolving models of subjectivity Aid New South Wales. and shifting conceptualisations of privacy are impacting upon He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice the protection of individual privacy under Australian law. In 2011 (1997) from UOW. Yvonne graduated with a Double Degree in Law (Honors 1) and Arts with Distinction (Psychology major) from UOW. “...[attackers] have even established identity-theft-as-a- service models for those wishing to enter this criminal arena at low cost.”

of drugs and weapons. They have even misinformation; and ‘The Internet of the terms of this social contract we are established identity-theft-as-a-service Things’. Privacy breaches are emerging entering into are. One thing to be certain models for those wishing to enter this as the most talked about IT risk – of is that we are in the thick of it. criminal arena at low cost.” especially as the regulatory environment In Apolo’s words, “it is first necessary increases, and the extent of use of But, he warns, the enemy can also for there to be in place legal avenues private or semi-private information and originate closer to home, with most of redress for serious invasions of the breach of that trust becomes more executives of the belief that current privacy that are fostered by such

well-known. Digital misinformation is an OUTLOOKUOW or former employees are the greatest ‘connectedness’ and secondly, this law emerging risk with ‘Big Data’ and is the 9 source of potential risk an organisation of privacy should be premised upon a risk of compromise of the integrity of faces – while employed staff may deep, and well-theorised, understanding analytics or confidentiality arising from bypass security, hide their identity or use of the meaning and value of privacy, the use of analytics. A classic example other’s identity, causing data leakage. and our contemporary relationship is the story last year of a pregnant with it in the digital era. At present, the “Immature user access revalidation teenager’s parents seeing her emails law in Australia fails to satisfy these or employee termination processes from Target in the US with coupons necessities. Technological advancement often leave unsecured or even shared for baby clothes and furniture. These in general is a marvellous thing and is identities to be exploited by others in the were sent based on the history of her the only way forward.” organisation or external attackers that preparatory purchases and prior to may discover them,” Vohradsky says. anyone being told about the pregnancy.”

“Often human error is the cause The technological highway: of disclosure of personal or other Editor: At the time of publication, the sensitive data held in email address where we are headed Australian Law Reform Commission lists, spreadsheets, or portable devices The subject of privacy as personal or announced that it is conducting an inquiry and equipment.” corporate information cast out into the into protection of privacy in the digital era. “Two of the greatest IT risks also cyber world is so multifaceted. To some facing companies are privacy/digital extent, few of us are aware exactly what

David Vohradsky Melissa Coade David graduated from UOW in 1983 with a Bachelor of Mathematics Bachelor of Journalism/Laws 2012 majoring in Computer Science. He has gone on to gain an MBA as well Melissa was employed as a Media Officer by the UOW Media Unit in as ISACA’s Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) the final two years of her studies. Since graduating, she has spent and Certified in Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) certifications. He time serving as Media Officer for the Intelligent Polymer Research is an independent executive consultant, having worked across most Institute based at UOW’s Innovation Campus and has since settled into a fields in the information and technology industry around the world. Promotions Assistant role with UOW’s Research and Innovation Division.

UOW OUTLOOKUOW 10

UOW Chancellor Ms Jillian Broadbent, AO in Dubai to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of UOWD, and the October 2013 Graduation Ceremony. Women’s business

From board members and engineers to academics, directors and champions of the arts, UOW’s inspirational female leaders and alumni span backgrounds, professions and the globe.

Four of the University’s inspiring leaders share their career journeys, challenges and advice with Jenna Bradwell.

Jillian Broadbent, AO Broadbent is a former member of vulnerable and take things more OUTLOOKUOW the Board of the Reserve Bank of personally than men. 11 Chancellor, UOW Australia, Chair of the Clean Energy “If someone says you’ve done a bad job, Finance Corporation and a Director you need to realise it’s not personal and of Woolworths Limited. She left her you’re not a bad person or completely senior executive position at Bankers hen Jillian Broadbent considered hopeless,” she says. “It’s an opportunity Trust Australia to become a further study during a career to learn from your mistakes and improve non-executive director and has also Wbreak, her father warned her not for next time.” to educate herself ‘out of the marriage served on the Boards of Coca-Cola market’. Shortly after, when she decided Amatil Limited, ASX Limited, Special She says she enjoys seeing other women instead to teach English to Spanish- Broadcasting Service (SBS), Woodside succeed and is inspired by females speaking boys at a South American Petroleum Ltd and Qantas Airways across all industries and sectors. Ltd and as Chair of the National Catholic school, he asked how her “I love the camaraderie that women have Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). adventure fitted into her career plan. with one another at work. I was always “The good thing about mixed messages She says good leaders are democratic, being encouraged to ‘throw my hat in the like those from someone who loves you self-aware, courageous and resilient, ring’ and give challenges a shot by other is that they encourage you to work out masters of the ‘art of recovery’. women,” she says. for yourself what you want to do in life,” “Work should be enjoyed and it’s up Broadbent says she is inspired by UOW’s Jillian Broadbent AO says. to leaders to make the workplace as many successful alumni and enjoys For UOW’s third Chancellor, teaching in constructive and enjoyable as it can being a part of the University’s vibrant, South America shattered preconceived be,” she says. “It’s a real compliment engaging culture. whenever I see successful people with ideas that those good with numbers are “UOW is a wonderful institution,” she whom I have worked and they say I not so good at languages. says. “It’s young enough not to have helped to develop their skills or guide baggage or be caught up in conservatism “When I started, my Spanish was only their careers.” passable,” she says, “but I picked it up and has a great attitude to gender and learnt that ‘rules’ about which areas Broadbent notes the importance of balance. It’s fresh, energetic and open to people are suited to don’t really exist.” having a ‘Teflon coating’ in business, talent in any form. It’s a very refreshing adding that women can often be more environment to be a part of.” For Dr Davidson, being an effective leader is all about being supportive of others and enabling them to succeed.

“Everybody has potential. Put people in the right environment to make a contribution and they will grow and thrive,” she says. “I hope [as Dean] to be courageous and fearless in order to advocate for patients and their families and nursing as a profession.”

Dr Davidson, who is Counsel General of the International Council on Dr Patricia Davidson Women’s Health Issues, notes the Dr Diann Rodgers-Healey importance of being resilient and Dean, School of Nursing, Johns prioritising responsibilities in order to Executive Director, Australian Hopkins University - USA achieve success. Centre for Leadership BA (Education) 1985 “You need to keep your eye on the prize for Women - AUS MEd 1993 and not get distracted by things that Grad Cert in Business Coaching 2011 don’t really matter. It’s about focusing on Doctor of Philosophy 2009

the end game,” she says.

r Patricia Davidson’s nursing “A lot of women have incredible training at Wollongong Hospital expectations of themselves. What I’ve rowing up in India, Dr Diann Rodgers- and UOW highlighted the powerful learnt is that you can have it all – but Healey saw the impacts of gender UOW OUTLOOKUOW D 12 role of community engagement in not all at the one time. Life is a journey Ginequality firsthand. However, it helping institutions to make the world and there are opportunities at all ages wasn’t until she undertook her PhD in a better place. for growth and development. Don’t put women and leadership at UOW that she came to appreciate the historical bias As Dean of Johns pressure on yourself that underpinned the challenges faced Hopkins University’s to do it all at once.” “What I’ve learnt is by women in the workplace, resulting (JHU) School Dr Davidson says in a thesis that led to the development of Nursing in that you can have it has always been of a co-existential leadership model for Baltimore USA, Dr her career dream it all – but not all women and men. Davidson is focused to work within a on embracing at the one time.” research-intensive “I interviewed many female leaders, the University’s environment in the absorbing their frustrations about work community US and that, as flexibility, leadership barriers and pay responsibility and Dean, she hopes inequity,” says Dr Rodgers-Healey. promoting its ethos to encourage “Out of this grew an understanding of ‘excellence without interdisciplinary that the inequality women experienced elitism’. projects and advance JHU’s mission of was systemic and the momentum to value and advance women has lagged Dr Davidson, an international leader research, teaching and service. for decades. I saw the need to venture in cardiac health for women and “I want to see nursing continue to outside the existing paradigm to develop Indigenous Australians, spent 23 develop and grow within the workforce. a model of co-existence for women years as a frontline clinician and I also hope to leverage the School’s and men.” nurse manager and has held several position as the number one nursing research and teaching positions. school in the US to advance not only After several management roles in She began her role as Dean of JHU’s healthcare in the Baltimore area, but to Sydney and London, she founded the School of Nursing, one of the most prepare leaders to go forth and support Australian Centre for Leadership prominent and respected in the US, in the future,” she says. for Women (ACLW) in 2000. September this year. Through the virtual Centre (www. leadershipforwomen.com.au), she has published research reports on gender “I used to think being a good leader was and leadership, contributed to federal all about being organised and efficient,” policy development, interviewed over she explains. “But I’ve learnt that to be a 150 male and female national and good leader you need to leave your ego international leaders and established at the door, which is not always easy, national leadership awards recognising and find a balance between sensitivity organisational and community initiatives and motivation in order to get the best to advance women. out of people.

