university of melbourne magazine 2019

Fighting to feed the world University researchers are taking the lead in the quest for food security

2 2019 EDITION CONTENTS 3 alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019 INTERVIEW The voice for a new era Vice-Chancellor Duncan Maskell’s vision for the University. PAGE 7

COVER IMAGE: CHRIS HOPKINS

WE WELCOME MUSIC THERAPY YOUR FEEDBACK Email your comments to: Striking a chord [email protected] How music is connecting Write to us at: The Advancement Office, The University of Melbourne, dementia patients Victoria 3010, Australia and their carers. PAGE 10 Call us on: +61 3 8344 1751 For more exclusive content visit: unimelb.edu.au/3010 COVER STORY EDITORIAL Securing the ADVISORY GROUP DR JAMES ALLAN, DIRECTOR, ALUMNI world’s food AND STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS University researchers DORON BEN-MEIR, VICE-PRINCIPAL are fortifying global FOR ENTERPRISE ZOE FURMAN (BA(Hons) 1991), UNIVERSITY food sources. PAGE 12 OF MELBOURNE ALUMNI COUNCIL DR JENNIFER HENRY (BAgr(Hons) 1990, INTELLIGENCE PhD 2001), SENIOR MANAGER, GIFTS IN WILLS News from around the University 4 PETER KRONBORG (MBA 1979), UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE ALUMNI COUNCIL KNOWLEDGE BANK MAXINE McKEW, HONORARY ENTERPRISE FROM TOP: The marvel that is PROFESSOR AT THE MELBOURNE GRADUATE Tom Nicholson, the Minerva Access SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Towards a glass 18 DR DAMIAN POWELL (BA(Hons) 1989), monument, 2017–19 IT TAKES TWO PRINCIPAL, JANET CLARKE HALL (installation The King twins: global achievers CAROLINE STRONG, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, photograph). 20 BRAND VISION AND DELIVERY New life for Stained‑glass lead A VERY BAILLIEU BIRTHDAY and steel frame in two EDITORIAL TEAM At 60, the University’s premier screens, each containing MANAGING EDITOR NADA JOLIC 20 lancets. Realised library just keeps getting better 22 EDITOR SIMON MANN/MEDIAXPRESS through Monash Art FIVE QUESTIONS DESIGNER BILL FARR/MEDIAXPRESS Projects, Melbourne; Old Quad Geoffrey Wallace Stained Archaeologist Dr Brent Davis on Glass, Melbourne; and decoding the Everest of scripts 24 With its iconic archways and bold architectural courtesy of Milani Gallery, Brisbane. LIVING BEQUESTS This Publication is produced on a Forest presence, the Old Quad is the foundational building PICTURE: Sharing the beauty Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper of the Parkville campus and endures as the strongest CHRISTIAN CAPURRO. of maths by supporting that is produced at an FSC certified paper © TOM NICHOLSON mill under an ISO14001 environmental connection to the University’s fledgling years. future teachers in the field 26 management system, using elemental Installation chlorine-free whitening process. An extensive restoration, completed in 2019, has photography of OPEN (ART) HOUSES Printed by Immij Pty Ltd, an ISO14001 Ancestral Memory Melbourne house museums, Environmental management system and returned the 160-year-old North Wing and areas of exhibition, 2019. both creations of alumni, ISO9001 Quality management system PICTURE: certified printer with FSC (Chain of Custody) the East Wing to their original design, allowing for CHRISTIAN CAPURRO are drawing global acclaim 28 and Sustainable Green Print Level 3 the display of items from the University’s cultural IMAGE © THE ARTISTS certifications, printed on an environmentally ALUMNI PROFILES friendly LED printing press using vegetable collections, including a dedicated temporary The Old Quad’s How alumni are making their mark 31 based inks. exhibition space in the Treasury Gallery. iconic exterior. This publication is fully recyclable – please dispose of it wisely. MILESTONES Views expressed by contributors are not The heritage-listed architectural features and Appointments, honours necessarily endorsed by the University. historic furniture demonstrate the early history of and accolades 36 ISSN: 2205-1112 Produced for the University of Melbourne by this original University of Melbourne building. THE LAST WORD MEDIAXPRESS mediaxpress.net.au Marathon man 38 CRICOS Provider Number 00116K about.unimelb.edu.au/old-quad 4 INTELLIGENCE INTELLIGENCE 5

IN BRIEF PARTNERSHIPS New buildings around campus FUNDING IAN POTTER SOUTHBANK CENTRE DNA STRENGTHENING DETECTIVES: $4 million for RELATIONSHIPS ON THE TRAIL IN INDIA AND INDONESIA OF THE PLATYPUS Science Gallery n The University has recently launched n University of Melbourne two five-year international strategies to researchers in collaboration with Melbourne build closer relationships with India and San Diego Zoo Global, Cesar and several Indonesia. state agencies are using traces of Engaging with India (2020–2024) platypus DNA left in the wild to track and Engaging with Indonesia (2020– down dwindling populations. 2024) reflect on strong existing Advances in genetic sequencing relationships with both nations and technologies are allowing the outline further commitments to building researchers to detect animals in their a shared future. habitats without direct encounters. Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan The technology has been used to launch Maskell said the launch of the new the largest investigation of platypus India strategy would “strengthen our populations ever undertaken. longstanding ties and accelerate Considering the difficulty of Science Gallery Melbourne has received a generous donation of $4 million from collaborations with our Indian partners detecting platypuses in the wild, Ruth and Peter McMullin (BCom, LLB 1974) ahead of its opening in late 2020. to address shared social and scientific exacerbated by population decline and Established as a space where science and art collide, Science Gallery creates global challenges”. localised extinctions in some areas, the unique and interactive exhibitions with the goal of nurturing young people’s FUN FACTS: Similarly, the strategy in Indonesia research is providing a more affordable interest in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics). n A microscope aims to strengthen existing partnerships. and logistically viable way to shed light Announcing their gift during National Science Week, the McMullins said image of horse “Our academics are working with on their true conservation status and they believed the gallery had the potential to make a genuine impact on young cartilage has been Indonesian scholars on research with an the impacts of major threats to the people’s lives. used in the building impact on the priorities and needs of platypus on a large scale. “By placing young people at the centre of programs, the Gallery genuinely facade as part of the Indonesian development and on the The heart of the University’s Southbank campus, “Currently, the Faculty has more than 40,000 The project will also enable analysis reflects their voices and concerns,” they said. facility’s innovative regional challenges that Indonesians and the Ian Potter Southbank Centre, officially opened campus visitors a year and hosts more than 220 of why populations have declined in “The Gallery provides experiences that are transformative at a crucial time in design. Australians share,” Professor Maskell said. in June 2019. events, which will now be expanded with a public areas where they once thrived, a young person’s life. We believe Science Gallery will have a lasting impact on the n The complex has Both strategies, launched in August The $109 million conservatorium is filled with program of events at the Conservatorium that informing actions to conserve this future and consider this gift an investment in Australia’s next generation of scientific a solar power system 2019, have been welcomed by Australian state-of-the-art, world-class equipment. It can will enrich Melbourne’s thriving cultural scene.” unique, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, and creative trailblazers.” producing 140,000 representatives in each country — accommodate more than 7000 students and The new Conservatorium is named after egg-laying Australian mammal. As the first Australian node of an international network, Science Gallery kWh of solar energy Harinder Sidhu, High Commissioner to contains a 400-seat auditorium, 200-seat ground The Ian Potter Foundation due to its generous pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/ Melbourne will open as part of Melbourne Connect, the University’s new innovation a year — offsetting India, and Gary Quinlan, Ambassador to floor studio and a variety of rehearsing, performing, donations totalling $14 million towards the on-the-dna-trail-of-the-platypus precinct on the former Royal Women’s Hospital site at the intersection of Swanston the power usage Indonesia. The University has developed teaching and research spaces. revitalisation of the Southbank campus. The and Grattan Streets. Melbourne Connect will incorporate research, industry, for mechanical engagement plans for three key Barry Conyngham, Dean of the Faculty of conservatorium has also been funded by the government and students in a single, purpose-built location. ventilation, fans, countries in the region: India, Indonesia Fine Arts and Music, said he was excited about the University, the Victorian State Government and RESPECT: EVERYONE’S The McMullins’ gift includes an expectation that Science Gallery Melbourne will fume cupboards and China. Engaging with China potential for expanding the program of events in other generous philanthropic supporters, RIGHT, EVERYONE’S use this opportunity to secure match funding from other supporters and friends. and lifts. (2020–2024) is due in 2020. the new centre in coming years. particularly the Myer Foundation and family. RESPONSIBILITY n In February 2019, Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell addressed the LIFE SCIENCES COMPLEX issue of sexual assault and harassment Stroke solution in the skies The newly opened $100 million Life Sciences on campus. In a video distributed to all Australia could become home to the world’s first Complex at the corner of Tin Alley and Royal Parade students and staff, he acknowledged the stroke air ambulance, transforming rural and boasts the most sophisticated STEMM teaching problem, shared current measures to regional access to emergency stroke treatment. laboratories and facilities in Australia. combat the issue and highlighted future A research group led by Professor Geoffrey It is the first time that staff and students from steps necessary to make the University Donnan and Stephen Davis at the University of different faculties will share one building as home. a safer and more inclusive space. Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital was Students from Science and Veterinary and “By working together, students, staff awarded a $1 million grant as part of the Australian Agricultural Sciences, along with those from and the wider University community Government’s Medical Research Future Fund Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, will have can help to eliminate sexual assault and Frontiers initiative. Medicine, Dentistry access to three large practical teaching laboratories, harassment,” Professor Maskell said. They will develop, test and ultimately implement and Health Sciences an object-based learning facility, three classrooms The video’s release was followed by portable brain imaging tools that can be transport- Dean Shitij Kapur, for small group and problem-based learning, as well the launch of an anonymous register ed in air and road ambulances, allowing life-saving Stroke Foundation as informal learning and study spaces — all of which where students, staff, alumni and visitors equipment to be taken directly to a patient. CEO Sharon McGowan, are dedicated to preparing the bioscientists, doctors can privately report instances where This is critical in circumstances such as stroke Professor Davis, and veterinarians of the future. they have witnessed or experienced onset in which the first hour is known as the ‘golden Minister for Health The four-level, 6-star Green Star building will inappropriate behaviour. The register is hour’, offering the best chances of patient survival. Greg Hunt and be a hub of interdisciplinary activities, further part of the Safer Community Program, Experts from more than 30 of Australia’s leading Professor Donnan at demonstrating the University’s commitment to an online platform that provides support health and academic institutes and charities are the announcement. global excellence in life science teaching, learning, and advice to members of the University involved in the project. PICTURE: Peter Casamento research and engagement. community about their safety. 6 INTELLIGENCE LEADERSHIP 7 alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019

IN BRIEF UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHES FELLOWSHIP IN HONOUR OF ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ALLISON MILNER The University of Melbourne has established a Fellowship to honour the legacy of Associate Professor Allison Milner who was killed in a tragic accident at Princes Park in Carlton in August. Associate Professor Milner, 36, was Deputy Head of the Disability and Health Unit at the Centre for Health Equity at the University and was highly regarded for her research in the field of suicide prevention. In her honour, the University has established the ‘Allison Milner Early Career Research Fellowship’ in public health to fund a talented early career researcher to develop a program of research to reduce inequities in line with Associate Professor Milner’s values and interests. The Fellow will demonstrate the values and qualities that she emulated, including a commitment to social justice, valuing of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and collaborative Esther Stewart installs team-based research that includes academics, PICTURE: CHRIS HOPKINS her work at the Accademia government and non-government organisations di Belle Arti di Firenze. and advocates. PICTURE: O’ROUKE & GATES The University’s chief INAUGURAL LGBTIQA+ has a lot on his plate, ART ALLY NETWORK The Create a work that … The University of Melbourne’s LGBTIQA+ ally which he is relishing. community, the Pride in Action Network (PiAN), Represents the idea of human physical perfection (David – Michelangelo) promotes visibility and inclusivity of diverse Peter Wilmoth talks Divulges a deeply personal, yet unattainable desire (Self-Portrait with Monkeys – Frida Kahlo) gender and sexuality identities. Pushes the boundaries of your discipline to the extreme (RMS Titanic) The idea of the network was first introduced to Vice-Chancellor to students and staff in an online consultation voice These are some of the briefs 30 emerging choreographer and dancer Jack Riley, process. Of 773 respondents, 98 per cent agreed Duncan Maskell. artists received from the Faculty of Fine Arts interactive composer Samuel Kreusler and that the aims of the group resonated with them. and Music for their first commission. classical composer Danna Yun. This led to the network launch in 2019 at the uncan Maskell is well equipped for the role At the time, they did not know that these University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Midsumma Pride March. of University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor. briefs were inspired by some of the most Professor Duncan Maskell, who launched Students and staff are encouraged to sign for a His rich academic career and varied lived iconic art and cultural pieces currently in First Commissions in Florence, believes in up as allies and access free resources to equip experiences are proving – for a thought leader existence. In response, these young artists the power of art in the 21st century. them with the knowledge and skills to proactively driving the University into a range of new areas created a wide range of contemporary works, “As our world becomes increasingly create a safer campus and online environment both here and globally – extremely useful. addressing issues from current global crises, automated, our creative artists and musicians for all. DA microbiologist by training (he did his doctoral thesis on such as climate change and refugee treatment have