An Adjunct Professor in the Cairns “It’s important to have integrity. Institute of James Cook University Whatever energy you give off at work and an Honorary Fellow of UOW’s affects your team. If you approach Australian Institute for Business people and problems positively, that’s Wellbeing, Dr Rodgers-Healey says Tanya De Hoog generally what you’ll get back,” she says. that, as a free resource, ACLW “If the recession has taught me anything has become an open forum of Director, Thornton Tomasetti - UK it’s that leadership is not about what you empowerment, learning and leadership do when times are good, it’s about how where women can seek advice as well Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) 1997 you tackle challenges and dust yourself as share their views and insights. off when things are tough.

“It’s a privilege to be in a position “Leaders in the industry generally are anya De Hoog’s role as Director and of leadership and I feel it’s my where they are because they’re hard Principal Engineer at global firm responsibility now to give back to workers and the best people for the Thornton Tomasetti has seen her others,” she says. “I love mentoring and T job. I believe gender balance as part of work on projects all over the world with working as a business coach as there a necessary diversity in the workplace passionate, interesting people from

are no scripts. Enabling pathways in enhances the work environment and OUTLOOKUOW diverse backgrounds and cultures. organisations and changing mindsets creates opportunities to tackle projects 13 to value women through strategic A scholarship gave De Hoog the as a team with insights from many facilitation is a great way to give back.” opportunity to start the journey on different perspectives. her engineering career by studying Dr Rodgers-Healey says being an “If I were to a Bachelor of effective leader requires belief in oneself give advice to Engineering at UOW. and a strong moral compass. “... I’ve learnt that to younger people De Hoog says on leadership, it “If you believe in what you represent or her scholarships be a good leader you is to be flexible. what you’re offering, people will come instilled in her a While it’s onboard and collaborate,” she says. need to leave your responsibility to important to know “Leadership is not about standing up and make a contribution ego at the door...” what you want, dishing it out to others. You need to do to the industry opportunities the hard work in order to have substance through teaching and come along that behind your vision and you need to let mentoring as well as will lead to all go of your own ego to understand that providing motivation sorts of exciting everyone is part of an evolution of ideas. to become an possibilities Each person brings something valuable effective leader. that you may never have thought of. and special.” Be flexible enough to embrace these For Tanya, creating a positive, supportive opportunities and work hard to create work environment is an important factor your own,” she says. in achieving results.

Jenna Bradwell Bachelor of Journalism / Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies 2012 Jenna is a journalist, blogger and freelance writer. During her studies she completed internships at The Illawarra Mercury and Rolling Stone Magazine. She has previously held a Media Officer position with UOW’s Media Unit. Join us on an exciting journey

By Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE

any of the University of A UOW study released earlier this year This year as part of our 2013-2018

UOW OUTLOOKUOW Wollongong’s 110,000 alumni shows that the University generates Strategic Plan we have completed the 14 Mwould have trouble finding their $2 billion annually in economic activity, restructure of our Faculties, to refocus way around the campus were they to with most occurring in Wollongong and and reinvigorate our academic profile to return today to the place where they the Illawarra region. The study, UOW: meet new challenges and demands in studied 10, 20 or maybe 30 or more Leading Locally, Competing Globally, by the higher education sector. years ago. UOW’s Centre for Small Business and And so much has changed in the Regional Research, showed that Of course that is exactly as it should scientific and engineering fields in recent UOW-related expenditure is responsible be in a dynamic institution that is decades. For example IT, biotechnology for more than 4,900 jobs in the region. constantly evolving. and materials engineering – three fields in which UOW excels – have all New buildings have sprung up across taken off massively. Likewise public the campus – the Medical School, health, another field in which UOW is an the Illawarra Health and Medical “The University acknowledged leader, is changing rapidly Research Institute, the SMART generates $2 through developments in social media Infrastructure Facility, to name some and marketing. of the more recent additions, while billion annually in the $44 million Early Start Facility is economic activity.” Universities like Wollongong are at the under construction on the western forefront of this new knowledge, which side of the campus. is interwoven in our research and in our teaching. While our researchers Our Innovation Campus at North are pushing boundaries and making Wollongong, which was launched as a discoveries, our course content concept just 10 years ago, now has six Clearly Wollongong is evolving constantly seeks to reflect this new major buildings and is well on the way from a city highly dependent on the knowledge so that our graduates’ skills to fulfilling its vision as an important manufacturing and coal mining sectors will be relevant to the industries that research and development and to a university city. will employ them. commercial precinct that will drive At the same time UOW’s evolution goes the Illawarra regional economy in the Yes, your University has changed since you much deeper than our new high-tech 21st century. graduated. And that is all the more reason buildings – impressive as they are. for you to stay connected – or to reconnect.

This new alumni magazine, to be We have substantial groups of alumni UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul published annually, is an important in 143 countries, and I get a great sense Wellings CBE at UOW’s Innovation OUTLOOKUOW 15 part of our strategy to build a life-long that many of you really want to be more Campus (iC) in North Wollongong. iC is a connection with graduates from UOW, involved with your University, and to help world-class award-winning research and the University of Wollongong in Dubai – build a world-wide community that will commercial precinct, home to a number which celebrated its 20th anniversary serve you for life. of leading UOW research institutes. this year – and partner activities in Of course many of you are already well Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. connected with your University, but I We hope you enjoy the thought‑provoking hope many more will see the benefits “Many of our pieces and the updates on what has that can come from this association. graduates occupy happened at your University during the year. leading positions in The involvement of engaged alumni has Throughout 2013 I have attended major corporations many tangible benefits for UOW as well, events with alumni in Sydney, Canberra, including: and government Bangkok, London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I am constantly impressed – but not ƒƒ allowing us to tap into your organisations industry knowledge to help shape surprised – by the career success and around the world.” stature that so many of our alumni have our curriculum and make it as achieved in very diverse fields. contemporary and relevant as possible ƒƒ mentoring our graduates Many of our graduates occupy leading positions in major ƒƒ employing our graduates corporations and government ƒƒ taking up and commercialising our organisations around the world. ideas

Others are flourishing in creative ƒƒ providing resources and support to pursuits, in research and in countless help us build a stronger university. other fields. These successes reflect UOW is on an exciting path, and we hope very well on UOW and all our graduates. our graduates make the journey with us.

UOW OUTLOOKUOW 16 Humans without boundaries

Few places on earth evoke a sense of lawlessness like eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but for all its unruliness it offers a telling look at how humans exist when boundaries don’t. Alexandra Fisher writes from eastern Congo.

’m at a standstill at the eastern border in the remote backwoods of our planet, writing on the country and fostered a OUTLOOKUOW of the DRC. Immigration officials are bludgeoning a people far removed from propensity to dehumanise the people. 17 Ibarring me from entering; they say I our own. There is no doubt many of the atrocities must return to Rwanda. My inability to committed here are ‘sub-human’. “Human rights are trampled upon. speak French renders me immediately But this is not a reflection of Congo’s Humanity is not considered. People useless. It’s up to my Congolese fixer supposed predisposition to violence, are constantly butchered and not Samuel to intercede. He speaks to the but rather an insight into the darkness enough attention is paid to this nation big men with the ease of a man who lingering in every heart, as Joseph by the international community,” says knows this game. The officials order Conrad wrote all those years ago. It’s a freelance journalist and UOW graduate me to wait at the ‘border’, directing me darkness restrained by the boundaries Gracia Ngoy, who lives in Australia after precisely to the edge of a barbed wire we construct in society, both physical fleeing Congo as a refugee in 2002. fence, which flops into the dirt a short and moral. We come together in the distance away. The locals are staring In the West, we often dismiss Congo as a social contract, surrendering certain at me; I look like a fool. Samuel finally post-colonial tragedy. Heart of Darkness rights and liberties, in return for law and emerges with good news: I can enter. stereotypes have long pervaded foreign order. But our boundaries are only as He says they see I’m a ‘compassionate effective as their capacity to person’ – I see my extra 50 dollars be policed. has been well received. As Samuel Official borders did not exist says, “This is Congo”. “Colonialism imposed borders in Africa before colonisation. More than five million people have over areas, peoples and cultures In the absence of a nation died in the Congo since 1998, the state natural boundaries worst loss of human life since World and created divisions where were formed between War II. Eastern Congo remains often none had existed.” different peoples, often plagued by violence from various in the form of rivers or rebel groups, mostly jostling for mountains, according to Dr control of the area’s lucrative mines. Charles Hawksley, the head Yet the situation seldom reaches the of UOW’s School of History headlines. For it’s a conflict waged and Politics. “Colonialism imposed borders over “Mining is very important in the East, areas, peoples and cultures and although the government finds it difficult created divisions where often none had to extract revenue from artisanal mining existed.” He says borders are needed as it is smuggled out of the country. today. “Policing of borders assists in Investment suffers because of poor maintaining order by controlling the policies, poor infrastructure, corruption, inflow and outflow of goods and people. and insecurity in the East,” says Dr Nest. Where borders are porous no such But while Congo’s border has failed control exists.” to regulate the inflow and outflow of Much of Congo’s woes can be ascribed goods, it’s retained its use for refugees. to its fragile border. The UN has accused “During periods of unrest people flock neighbouring Rwanda of smuggling to borders in attempts to stay safe. You troops and arms across the border to aid cannot seek refugee status within your the Tutsi-led M23 rebels – allegations own state; you must be outside of it,” the country strenuously denies. After says Dr Hawksley. the 1994 Rawandan genocide, over one According to the UNHCR, millions of million Hutus fled Rwanda for eastern Congolese have fled into neighbouring DRC. Among them were members of the countries. In Rwanda alone, there are Interahamwe – the extremist Hutu group five camps collectively housing tens of that orchestrated the genocide – who thousands of refugees. Conditions are later formed the Democratic Forces squalid, sexual violence is rife and food for the Liberation of Rwanda. Rwanda is scarce. An aid worker recently told me has accused the group of conducting that in one camp, he spoke to a mother raids and assaults across the border ready to take her life to avoid witnessing from their hideout in the jungles of her children starve to death. Some have eastern DRC. Rwanda also recently spent over 17 years in the camp, hopeful accused Congolese soldiers of shelling

UOW OUTLOOKUOW the fighting will one day end and they its territory amid clashes with the M23, 18 can return home. prompting fears of a conflict between the two countries. But home is bleak. You only have to drive outside the city centre in Goma, Some Congolese say Rwanda’s the capital of North Kivu province, to intervention in Congo is not purely to witness the marks of war and poverty. repel Hutu extremists, but to carve The roads are unpaved and potholed, out a piece of Congo’s resource pie. It’s making journeys long and arduous. a pie being plundered by a number of Buildings stand deserted and decrepit, militias. Congo’s porous eastern border “During periods of with some pockmarked by past has allowed dozens of armed groups to assaults and others permanently fixed unrest people flock to smuggle minerals out of the country. by scaffolding. Retailers spill onto the Australian author Michael Nest spent borders in attempts roadside, scattering objects of varying some time in eastern DRC investigating colours across the ash-grey earth. Many to stay safe.” the mining of the mineral coltan, which don’t have much to sell. One salesman is refined to produce tantalum, an had just two tomatoes. essential ingredient in mobile phones.

Tshibanda (Gracia) Ngoy Dr Charles Hawksley

Congolese-born Gracia graduated from UOW in 2012 with a Bachelor Dr Hawksley is head of postgraduate studies and interim head of of Arts (Media and Communications) and a Bachelor of Commerce. History and Politics at UOW and also attained his PhD in Politics A member of the Illawarra Regional Advisory Council and NSW from Wollongong in 2002. Charles teaches international relations, Multicultural Youth Network, she was awarded the prestigious particularly peacekeeping and interventions and politics. He also Australian Young People’s Human Rights Medal in 2011 and was also researchers and writes on a variety of topics. named 2010 Wollongong Young Citizen of the Year. “Opportunities are very limited in the “I think we will need the UN for a very Congo. The poverty rate is elevated long time. Because they are often the and the majority of the population is only organisation that can, and will, go unemployed,” says Ngoy. into these very broken countries and try to hold them together long enough Amidst the poverty, crime thrives. On for their own citizens to stand up and one occasion in Goma, I saw civilians bring themselves back from the edge of take the law into their own hands. Our ‘Darkness’,” says Crouch. car came to an abrupt halt as a crowd of shouting locals poured onto the I return to Rwanda from Congo with road. At the centre of the melee was notable ease. Lush European-style a red‑shirted thief being tugged like a hotels line the glassy shores of Lake rag doll. When he eventually fell to the Kivu for the throngs of tourists visiting ground he was beaten. Civilians feel they this part of Rwanda on gorilla safaris. cannot rely on police or the Congolese There are gorillas in eastern Congo, but army to protect them and their rights. few tourists will visit. Ongoing fighting Insecurity is in part due to failure has purged the region’s potential. As of governance. Goma is over 1,500 I write, Congo’s UN-backed army has kilometres from the capital Kinshasa, routed the M23, forcing the group to making it difficult for the government to declare an end to its insurgency. But keep checks on the army. Many here say over 40 rebel groups remain active in Kinshasa has simply turned its back on eastern Congo, regularly terrorising the East, with feckless alcoholic soldiers civilians. There are many victims in doing little to protect them. this conflict, but I cannot finish without

noting the greatest of them: women. In The United Nations has been in a place deemed the rape capital of the eastern Congo for over a decade, world, women have been systematically deploying the largest peacekeeping attacked on a scale never seen before.

force in the organisation’s history. OUTLOOKUOW And while many file into local hospitals “I like to think of the UN in a Photos: Alexandra Fisher 19 to have torn flesh mended, there are peacekeeping role as the ultimate unseen wounds that may never heal. insurance policy – you never know what might have happened if they In Australia, few of us will ever weren’t there,” says UOW Chief understand what it is to live through Administrative Officer Melva Crouch war: to be prevailed upon by a sense of CSM, who worked with the UN in utter hopelessness, rendered powerless eastern Congo for just over a year by injustice. What we can conceive in 2001. though, is the ultimate root of these problems; for it has severed the ties of Since March the UN has taken a more decent behaviour since the beginning of “It is a trait we all hands-on role after the Security time. It is a trait we all possess. It is our Council approved the creation of its possess. It is our heart of darkness. first-ever offensive combat force to heart of darkness.” tackle the M23 and other Congolese rebels in the Congo.

Melva Crouch CSM Alexandra Fisher Melva joined the UOW executive team as Chief Administrative Officer in Bachelor of Journalism 2010 August 2013 and has extensive experience as a logistics and corporate This year Alexandra won a Walkley Award for Australian Journalism support manager in complex organisations. She commenced her career in the Young TV Journalist category for her work on bringing with the Australian Army as a logistics officer, serving for 23 years compelling stories to our screens from danger zones. She currently in a variety of Army and joint Defence roles before joining the UN, works at ABC News. subsequently providing logistic support to peacekeeping missions in Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Western Sahara. A conversation with Emilio Robles

Director at Howorth, a specialist business and technology PR consultancy and part of the global Ogilvy Public Relations network.

milio Robles completed a Bachelor of not just about writing but about stories learning for me, along with the fact that Arts (Honours) at UOW in 1980 and a and more importantly about people. everything is in flux and that you have to DipEd in 1981 intending to become a be receptive to change and work with it. E The other break it gave me was asking teacher, but never made the classroom. me to help the paper transition from old Also, if there is one cultural trait I Instead, he forged a career first in hot metal technology to computerised wish Australians had it would be that journalism then as a high-flying Public typesetting. I was a bridge between the boundless optimism and positive Relations executive in the United States editorial department and the printers outlook that Americans possess. It before returning to Australia. He is now and I helped train the journalists on the taught me that a person’s attitude as Director at Howorth. This is his journey. new computer systems and workflows. much as formal education is the final UOW OUTLOOKUOW determinant of success. 20 That led to my third big break: sparking an interest in technology that got me a My current role job as the Corporate Affairs Manager at Childhood Apple Computers in Australia in 1987 I have a portfolio of clients as well as local and global teams to help our I was a first generation migrant, arriving and then as a senior PR manager at customers better engage with their in Australia in 1961 at the age of three Apple, Inc. in California in 1991. customers, stakeholders and influencers. from Madrid, Spain. By the age of Silicon Valley five I was my household’s translator: I am engaged in setting global and local everything from helping buy our first TV I have yet to work or live in a community strategies for corporate, product and to running down to the corner shop in that can match the tightly bonded services positioning, messaging and Lake Heights to buy my dad his favourite elements of learning, vision, iconoclasm, execution, content development and brand of cigarettes (something I’m entrepreneurialism, competitiveness, execution across 12 of my clients. pretty sure a kid that age wouldn’t be creativity, intellectual rigour and sheer My role involves operational allowed to do now). confidence of Silicon Valley. It’s also a management and profit and loss melting pot of ideas and cultures. It truly The trust and confidence my parents responsibility for the profitability of is the nexus of technology and society had in me to communicate effectively clients and the practice – as well as that helps shape the world as we know it. on their behalf inspired me and helped overall client service and team as well shape my character. Working there shaped my thinking and as agency management. broadened my horizons in ways I could It sounds complicated but the secret is Big break not have imagined if I had stayed in that it’s not. All I really do is help clients Australia. Actually, it was a series of ‘big breaks’ better communicate to achieve their rather than just one. The Illawarra What the USA taught me business goals by using the right team Mercury newspaper gave my first and right tools at the right time. two big breaks. Firstly, it hired me as At Apple, the corporate mantra was a journalist on its weekly free paper, ‘The Journey is the Reward’ implying Secrets to PR success which had just started up. I learnt a lot, that the destination is a by-product and Critically examine the brief you are not the reward itself. That was a key given – take nothing on face value. Many clients and corporations see symptoms You need a bit of both, but focus on the My wife teaches English at community as root problem causes yet most of the journey, not the destination. colleges in ‘The Shire’ and has been time they are not. You have to challenge my rock during 30 years of marriage. and you have to be rigorous in the way Giving something back Without her I would not have gone to the you analyse the problem and solution – I live in Sydney now so it’s hard to give US because she was brave enough to and its ultimate business benefit. back to the Illawarra in the same way leave her parents and grandparents in Barrack Heights to head off to deepest, Also, recognise that people it gave to me and helped shape my darkest San Jose, California, on the communicate differently now and they character. For UOW specifically I was adventure of a lifetime. will in future. You have to adjust your thrilled and honoured when I was invited strategies and objectives to meet a high to become an external curriculum I love rugby, league, soccer, dynamic communications framework. advisor for PR courses. history, writing, travel, languages, You have to work hard to keep ahead of motorcycles, reading, music, science, these changes and never stay still. “Everything is in flux computers and all things geeky. I try and exercise as often as I can but you Lastly know the client’s or your and you have to be know how that goes… company’s business. If you understand receptive to change.” that deeply, it shapes your thinking With the benefit of hindsight and allows you to align what you do with business outcomes, not just Don’t exclude possibilities based communications results. on what you think you know now. Challenge yourself to know and What’s next? I hope some of my experiences and experience new things. knowledge can be translated into better If you see things as a journey, what’s Believe that you can run your own courses for students and that I am next is always about the things business as well as work for someone helping them develop their expertise. happening around you and the learning, else if you have to. The former is experiences and challenges you’re going Personal stuff harder but ultimately more rewarding to be asked to surmount on that trip. I personally and professionally. never have a solid, preconceived idea as I have four kids, two born in Australia Always stretch yourself; never be to where that journey is taking me, but I (one a graduate of UOW, the other one