the ability to work together to solve PiAN has been involved in a number of finding vaccines to fight typhoid), Professor Maskell spent most to age-old themes of love, grief and loss. problems and meet the challenges that we initiatives, including hosting panel discussions new of his adult life at Cambridge University, studying (he was the While the brief Michelangelo received in face in society,” said Professor Maskell. “A fine during the International Transgender Day of first in his family to attend university), teaching and then as 1501 led to the creation of David, an iconic arts and music education is transformative, Visibility, and the International Day Against its Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor. He arrived in Melbourne late symbol for physical perfection, its and encourages confidence and a strong Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, as well in 2018 with his wife Sarah, also a microbiologist: “We met in interpretation by Melbourne visual artist sense of self-belief. It gives students the as running free regular training sessions on how the lab at Oxford,” he says. Esther Stewart and Australian Indigenous courage to think independently and critically. to be a good ally. era His passions include soccer (his childhood dream was to play artist Ashley Perry challenges traditional It fosters collaboration and creative risk- The group works closely with departmental for Manchester United), cricket (on his first visit to Melbourne in understanding of being perfect. “Human taking, passion, determination and resilience.” and student-run LGBTIQA+ programs, including 1994 he attended the venerated Boxing Day Test at the MCG) and physical perfection is whatever you want it Melbourne University Sport’s Pride in Sport, AFL football (for years, he watched highlights packages on TV in to be, not what you are told it is,” said Perry. You can find all the artists’ responses UMSU (the University of Melbourne Student England and he has chosen Carlton as his team, mainly because Beyond visual art, the commission inspired to their commissions here: Union) Queer Department and GSA (Graduate he lives opposite the Blues’ Princes Park). “I love AFL,” he says. by David has also been interpreted by firstcommissions.com.au Student Association) Queer Department. CONTINUED PAGE 8 8 LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP 9 alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019

FROM PAGE 7 that anything we think we can predict we’re probably “When I got here, people were surprised that I knew going to be wrong in 10 years’ time.” the rules.” When at Cambridge, Professor Maskell had We’ve met Professor Maskell at the Ian Potter posited the view that the university should not build Southbank Centre, part of the Southbank campus in any new lecture theatres, which triggered some the heart of Melbourne’s arts precinct. The centre is pushback. the new home for the Melbourne Conservatorium of “That was a bit of a challenging statement,” Music (it relocated from Parkville in March). He takes he reflects. “It was a challenge to make people us on a tour of some of the performing spaces and think whether they really did need lecture theatres outside to the Linear Park precinct which will host in the future. film screenings and music performances. Over the “I don’t know what it’s going to look like in 10 road is The Stables, home to the visual arts students. years. What I do know is that most of the students It’s little wonder he’s excited to be overseeing get their factual information from the internet. all this cultural activity; music has always been So, the idea that there’s going to be set-piece lectures central in his life. Aged 11, he sang the solo part in for hundreds of students where a bloke like me Benjamin Britten’s 60th birthday concert in London’s stands at the front and imparts my wisdom in terms Queen Elizabeth Hall and later took up clarinet and of knowledge download, those days are numbered. saxophone. The band he later joined was once on However, I do think personal contact is really the same bill as Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Rats. There important.” was even some record company interest. “There were Professor Maskell likes the idea of deeper a couple of opportunities we could have taken up,” collaboration with the corporate world whereby he says, a touch wistfully. practitioners come onto campus and work alongside He is about as far from the don-in-the-ivory-tower academics. as you could get, which goes some way to explaining “I believe very strongly in collaboration. No single why he has settled so well into Melbourne life. person has a monopoly on the good ideas.” This eclectic CV will undoubtedly help with A corollary is the commercialisation of research, the impressively ambitious and diverse array of another growth area. “Universities are there primarily programs and collaborations Professor Maskell to be engines of discovery, to be basic research is overseeing for the University: developing the engines,” he says. “However, if there are things seven‑hectare engineering hub at Fisherman’s Bend coming out of the research that are translatable, then and the Melbourne Connect project on the former they should be translated, and I think we should not Royal Women’s Hospital site, “a connected innovation avoid our obligations to do that translation. ecosystem in the heart of Melbourne” where “And translation, not just commercialisation. There academics and industry will get into the same space are plenty of things that come out of the University that to interact, he says. could be translated for the public good, which are not PICTURE: DREW ECHBERG “We want to get our art and cultural objects to Professor Maskell sees great value in collaborations “I’m hoping to do exhibitions be much more visible and accessible to the public. with other countries. He recently visited India “We need to make sure I’m hoping to do exhibitions and festivals and all and Indonesia to meet government and university and festivals and all sorts of sorts of other things with the City of Melbourne counterparts to discuss opportunities, including our students have an where we can really leverage our cultural assets and collaboration on research projects. other things with the City of do some really exciting things. I am energised by the “We’re not in those countries primarily to recruit outstandingly good possibilities. It’s a big task but I actually thrive on students,” he says. “We want to make relationships Melbourne where we can having lots on my plate.” with those countries. They are big and important experience at the The various projects will generate jobs and countries. We have not done as much as we could further embed the University into the daily life of with those countries. really leverage our cultural Melburnians. “It’s unavoidable that the University of “We need to make good research relationships, University, that they Melbourne is a key part of the city of Melbourne,” he academic exchange and student relationships. By assets and do some really says. “Its foundation stone was laid on the same day doing those things then, yes, we may get more students get all the teaching as the foundation stone of the State Library … What coming over from those countries as a happy accident.” exciting things.” the University has to do is make sure it’s not just an they need . . . ” historical fact but that it’s meaningful here and now.” e says any great university has to This is far from the only change the University be international and Melbourne Its purpose is to place highest-calibre research, ABOVE: Professor is undergoing. “We all need to bear in mind that University could lead internationally necessarily easily monetised or commercialised. But industry, government, higher-degree students Maskell taking part in universities are constantly evolving,” Professor in some areas – “and, in a sense, commercialisation is also important. If we can translate and other elite thinkers in a single purpose-built the lighting of the Maskell says. This includes funding models. do our share of the heavy lifting in stuff that we produced and also make it commercially precinct. One floor will be devoted to Science Gallery wilin (flame) International students – predominantly from China terms of global leadership.” viable and make money out of it, then I think that’s a Melbourne, part of an international network designed ceremony at the Wilin – make up a significant proportion of the student HBack home on campus there are issues to consider really good thing.” to bring together students and members of the public Centre for Indigenous body. “I think there is always risk in over dependence around the learning experience, including the future But at its core, the University of Melbourne should to explore science and art. Arts and Cultural on any one particular source of revenue,” he adds. of physical lecture theatres in the face of the digital “put the students at the heart of everything we do”. “We Professor Maskell also wants the University to Development at the “Are we over-reliant on Chinese revenue? It’s possible revolution. need to make sure our students have an outstandingly allow greater access to its valuable art collections Southbank campus in we are slightly. “Universities worldwide are all struggling to good experience at the University, that they get all the and for the public to have a better experience of its May, marking the “I wouldn’t over-egg it though. It’s not too much. understand how their teaching program will change,” teaching they need … but also get a great deal of other performing arts. “We are developing the Cultural start of National If it all changed tomorrow, we would be able to he says. “And it will change with the advent of digital challenges, the ability to expand their minds into other Commons project,” he says. Reconciliation Week. survive for long enough to modify our model.” technology, which is moving so fast at the moment areas. They get taught how to think.” 