tempted to take the easy path because it OUTLOOKUOW do have a sharp sense of when I have to still working at it) and another two born always seems to work out as the longer, 21 seize the day. in California. My Australian kids have less satisfying road. And remember that American accents and my American I think that if you map things out too society and business is about people, kids have Australian accents (with a prescriptively in terms of a career path, not just about economics/marketing or US twang, I must admit thanks to their you lose the flexibility of taking up new public policy. siblings) so there is a delicious yin and things and opportunities as they arise. yang thing going on there. 1 university created through a Lord Mayoral Appeal and industry support 10 years of dedicated monthly alumni giving 1,067 alumni giving to support health and medical research 1,265 alumni giving to support the next generation of leaders 3,624 alumni making a transformative impact $21.8 million given by generous alumni and supporters in the last 5 years Limitless opportunities to join your fellow alumni in transforming lives and regions through philanthropy Alumni giving. The numbers add up

uow.edu.au/donations [email protected] Office of Advancement +61 2 4221 5915 Alumni helping Australia’s next generation of leaders

By Elise Pitt

hen Pariz Lythgo-Marshall left manage, especially if you are trying to my career goals to support myself the idyllic beaches of her home of balance work, study and supporting financially. So you can imagine the WJervis Bay on the South Coast of yourself”, Lythgo-Marshall reflects. immense relief I experienced when New South Wales to pursue her dream I opened the letter that stated I had She is now paying it forward and of becoming a High Court Justice, the received the scholarship. It was literally inspiring UOW’s next crop of brilliant ride wasn’t exactly easy. life-changing.” young minds. Lythgo-Marshall

“I was juggling a double degree, a part- is a Law lecturer and is involved time job and living out of home for the with various community outreach first time in my life and was seriously programs that connect back to considering deferring my degree or UOW, all while she completes her

leaving uni altogether,” said Lythgo- PhD, which is focused on critically OUTLOOKUOW 23 Marshall, who continued her studies at analysing the Australian Competition UOW with the help of a Learning and and Consumer Competition (ACCC) Development Scholarship. Immunity Policy for Cartel Conduct.

The Learning and Development Fund “Most people know cartels as ‘price- was established in 2006 to finance fixing’, where two or more business scholarships supporting students people in competition with each other, in need. This program began by agree to set high prices in secret,” offering single one-off scholarships Lythgo-Marshall said. valued at $1,000. Now 10 Learning “Basically it is a policy that offers a and Development scholarships ‘get out of gaol free-card’ to the first are offered each year valued at Pariz Lythgo-Marshall is one of 70 person to come forward and reveal $3,000 per year over three years. All talented and deserving students who their misconduct to the authorities and made possible by the generosity of have been awarded with alumni- ‘dobs’ everyone else in. I am looking at supporters of UOW including alumni, funded Learning and Development the theory underpinning this policy and staff and the wider community. Scholarships since 2006. how it could be better designed and Lythgo-Marshall is one of UOWs implemented in practice,” she said. Learning and Development scholars After completing her PhD, Lythgo- who actively promotes the importance Elise Pitt Marshall says she would like a position and impact of the Fund. “The where she can use her legal knowledge Master of Journalism, 2008 scholarship enabled me to purchase “to help the vulnerable members of our Sydney-based writer Elise has worked some very valuable learning resources, society and really make a difference in on a number of News Corp Australia including my core Law textbooks, some way, as clichéd as that sounds”. magazines and has written freelance which I couldn’t undertake my subjects articles for women’s publications Yen and without. It also eased the pressure of That could be as a High Court Judge or Peppermint. She recently discovered a love some of the day to day living expenses, something even bigger. of science writing and returned to UOW to such as groceries and rent, which can help promote the exciting research being “If it wasn’t for alumni giving to make university life very difficult to conducted by the University. She now scholarships, I may have had to sacrifice works in UOW’s Media and PR team.

UOW OUTLOOKUOW 24

s the digital age killing off quality journalism or are we on the cusp of a Igolden era of news reporting where technology provides immediate access to information? The changing In the past decade the internet and social media have dramatically changed the way news is reported and shared around the world. Australia’s major face of media newspapers have shed thousands of jobs in recent years, a situation mirrored internationally, as their classified Nick Hartgerink talked to five UOW graduates advertising revenue has migrated to who have all forged successful careers in the the internet, while their readers have also deserted them for more immediate media in Australia and across the globe, for their sources of news.

perspectives on the changing face of media. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) epitomises the brave new world of digital journalism.

UOW OUTLOOKUOW 25

Its reporters work across multiple Kumi Taguchi sees the digital age as “the “Now, we have this big space called the platforms of radio, television (including perfect space for the ABC’s Charter”. ABC where content is shared and a dedicated 24-hour news channel, ABC re-used and re-purposed across so “We can reach so many people in ways News 24), websites and social media. It many mediums. A radio interview that have been difficult in the past,” even encourages (and trains) members might make it online; a chat from a TV she says. “Firstly, there is a now a blur of the public to contribute video footage reporter in the field is played on ABC between mediums. There was radio. and reports from regional areas for a News 24. At the same time, an evening Then there was TV. Then there was the public access website called ABC Open, radio producer has seen it and uses the internet,” Taguchi says. which often find their way on to audio for their program. The chat major bulletins. also goes online.

ABC General Manager Mark Scott “The digital space is so “Secondly, the digital space is so refers to the ABC as Australia’s accessible - not only physically accessible - not only physically “town square” in the digital age – but emotionally. You can absorb a place where the community but emotionally. You can absorb content when you want, you can comes together to share news and content when you want, you can explore it at your own pace. I ideas. Scott says the ABC has five love that a piece a Four Corners million pages online and hundreds explore it at your own pace.” [television current affairs of websites. And ABC staff are program] reporter may have embracing these opportunities spent months working on can be with enthusiasm. watched on iView [where ABC “...the ABC has five TV programs can be accessed online on online stories and file audio immediately demand] – that all that work is not for from the field. The ABC’s Wollongong million pages online a one-off showing. Or that a photo an newsroom now has a camera operator/ ABC viewer has taken makes it onto our editor so our journalists can file for the

UOW OUTLOOKUOW and hundreds of website on ABC Open or ABC News 24.” 7pm TV news bulletin in Sydney, or live 26 websites. And ABC to ABC News 24.” ABC colleague Nick McLaren agrees, staff are embracing and says his role as a journalist has McLaren says the ABC’s championing these opportunities changed enormously in recent years. of social media has put it ahead of the game. “For years I remember hearing about with enthusiasm.” how social media was going to change “The ABC has opened up to various journalism, newspapers would go forms of social media and championed largely online and journalists would the concept of User Generated Content. have to multi-skill. Well that moment I believe the ABC was one of the first has arrived,” McLaren says. “Journalists employers in Australia to embrace now, whether print, radio or TV, are Twitter and develop a code to manage expected to post their stories online, its introduction, while some workplaces if possible before they are broadcast. simply banned it,” he says. We go to news conferences armed “Twitter is now an integral part of the with iPhones so we can take photos for newsgathering process, a source of

Kumi Taguchi Stephen Fitzpatrick Hermoine Macura

Kumi is a news anchor and presenter Stephen is a senior journalist with The Hermoine is a United Arab Emirates- television journalist with ABC News 24, Australian newspaper. From 2006-2010 he based television presenter and the CEO ABC 1 and ABC Radio current affairs, having was the paper’s correspondent in Indonesia of Straight Street Media in Dubai. She has previously worked for the Asia television and won a Walkley Award for his coverage of over a decade of experience working as an network in Hong Kong. Kumi graduated in the Oceanic Viking stand-off in 2009 when a anchor in the Middle East with networks 1996 with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Music group of Sri Lankan asylum-seekers refused such as Dubai Television and Al Aqariya. She and Media Arts). to leave the Australian Government vessel is also an author and documentary-maker. in West Java. Stephen graduated with a Hermoine graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (History and Politics) (Communications Studies) in 2002. in 1996. divulging, sharing and verifying news efforts to build paywalls around its many talented colleagues forced out stories almost instantly across the newspaper websites. of the profession in recent years in world. The ABC runs training seminars Australia as News Limited and Fairfax Taguchi says she can understand why just on Twitter.” Media have shed thousands of jobs at there is criticism. “The fact that all this their newspapers. His boss Mark Scott himself has is free is great for us and our audience more than 65,000 Twitter followers, – not so great if you’re on the other “As a profession, journalism has been and McLaren says it has become an side,” she says. “I can see why there is gutted,” he says. “The loud, crude, dogged, essential news tool for journalists. criticism. News Limited has enjoyed a larger-than-life newshound is being great run and this is a tough transition. replaced, as far as possible, by corporate “I tweet every day, sometimes very and acquiescent process workers,” often! I pick up stories via the people I “It’s easy to criticise a threat but it’s Fitzpatrick says. follow. Emergency Services in particular unlikely that everyone who pays for are now all on Twitter and will put up content, or is soon to pay for content, is “There’s not great conspiracy to all this. information as it happens, before it going to automatically turn to the ABC. It’s just the way the industry has gone. goes on a website, Facebook page or Research shows there is a lot of brand Where once journalism rewarded rogue is disseminated via a media release. loyalty and people tend to access media characters – for it was they who were I follow politicians, business leaders, which reinforces their way of thinking. often able to turn up the best results trade unions, activists, ‘hackers’ and and stories simply because of their “The challenge – and I see it as that, many journalists to keep refusal to fit into social expectation abreast of what’s going on.” and accept what they were told – it often seems it now far more McLaren believes the key to the “Research shows there is a prefers the character of a bank changing media environment is lot of brand loyalty and people teller. And as useful as bank tellers doing more with less. tend to access media which are in their own field, they’re not “Technology means TV stories journalists.” are edited on a laptop and sent reinforces their way of thinking.” Fitzpatrick says newspaper directly from the field. It is now

newsrooms have experienced OUTLOOKUOW faster, easier and cheaper to threats before. Indeed, the advent 27 make television. The fact is I am of radio and then television were primarily a radio journalist, but both widely predicted to sound I think about online publishing, newspapers’ death knell at television and social media every day. rather than a threat - is for news different times in the 20th century. They are all one and the same thing, organisations to convince their readers That didn’t happen, and recent positive a way to tell and share a strong news that their content is worth paying for. I do signs such as the purchase of The story.” believe if you have quality journalists and Washington Post by Amazon founder News Limited, which controls 70 quality writing, then an audience will pay.” Jeff Bezos and investment guru Warren percent of Australia’s newspapers, Buffett snapping up titles across the US Stephen Fitzpatrick is one of has been critical of the ABC’s suggests there is life in newspapers yet. those quality writers. However the all-encompassing news coverage long‑time foreign correspondent and And Fitzpatrick isn’t prepared to give in the digital age. It sees the ABC’s award‑winning journalist for The up on his profession because dedicated, government-funded free web-based Australian has a gloomy view of the talented people are determined to hold on. news content as a threat to its future of journalism, having seen

Dr Ari Poespodihardjo Nick McLaren Nick Hartgerink

Ari is Director, International Relations Nick is the senior journalist at ABC Radio Nick Hartgerink is a former journalist and Department at the London School of Public Illawarra. He has more than 15 years’ newspaper editor and the author of five Relations in Jakarta. Ari graduated with a experience as a news journalist. books, including a history of the University Master of Arts (Journalism) in 2008 and PhD Nick graduated with a Master of Arts of Wollongong published in 2011. He has (Journalism) in 2008. (Research) in 2010. written for many of Australia’s leading newspapers and magazines and provides media consulting and publication services to national and regional organisations. Nick has been a media consultant to the University since 2002. “My professional world is full of friends meaning print media companies could and colleagues who just can’t imagine no longer afford imported newsprint doing anything else with their working and inks. lives,” he says. “When you’re in the “At the same time the diminishing value middle of a really big breaking news of wages meant most Indonesians cut story, or a long investigation, or some down or simply stopped consuming print other story that you know might make a media on a regular basis. In 1997-1998 difference to how others understand the there were significant numbers of media world, you wouldn’t for a minute want to organisations, particularly print, that be anywhere else.” closed down,” Dr Poespodihardjo says. Dr Ari Poespodihardjo, who teaches He says since 2005 Indonesia has Public Relations and Marketing in “In the [Gulf] region, TV experienced an internet revolution with Jakarta and is a keen observer of the media companies developing online news is vital as it is one Indonesian media, says social media publications. The first commercial online is connecting people in Asia in ways of the only ways people media site was TEMPO Online, which traditional media couldn’t, while ironically revived a former magazine can know what is going Hermoine Macura [pictured] believes title that had been banned by the television is maintaining primacy in on around them.” government in 1994, followed by the Middle East despite the growing detik.com popularity of social media. “Since 2010 the domination of Macura says social media is hugely online media in Indonesia is basically popular across the Middle East, and complete. In a survey that we (the was a key communications tool during London School of Public Relations) the “Arab Spring” – a wave of popular conducted with Indonesian journalists uprisings, protests and civil wars that in 2009 and 2010 and 2012, more than spread across Arab nations in 2010

UOW OUTLOOKUOW 80% said they use the internet as their and 2011, leading to the overthrow of a 28 main source of information.” number of governments. Dr Poespodihardjo says this social The Gulf states are also the fastest and technological revolution has been growing online market in the Arab world, driven by changes in Indonesian society, and Macura says media professionals with economic recovery sustaining need to be adept across television, print a growing middle class that wants and online platforms. Her company, information on demand. Straight Street Media, focuses on creating media content across all three. He said the wider availability of smartphones, previously a status However, she says television remains the symbol of the rich and corporate elites, prime news medium in the region. has accelerated this change. Twitter “Television has and always will be the is growing rapidly in popularity, while most powerful medium as it allows Indonesians are among the world’s top viewers to connect to real life via a 10 users of Facebook. broadcast stream. In the [Gulf] region, So where does this put the traditional TV news is vital as it is one of the only media in the Indonesian society? ways people can know what is going on around them.” Dr Poespodihardjo says newspapers are still important in Indonesia’s major cities, Dr Poespodihardjo says the media while in smaller regional cities and rural landscape in Indonesia changed long areas where digital communications before the internet became a factor. infrastructure is often lacking and fewer He said the Asian Economic Crisis of people have smartphones, traditional 1997 had a cataclysmic effect on the media like local newspapers and radio Indonesia media, with the dramatic still rule the information market. economic downturn and 800 percent devaluation of the Indonesian currency This prepares them for journalism careers, and increasingly others – those that require capable researchers, storytellers and cross-platform public communicators.

In her article about the demise of Opinion: who said that journalism jobs and the irrelevance of journalism degrees, Rachel Buchanan journalism can’t change? (The Age, 28 September, 2013) recounts telling a student who wanted to be a foreign correspondent and who “wanted After reading claims in the media about the demise to travel the world, help people, and of journalism jobs and the irrelevance of journalism expose injustice” to become a nurse. degrees, Shawn Burns was left bemused. I simply say – there is nothing wrong with being a nurse, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be a foreign correspondent either – as UOW graduate and Walkley Foundation Young Australian Journalist of the Year (Television/Video am a relative newcomer to journalism limited treatment of online and broadcast Journalism) Alexandra Fisher will testify education. I have been teaching journalism to a position where it is woven [Alexandra is also an UOW Outlook Ifull ‑time for five years, and before that I into subject structure across all three Magazine feature writer - see p17]. worked as regional and rural newspaper years of our Bachelor of Journalism. Further, many of the emerging new and TV reporter, editor, chief of staff and We have embedded social media theory career options for journalism graduates news director. But, even as a ‘newcomer’, and practice into the curriculum, and – such as videographers and social media I know claims about the demise of we have provided our students the managers with aid organisations and

journalism come around fairly regularly. opportunities to engage in real-time NGOs – present exciting opportunities for broadcast and publication via multimedia Journalism degrees are undergoing aspirational foreign correspondents. and multi-platform applications and broad renovations to match dramatically devices. We have done this focused on the Many vocational degrees produce shifting professional contexts and OUTLOOKUOW underpinnings of reputable reporting and graduates who pursue alternative consumer demands. In some cases, 29 journalism – robust inquiry, storytelling professions. How many Law graduates forward thinking journalism academics flair, accuracy and ethics. end up at the bar? And, it should be are even pre-empting these changes and noted, most journalism degrees are consult to industry as trainers equipping Journalism, at its heart, is still about majors embedded in Arts degrees (not existing journalists for essential new ‘getting to the bottom of it’, as the UOW), but who’s asking: ‘What jobs are capacities. I suspect, as Year 12 students legendary Katharine Graham challenged there for Arts graduates?’ and their parents come to UOW to explore Woodward and Bernstein to do. their options, I will be asked “Is journalism There is much to be excited about when Our students are graduating from dying?”. It will not be the first time, and I it comes to journalism and journalism university with the inquisitive minds and, know it will not be the last time I’m asked education. For people to be informed they dare I say it, the ‘skills’ required to ‘get to the question. I, hand-on-heart, believe still need skilled ‘informers’, and I am the bottom of it’ in 2013. journalism is not dying, but it is changing. confident journalism graduates across And what is wrong with that? We are educating journalism and the country will continue to do just communications students to challenge, that. They may do it differently, via new Change is a good thing. Without change to enquire, and to inform, and to do platforms and for a broader spectrum of we would all still be huddled around the so using the multitude of tools and media – but they will still make valuable wireless in our lounge rooms, waiting for information at their disposal. use of their journalism degrees. Alan McGilvray to tap his pencil on his pad to indicate ball has hit bat at the SCG. We have about 170 undergraduate Shawn Burns ­ journalism students at UOW across three Shawn is a UOW Journalism Program Lecturer. He has many years of experience as years. So, doing the maths, that’s a total newspaper journalist, photographer, sub-editor and editor. He has worked as journalist, chief of about 350 students who would have of staff, and State News Director with WIN Television. become journalism gradates by December Shawn’s research interests include representation of people with disability in the media, the 2013. In the five years I have been convergence of news media, including an MA(R) on the subject, and the role of experiential teaching, we have continuously adapted learning in contemporary journalism education and community engagement. He is the our degree to address the changing editorial coordinator of UOWTV and received a National Office for Learning and Teaching face of journalism. We have gone from (OLT) Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning 2013, and a UOW Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning (OCTAL) award 2011. Building better lives for people with dementia