3010 11 alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019 3010 MUSIC THERAPY MUSIC he next step Professor Baker Professor step next he develop to hope team her and of modestraining, different is device app, a mobile including be can the training so that “We show carers how to sing in a way in a way sing to how carers show “We to teach, difficult not are strategies These an economic will include study The is coordinated being study The Professor Baker emphasises that you you that Baker emphasises Professor be can transformative. the results But process involves carers using familiar familiar using carers involves process The of states the emotional in to tune to songs connection. encourage to one their loved distress of the level matches initially that then to and dementia, in the with person they to sing the way adapt slowly to dementia the with person encourage calm down.” them and follow music trained a During the study, says. she provide to the home to comes therapist the primary carer. for training one-on-one thebody interpret to learn how Carers the moods of and behaviours language, to then how and dementia, with person moment that for appropriate select music when necessary. it adjust and of the cost-benefits comparing analysis with training the intervention delivering that estimates Given not. of the costs was dementia the 2015 global of cost the stakes rising, and $US818 billion high. are Joint Union’s the European through Neuro-degenerative for Programme Diseases, funded the locally and by Research Medical and Health National teams her Baker and Professor Council. the UK, Poland Germany, in Australia, recruiting now are Norway and the study. for participants delivered globally, adapting the music the music adapting globally, delivered to the interventions of the content and needs. cultural different accommodate aim The be need to a good singer. don’t the central support to is the music of between the with person relationship help to – and their carer and dementia in newsometimes meaning each find the is “Music moments. confusing says. she connector,” see the behind the person dementia. “You they a sudden, activated, All become of start They themselves. of out they come and smile, recognise you, you, look at to moments precious offer so, doing through their carer.” with connecting of Professor Baker and her team are are and her team Baker Professor app that a music therapy developing can use at home. Gifts will help carers which the app, of fund the development carers of family will support the lives with dementia. and people living T

Unlike other studies that have focused have that studies other Unlike the assessing as well as Crucially, Baker uses the word Professor “The beautiful thing about music, is music, “Theabout thing beautiful pathways brain activates music says She that remain relatively intact even in people even in people intact relatively remain that songs Familiar dementia. advanced with people help and emotions positive arouse their memories. with reconnect in care- music therapy of the effects on aims study the Homeside settings, home with people of carers family teach to to strategically use music to dementia behaviours the distressing manage help dementia. with associated dementia on the intervention of impact and agitation as such symptoms changes measures this study depression, levels life, of quality own in the carers’ how and resilience, and depression of role. they in the caring feel competent Joanne describe to how “attunement” day. that mother her to responded study will assess the use of music as a as will music the use assess of study the improve to intervention targeted with people for only not life of quality those for caring also for but dementia, enabling potentially home, them at surroundings in familiar live to people dollars of millions saving and longer for the way. along stimulate to potential unique a has it that Professor says recall,” autobiographical at the Therapy Music head of Baker, Music, of Conservatorium Melbourne Research International of director and Arts and the Creative for Partnerships Unit. Research Therapy Music ,” the younger the younger ,” wo women are singing side singing are women wo to swaying a sofa, side on by love you know “I the music. Amazing Grace mother. her reminds woman Now she plays another old favourite, favourite, old another plays she Now for strike a chord may a scene is that It be so not may next happens what But agitation, mother’s her registers she As seven happened smallThis exchange slow song. The older woman joins in at in joins woman older The song. a slow plucking starts and then frowns but first, stands she Suddenly, hands. her at restlessly her Hides Whimpers. away. moves and palms. face in her loved or member a family who has anyone the abrupt dementia: advancing with one agitation. mood, the growing of changes sense of familiar that the carer, for And, helplessness. familiar. This the music. calmly changes Joanne a with a jazzy number on puts time she takes her she Smiling, beat. distinct the them in time to moves hands, mother’s mum, me “Spin dance. to her urges music, dad used and you . . . I remember me! spin smiles mother Her do this allto the time.” laughing. now first; at tentative back, they twirl. Together, for the way pave helped has but ago years transform help could that a new study dementia, with living people of the care disease. The scene Alzheimer’s including of in a video depicted reconstruction is into evolved since has that a pilot part of Led by study. multinational a major the Homeside Baker, Felicity Professor Professor Baker uses music to connect with people living with dementia. uses with people living music to connect Baker Professor Music is helping people with with people is helping Music their with connect to dementia . Cole-Adams Kate writes carers, T

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BEAT A therapeutic therapeutic A MUSIC THERAPY MUSIC 10 PICTURE: STEPHEN M STEPHEN PICTURE: 12 COVER STORY COVER STORY 13 alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019 Replenishing the Scientists are facing up to the challenge of food security and global food bowl sustainability on myriad fronts.