Living long healthy and fulfilled lives is a goal for many; however there is a barrier that more of us are increasingly facing, which could mean that goal is never reached. By Vicky Wallace

lobally, 35.6 million people have across the world, and a lot of time and The Netherlands is currently leading the dementia, and this number is expected money needs to be spent on not only way on this, and taking it one step fur ther. Gto treble by 2050 (World Health researching a cure, but also ensuring It is home to Europe’s only purpose-built Organisation, 2012). UOW researchers are that our built environment caters to village inhabited entirely by older people focusing on two areas of critical research: patients’ needs. with dementia. Hogewey is a closed village improving the daily lives of people with where residents have a real sense of

UOW OUTLOOKUOW In Australia, there are currently more than dementia, and combatting the illness at a freedom as they can visit the salon, eat at 30 320,000 people living with dementia. It molecular level. People whose lives have the restaurant and shop for groceries. The is one of the fastest growing sources of been affected by this fatal condition are only difference is all of the employees are major disease burden in Australia and supporting this initial research. carers. Because of their uncomplicated will overtake coronary heart disease in its surroundings and their sense of freedom, While the risk of dementia increases with total wellbeing cost by 2023. residents are more active and require less age, it is not a natural part of ageing and Due to the nature of the illness, people medication compared with traditional there is currently no cure. It is not a single with dementia are easily disoriented and aged care facilities. illness, rather dementia is an umbrella confused by their surroundings, which term describing a syndrome associated Professor Fleming in his role as Director can be helped by simplifying building with more than 100 different conditions of the NSW/ACT Dementia Training design. To improve the quality of life for that are characterised by the impairment Study Centre at UOW was awarded over people living with dementia in Australia, of brain functions such as language, $200,000 this year by the Australian UOW Professor Richard Fleming, whose memory, perception, personality and Government’s Department of Health and interest in dementia comes from working cognitive skills. Alzheimer’s disease is the Ageing towards improving acute hospital as a psychologist with the elderly for over most common cause of dementia. services for people with dementia. The 30 years, is working to develop a service study will involve 25 hospital-based This distressing illness is presenting a for designing dementia-friendly hospitals projects across Australia. significant challenge to health systems and aged care facilities nation-wide.

Professor Richard Fleming Richard Miller Professor Brett Garner

Professor Fleming is a Clinical Psychologist Richard Miller has retired from the Professor Garner is an ARC Future Fellow who has worked with the elderly for over agricultural industry and has been giving and NHMRC Senior Research Fellow at IHMRI. 25 years in various mental health and generously to UOW since 2008. Earlier He has extensive postdoctoral research health‑related capacities. this year Mr Miller announced he would experience. His research focus is on the He has authored two books related to be making a $500,000 donation to create transport, metabolism and function of lipids and dementia and depression. He is currently an endowment fund to provide these how lipid homeostasis contributes to neuronal Director of the NSW/ACT Dementia Training scholarships in perpetuity, making his total function and degeneration, particularly in and Study Centre at UOW. gift to UOW in excess of $700,000 to date. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. “It is very encouraging to see the At IHMRI, researchers are studying that inroads are being made on not only importance of the built environment being ways to help combat the illness at the helping to make the lives of people living recognised with this funding. There has molecular level. Professor Brett Garner with dementia better while they are in been good quality research carried out on and his team are currently investigating the grips of the disease, but that research designing residential care environments the function of a protein called ABCA7 is coming along in leaps and bounds. for people with dementia, but the hospital in protecting the brain. The team have As with all research initiatives, funding is environment has been largely neglected,” recently discovered that ABCA7 can slow the key to ensuring that we continue to Professor Fleming said. down the accumulation of amyloid-beta find a cure. peptide in the brain, a peptide that is “This project will enable us to apply the widely believed to be a major causative UOW’s Professor Chris Gibson draws knowledge that we have and set the factor in Alzheimer’s disease – the most the link between Professor Fleming and stage for future research into designing common cause of dementia. Professor Garner’s dementia research for the special needs of people with and UOW’s Global Challenges program. dementia undergoing the stresses of By deleting the ABCA7 protein in a hospital admission.” mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, “Both projects respond to the UOW they showed that the disease pathology Global Challenge focused on ‘Living Well, He believes that Wollongong can become significantly worsened, indicating that the Longer’ and is an ideal example of what a dementia-friendly city and hopes others protein is indeed involved in regulating can be done when specialist disciplines can also support the research at UOW to amyloid-beta peptide levels and come together to address a major global help make this a reality. Alzheimer’s disease pathology. challenge,” Professor Gibson says. Retired Illawarra dairy farmer, “This is the first study to describe the Richard Miller knows only too well the impact that a loss of ABCA7 has in the devastation wrought by dementia as brain in context of Alzheimer’s disease and his wife, Janet, died from Alzheimer’s helps us to understand why mutations in disease. After the sale of his family’s

human ABCA7 confer increased risk for dairy farming land, Mr Miller turned Alzheimer’s disease in the clinical setting,” his attention to philanthropy, focusing Professor Garner explained. on supporting medical research scholarships and equity scholarships. “This opens up new avenues for us to UOW OUTLOOKUOW study how amyloid-beta is removed “When my wife passed away from 31 from the brain and what therapeutic Alzheimer’s, I knew that I had to do all I approaches may be used to promote this could to help find a cure,” Miller said. in the Alzheimer’s disease context.” With his strong personal interest in His next focus is to discover compounds dementia, Miller’s donations went that may selectively increase the towards the establishment of the expression of ABCA7 in the brain. While Illawarra Health and Medical Research he can currently only speculate that these Institute’s (IHMRI) Summer Scholarships compounds will promote the removal for Dementia Research. This program has of the harmful amyloid-beta deposits, so far given 10 promising Higher Degree his research data lends support to the Research students an opportunity to general concept that any approach aimed demonstrate their research potential and at decreasing amyloid-beta and other work on real projects of direct benefit unwanted materials could be helpful in To support Professor Fleming’s to the community. His funds have also the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. research project, please visit been used to help students gain access go.uow.edu.au/dementia to university who don’t have the financial With dementia touching the lives of many resources to do so. across the globe, it is comforting to know

Professor Chris Gibson Vicky Wallace

Professor Gibson is UOW’s Director Global Challenges Program. It is a Bachelor of Science (1987), Master of Arts in Journalism (1993) major research initiative designed to harness the expertise of world-class Vicky has a personal interest in promoting dementia research; she lost researchers to solve complex, real-world problems in order to transform her father to the illness two years ago. Vicky leads the Promotions and lives and regions. Marketing team at UOW’s Research and Innovation Division. She was It focuses on three global challenges: ‘Living Well Longer’, ‘Manufacturing recently awarded the UOW Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Innovation’ and ‘Sustaining Coastal and Marine Zones’. Service for her work in raising the profile of research and for managing key research events including TEDxUWollongong. Students who shine

Team UOW was the first Australian team to gain entry into the Solar Decathlon, and took a unique approach by being the first to enter and win with an existing retrofitted home.By Jack Breen

n July this year a group of students can address issues of environmental and academics from the University degradation and growing electricity Iof Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra, costs by using innovative technologies,” a couple of tradesman and seven said Niccol. shipping containers landed in Datong, UOW OUTLOOKUOW “We are leading the The Solar Decathlon Project was the China for what is dubbed the ‘Energy 32 University’s first student-led project of this way in this important Olympics’. A month later, the team left scale, showing a true cross-collaboration with the gold medal and reputation area of sustainable across all Faculties and TAFE Illawarra, as the world’s leading young group of bringing together skills and knowledge building design sustainability experts. from students and staff to meet a research, and that we Team UOW’s entry was an existing challenge that had never been attempted can combine research retrofitted home – named the by an Australian university. ‘Illawarra Flame House’ – a stylish, net Professor Paul Cooper, Director of excellence with impact zero‑emission home. Retrofitting this old SBRC, supported this project by being ‘fibro’ home made the most of Australia’s on real problems.” its Academic Coordinator as he saw real natural environment by emphasising benefit in its undertaking. water efficiency, solar energy harvesting, passive design and advanced ventilation “To design and build the Illawarra Flame systems. The house uses many House and display it in China was an innovative prototypes developed by incredibly rewarding challenge for our researchers at UOW’s Sustainable students. We are also planning for it Buildings Research Centre (SBRC), such to be on display to the public, since as a photovoltaic thermal heating and this project has really inspired the cooling system. community and people are interested in this demonstration of a deep Lloyd Niccol, Solar Decathlon Project sustainability retrofit on an existing Manager, juggled the ambitious building,” Professor Cooper said. project along with his studies at UOW working towards a Bachelor of UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Mechanical Engineering and Bachelor Wellings CBE and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Commerce (Finance). (Research) Professor Judy Raper travelled to China to support the team. “The project provided an example of how the Australian housing sector “The Solar Decathlon Project has played and to have everything and everyone pull a very important part of UOW’s global together so well to create something research strategy to help address the that people have a true interest in – a world’s major challenges. Winning has concept that can really change the way shown that we are leading the way that retrofitting is thought about in UOW OUTLOOKUOW in this important area of sustainable Australia and the world,” he added. 33 building design research, and that we The career possibilities are endless for can combine research excellence with Team UOW students since demonstrating impact on real problems,” Professor their drive to achieve. In fact, two Masters Raper said. students, Scott Redwood and Michael Reflecting on his time working on the Whitehouse, have since established their project, Niccol was humbled by the own building design and construction challenge that could change the world. business, and one in four students from Team UOW will be continuing their “We had a real world problem to solve, The Illawarra Flame House will be research at SBRC on the prototypes used and we brought our various skills and located adjacent to the Sustainable in the house. knowledge together to make it happen. Buildings Research Centre at UOW’s It’s an amazing thing to work so hard, Innovation Campus.

Professor Paul Cooper Lloyd Niccol Jack Breen Director of the Sustainable Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering/ Bachelor of Commerce in Buildings Research Centre, UOW Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) Marketing and Public Relations As Academic Coordinator of the Project, Prior to Managing the Solar Decathlon (Dean’s Scholar) 2012 Professor Cooper provided faculty advice Project, Lloyd spent five years as a cadet Jack worked on the Solar Decathlon Project to the team. The new Sustainable Buildings engineer with BlueScope at the Port for 18 months managing the Sponsorship, Research Centre at UOW’s Innovation Kembla Steelworks, working across a Marketing and Communications Team. He Campus is home to the Illawarra Flame variety of roles including fitting/machining, travelled to China twice with the group House and will provide not only a test bed maintenance planning, reliability and now works in the digital marketing for new sustainable building technologies, engineering and design engineering. He has field with UOW’s Strategic Marketing and but a vehicle to accelerate the adoption of a strong passion for the environment and Communications Unit. sustainable retrofit technologies for homes sustainable design and is currently working in Australia and overseas. towards completing his studies. In the spotlight

Dr Weihua Sun has enjoyed many achievements in his career to date. In 2013 he was recognised by receiving the Australia China Alumni Award for Corporate Achievement. He attributes his success to an abiding commitment to collaboration and continual improvement.

r Sun, who completed a PhD in “This strong collaboration was so Mechanical Engineering at UOW in successful that it resulted in the D2005, is the Vice President, Director Quangcheng Friendship Award by the of the Technical Centre and Vice Chief Jinan Municipal’s government, and the Engineer of one of China’s largest steel Qilu Friendship award by the Shandong companies, Jigang Group Co Ltd, which Provincial People’s Government, China

employs more than 38,000 staff and in 2011,” Professor Tieu said. owns over 16.7 Dr Sun has been billion CNY awarded a number ($2.8 billion) in “It is the sharing UOW OUTLOOKUOW of prominent awards assets. 34 of knowledge, including the Taishan He has led technology and Scholarship by the more than Shandong Provincial 20 research skills that is of most People’s Government projects on benefit, in particular of China and has metallurgical previously been technology with companies named one of the “It is the sharing of knowledge, totaling over Top 10 Outstanding across the globe.” technology and skills that is of most 41 million CNY Engineers in China’s benefit, in particular with companies ($7 million) and Shandong Province across the globe,” Dr Sun concluded. has developed by the Chinese more than Government. 180 new In November he products that are now in use for oil was awarded the 2013 Australia refinement, engineering machines, port Dr Sun has received a number of China Alumni Award for Corporate constructions and power plants. prominent awards for his work. Achievement at a ceremony in Beijing. According to his PhD supervisor at These Awards, now in their fifth He has been named one of the Top 10 UOW Professor Kiet Tieu, Dr Sun was year, honour Australian-educated Outstanding Engineers of Shandong an “outstanding and prolific” student business leaders who have made large Province and honoured with a who published his PhD findings in many contributions within their professional Government Special Allowance by prestigious international journals. fields in China. the State Council.

As a collaborator with UOW’s Dr Sun continues to seek opportunities He has also been awarded 11 Engineering Materials Institute, Dr Sun to connect UOW with the Shandong Provincial and Ministerial continued his work on a three-year Provence. Earlier in 2013, he hosted Scientific prizes. hot rolling research project, which Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon concluded in 2010. Bradbery on a tour of Jigang’s base in Jinan, China. Connecting alumni

An update on UOW’s ongoing connections with its global alumni community.

Recognising alumni excellence Enhanced his year the UOW Alumni Awards Young Alumni Award benefits were launched to recognise and

Tcelebrate the outstanding personal Tristan Knowles Australian Wheelchair for alumni achievements of our graduates worldwide. Our award recipients for Basketball Team o support alumni business owners Bachelor of Commerce 2013 are: the UOW Alumni Business OUTLOOKUOW (Financial Planning) 2006 TDirectory was launched in 2013. 35 Outstanding Alumni Award for It lists businesses owned by UOW Alumni Award Community Service alumni across the globe and is open for Professor Patricia Davidson the general public to use. To list your Dean of Nursing, Glen Moore business or use the directory, visit Johns Hopkins University Director, Wollongong Science Centre uow.edu.au/alumni/businessdirectory Master of Education 1996 and Planetarium, UOW In the theme of lifelong education, UOW Bachelor of Arts (Education) 1990 Bachelor of Science (Hons) 1969 Library Alumni Memberships are now free. You can access thousands of online journals and databases and borrow up to 30 items to keep up to date in your areas of interest. International alumni awards For more information and to apply for your membership, visit he UOW Alumni Relations Team Alumni award winner uow.libguides.com/alumni nominated alumni for various Tinternational alumni awards in Dr Weihua Sun received the Australia 2013, including: China Alumni Award for Corporate Achievement for his work as Vice ƒƒ the Australia Future Unlimited: President of Jigang Group Co Ltd. Alumni Excellence Awards 2013 Connect with UOW Dhaka, Bangladesh A special mention to UOW alumni ƒƒ the Australia China Alumni Awards finalists in the Australia China Alumni and other alumni Awards: Yvette Ip, Dr Rita Yao Chen ƒƒ the Malaysia Alumni Association facebook.com/uowalumni and Robert Wu. Council Alumni Awards linkedin.com [Search UOW Alumni Group]

uow.edu.au/alumni Recognition morning tea Wollongong January 2013 A morning tea was held to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution the UOW Campus Chapter has made to students’ lives by dedicating over 20 years of fundraising through the Alumni Secondhand Bookshop - raising over $212,000 for student scholarships to date.

Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney

April 2013 Glenn Barkley, [pictured; right, centre, with staff from the University’s Office of Advancement] UOW OUTLOOKUOW 36 UOW alumnus and MCA Senior Curator, treated alumni to an exclusive after-hours tour of Volume One: MCA Collection. The Ignite Exclusive event, which also celebrated the 30th anniversary of Creative Arts at UOW, gave UOW alumni an opportunity to network over drinks and canapés against the stunning Sydney Harbour backdrop.

UOWD Iftar Dinner July 2013 UOWD hosted 200 guests at its annual alumni Iftar dinner held at the Arjaan Rotana Hotel, Dubai Media City in July, with alumni stretching from the first graduation to those from the class of 2013. Illawarra Speed Networking May 2013 Wollongong-based alumni and friends gathered for a Speed Networking session to connect with one another and hear from 2012 Illawarra Young Business Leader of the Year and UOW alumnus, Peter Buckley [pictured] who shared his tips on leadership, team work, personal accountability and the value of networks.

Early Years Education Shoalhaven Alumni Chapter Alumni Chapter

The Chapter held regular meetings The Chapter celebrated one year for the professional development of active involvement in their local of early years educators, as well as community. Regular events were held

two fundraising dinners for an alumni including a poetry presentation and professional experience award. environment talk. Jakarta Indonesia

June 2013 OUTLOOKUOW 37 A group of UOW graduates nick‑named the “Gong Gang” [pictured above] regularly get together to network and reminisce on their time spent as students of UOW.

London Alumni Reception October 2013 CBS Vice-President of International Communications Luke Fredberg [pictured] shared personal insights into his journey from UOW graduate to his roles with global communications organisations during a reception for UK-based alumni and friends. The reception was hosted by UOW Vice‑Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings at London’s Royal Society of the Arts. Sydney Ignite Event September 2013 The ABC’s Kumi Taguchi, Fotomerchant co-founder Derek Clapham and Kids’ Cancer Project CEO Peter Neilson [pictured below] got together with fellow alumni to discuss and debate the meaning of success at UOW’s Ignite Alumni function at Sydney’s CBD Hotel. The event showcased the abundance of Thai Alumni and success held by UOW graduates, with most people swapping business cards Friends Function, throughout the night. Bangkok Thailand November 2013 Thai alumni, academics and friends gathered at the annual function hosted by the UOW Thai Alumni and Friends Chapter and attended by UOW Vice- Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings at the Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square in November.

UOW OUTLOOKUOW 38

February September Illawarra Ignite Alumni Function Melbourne Ignite Alumni Networking Function April New York Alumni Reception UOWD Graduation Ceremony Event diary San Francisco Reception Shanghai Alumni Reception London Alumni Reception Hong Kong Alumni Reception 2014 Singapore Alumni Reception October Malaysia Alumni Reception Sydney Ignite Alumni Networking Wollongong Networking After 5 Function student mentoring function UOWD Graduation Ceremony May November Find out more UOW Alumni Awards Nominations Open Thailand Alumni and Friends Function Sydney Ignite Exclusive Alumni Acaa Australia China Alumni Awards facebook.com/uowalumni Networking Function MaAc Malaysia Australia Alumni Awards linkedin.com July [Search UOW Alumni Group] Iftar Dinners Wollongong and Dubai December Alumni Outlook Magazine Issue 2 uow.edu.au/alumni Wollongong Graduation Ceremonies Wollongong Graduation Ceremonies Fellowship and Alumni Awards Dinner Top 2% in QS Rankings he University of Wollongong has The year at UOW consolidated a top 2% spot in Tthe hotly-contested QS World Rankings released in the UK in 2013. UOW has maintained a top 1% spot in the world for the “employer UOW generates $2 billion reputation” of its graduates. This 1% achievement is reinforced by UOW study, the methodology of alone, UOW-related expenditure the release of the 2014 Australian which was independently verified by generates 4,908 jobs annually from Good Universities Guide where UOW ADeloitte Access Economics, shows operations, capital investment, including scored a maximum 15 out of 15 stars that UOW activities generate over $2 construction and maintenance, student for the key categories of: Getting a billion in economic activity each year, expenditure including day-to-day living Job, Positive Graduate Outcomes with most occurring in Wollongong and expenses for domestic and international and Graduate Starting Salary. the Illawarra region. students, and visitor expenditure from graduation ceremonies, conferences, In the latest QS round, UOW was The report, which was released in tourism at UOW’s Science Centre and ranked 276 overall and 100th in March, shows that in the Illawarra the world for how the University’s special events. graduates are rated by their employers. It is the sixth year in a row that UOW has been rated in the

top 1% for ‘employer reputation’. This year’s rankings show a marked improvement in the ratings of ‘Faculty Areas’ on last year. In the

area of engineering and technology OUTLOOKUOW 39 UOW was ranked 128; social sciences and management (213), arts and humanities (234) and natural sciences (245). These four ‘areas’ encompass all of UOW’s current five Faculties [see p41].

2013 milestones New technology for safer and more

The Sydney Business School effective cancer therapy celebrated 15 years of providing With the latest figures from the World their illness, inventor of the technology, over 7,500 graduates with quality Health Organisation showing that Professor Anatoly Rozenfeld, said it postgraduate qualifications. Australia has the highest rate of cancer is imperative to ensure its safety and UOW College has been enabling cases per capita in the world, and nearly its success. pathways into UOW for 25 years with double the global average, researchers “While contemporary radiation therapy its university preparation and English from UOW have invented a new is very accurate, quality assurance language courses. technology that allows for a safer and during the treatment delivery is more effective way of treating cancer, Creative Arts marked its 30th paramount because overdoses of especially in children. anniversary by bringing together radiation can induce chronic or acute artists, scholars, cultural leaders, The novel device, known as ‘MOSkin’, side effects, such as skin erythema,” distinguished alumni, former detects how much radiation patients Professor Rozenfeld said. Deans, students and staff for a are exposed to during radiotherapy, in “MOSkin monitors the amount of series of exhibitions, performances, real time. presentations and panel discussions. radiation the skin receives and With nearly two-thirds of cancer hence this side effects can be more UOW’s Science Centre welcomed its patients receiving radiotherapy during closely controlled.” millionth visitor since it opened in 1989. The device will work in a similar way to Bionic implant to the cochlear implant, with electrodes Premier’s NSW implanted into the frontal area of the treat mental illness brain, which will provide electrical Export Award under development stimulation and growth factors to improve brain function in schizophrenia OW was announced as the OW researchers are in the midst and allied disorders. winner of the Education and of developing an innovative brain “Brain abnormalities in neuronal growth, UTraining Award at the Premier’s Uimplant to help treat people with microstructure and inter-neuronal NSW Export Awards in October. mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. communication underlie the prefrontal The award was one of 12 national Professor Xu-Feng Huang, Deputy cortical pathology of many psychiatric award categories and recognised Executive Director of IHMRI at UOW, diseases, including schizophrenia,” UOW for “outstanding innovation is leading a multidisciplinary team of Professor Huang said. and export achievement in the field researchers on the $676,000, three- There have been virtually no of education and training services, year, National Health and Medical technological breakthroughs for the expertise and curriculum, including Research Council funded project. vocational training”. treatment of schizophrenia in 50 years.

UOW’s export business is built around the delivery of higher education services both onshore (Wollongong and Sydney campuses) and offshore through partnership operations in the major Asian hubs of Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

This was the first year that UOW has participated in the NSW Export Awards. UOW OUTLOOKUOW 40 at its campus in Dubai’s Knowledge UOWD turns 20 Village, while close to 7,000 people have Big Ideas Festival graduated from its courses over the past he University of Wollongong in OW hosted its inaugural Big Ideas two decades. Dubai (UOWD) celebrated its 20th Festival at the Innovation Campus Tanniversary in 2013. UOWD is arguably Australia’s Uin May. most successful off-shore higher UOWD began life as the Institute of It featured presentations by 12 of the education facility. It has 12 accredited Australian Studies, a tiny branch of UOW University’s most recently-appointed undergraduate degree programs, 11 delivering English language courses in a professors, talking about the “big ideas” Masters programs and a highly-regarded leased apartment in Dubai. In that first in their research. doctoral program. UOWD is the major year it had five staff members and just business of UOW Enterprises, which is Presentation topics ranged from: eight students. On latest figures, it has 100% owned by UOW. around 4,000 students and 287 staff ƒƒ developing better batteries to power the electric cars of the future ƒƒ the implications on sea level rise to national borders ƒƒ unlocking the mysteries of quantum computing and helping police better manage psychiatric crisis incidents ƒƒ early intervention with pre-schoolers to prevent them developing sedentary habits that could lead to obesity and other physical issues, as well as affecting brain development. New faculty structure

n 2013 UOW moved to a new structure, with five new Faculties Ireplacing the previous nine Faculties and Graduate Schools of Medicine and Business.

The new Faculties are: ƒƒ Faculty of Business: made up of UOW’s award-winning Sydney Business School, the School of Accounting and Finance, the School of Economics and the School of Management and Marketing. ƒƒ Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences: made up of the School of Civil, Mining UOW positive residence a world first and Environmental Engineering, OW’s new Kooloobong Village 360 students in single studios, double the School of Mechanical, student residential complex is the studios for couples and four-bedroom Materials and Mechatronics world’s first ‘positive residence’, apartments. Engineering, the School of

U planned and run entirely on the science Physics, School of Mathematics The concept combines the themes of of positive psychology and positive and Applied Statistics, School positive psychology, positive education organisations to enhance the students’ of Electrical, Computing and and positive organisational scholarship academic and social experiences. Telecommunications Engineering, to create an atmosphere where students School of Computer Science and OUTLOOKUOW 41 Kooloobong Village is a seven-level can flourish in a nurturing environment Software Engineering and the tower complex on the western of wellbeing and education. The result School of Information Systems boundary of UOW’s main campus, is a world-first that is already attracting and Technology. with self-catered accommodation for international attention. ƒƒ Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts: made up of the School of Arts, the School of Creative Arts Scientists ‘grow’ new cartilage with and the School of Law. ƒƒ Faculty of Science, Medicine help of 3D printing technology and Health: made up of the Graduate School of Medicine, the partnership between scientists Professor Myers said this was the first School of Biological Sciences, the at UOW and St Vincent’s time true cartilage had been grown, as School of Chemistry, the School of AHospital Melbourne has led to a compared to “fibrocartilage”, which does Earth and Environmental Sciences, breakthrough in tissue engineering, not work long-term. the School of Health Sciences and with researchers growing cartilage ACES Director Professor Gordon the School of Nursing, Midwifery from stem cells to treat cancers, Wallace and his team developed and Indigenous Health. osteoarthritis and traumatic injury. customised fabrication equipment ƒƒ Faculty of Social Sciences: made In work led by Associate Professor to deliver live cells inside a printed up of the School of Education and Damian Myers of St Vincent’s Hospital 3D structure. This cutting edge the School of Psychology. Melbourne – a node of the UOW- technology was utilised to deliver headquartered Australian Research 3D printed scaffolds on which the Council Centre of Excellence for cartilage was grown. Electromaterials Science (ACES) – “By 2025, it is feasible that we will be facebook.com/uowalumni scaffolds fabricated on 3D printing able to fabricate complete functional equipment were used to grow cartilage linkedin.com organs, tailored for an individual patient,” over a 28-day period from stem cells [Search UOW Alumni Group] Professor Wallace said. that were extracted from tissue under uow.edu.au/alumni the knee cap. OUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT CONNECT: UOW ALUMNI

At UOW we’ve worked hard to one of Australia’s best become one of the world’s most modern universities ƒƒ QS Top 50 Under 50 Rankings 2013 respected young universities. ƒƒ Times Higher Education Top 100 Under 50 Rankings 2013 But our proudest achievements are our alumni. uow.edu.au/alumni