BY GARY TIPPET

omewhere in the Pearl River valley After completing his PhD at Virginia Tech in the region of China, perhaps as long ago as US, Dr Johnson first used genetic modification (GM) 13,500 years according to recent genetic technology to make new types of potatoes that were evidence, a prehistoric farmer took a resistant to a major pest, the Colorado Potato Beetle. type of wild grass and began the long He then turned his attention to rice, “digging through process of domesticating it into what the genome to see how we could change the genes to we now know and love as rice. make a better rice plant”. Today, a variety of rice is grown on White rice grains contain a mere two-to-five parts Severy inhabited continent and it is the staple food of per million (ppm) of iron, well short of the 13ppm more than half the world’s population, with at least needed to address rampant iron deficiencies in rice- 3.5 billion people dependent on the grain for 20 dependent populations, and the tiny bit that’s in the per cent of their daily energy. In poorer parts of Asia, grain is not very “bio-available”, or easily absorbed that figure rises to more than 50 per cent. into the body. Dr Johnson’s team has studied a variety But apart from carbs and calories, it gives them of genes that help rice to absorb iron from soil, and little else. Common white, long-grain rice is low found that most of these genes only switch on when in many essential micronutrients such as iron and the plant detects that it is iron-deficient. zinc, with no vitamin A, vitamin C or beta-carotene, “We’ve just changed the way one of these genes is and with very little fibre. These deficiencies can lead expressed so that it’s on at higher levels all the time,” to serious health consequences, from anaemia and he says. “You could say, we’ve fooled the rice into stunted growth to irreversible blindness. However, thinking it’s iron-hungry.” thanks in part to pioneering biotech research by It has proved a win-win situation by a factor of University of Melbourne plant biologist Associate three or four – the biofortified grains have reached Professor Alex Johnson, that is changing. 15ppm iron in the field; they have had the added Dr Johnson, of the University’s School of benefit of increased zinc concentration; the minerals BioSciences, is an expert in the problem of “hidden are bio-available; and, the GM rice is just as high- hunger”, a chronic lack of vitamins and minerals in yielding as existing varieties. the human diet, and he and his team have developed a The technology is now being taken into Bangladesh, new strain of “biofortified” rice enriched with iron and one of the most rice-dependent countries in the zinc – promising significant improvements in nutrition, world and one of the worst-affected by iron and health and quality of life for malnourished millions. zinc deficiency. Meanwhile, Dr Johnson’s team is using the same technology – and the same rice “It’s estimated that one in three children around the Associate Professor Alex Johnson is world suffer from a lack of micronutrients,” he says. gene – to biofortify the world’s other great staple, using GM technology to bolster nutrients “We need to tackle hidden hunger, and one way to do wheat. His team is aiming to bring iron biofortified in rice. “You could say, we’ve fooled the that is to enrich our staple food crops with minerals wheat to Pakistan in the near future. rice into thinking it’s iron-hungry.” and vitamins, referred to as biofortification.” CONTINUED PAGE 14 PICTURE: CHRIS HOPKINS 14 COVER STORY COVER STORY 15 THE FOOD FIGHTERS alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019

PROFESSOR TIMOTHY REEVES DR DORIN GUPTA PROFESSOR PHILIP BATTERHAM YOU MIGHT SAY TIM REEVES WAS team was looking for players. DORIN GUPTA BELIEVES SHE WAS “The world is primarily reliant on PHILIP BATTERHAM WAS STRUCK BY insecticides, particularly neonicotinoids, born to agriculture. His family came from Now, 150 games later, the former blessed to grow up in Himachal Pradesh three major crops: wheat, rice and corn. a mural he saw on Facebook recently. has been blamed. Kingston on Thames, just 15km from Director-General of the International in the Himalayan ranges of north India. We have narrowed down the diversity It showed a honeybee with the grim Professor Batterham, a global leader London, but in the last year of World War II Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre and “I was born and brought up in nature,” of crops so much. There are more than promise: “When we go, we’re taking you in the genetics of insecticide resistance at his pregnant mother was evacuated from now Professor in Residence at the Faculty she says. “I’ve seen how nature works 50,000 edible plants on Earth, and we are all with us.” the School of BioSciences’ Bio21 Institute, the heavily-bombed city. of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, in harmony.” almost totally reliant on a handful, maybe Some scientists have warned that has devoted his career to better and “I was actually born in a farming village Dookie, Reeves advocates “sustainable Dr Gupta moved to Australia in 2012 14 or 15, and those three are the major we face an ‘insect apocalypse’. A 2014 alternative pest control and, lately, to and lived my first few months of life on a intensification” – making agriculture more and is senior lecturer in sustainable energy providers for most of the world. analysis of 452 species estimated that the downstream effects of low doses of farm,” he says. “I’m thinking that’s where sustainable and also more productive to agriculture at Dookie campus where she “With the changing environment, we insect abundance had dropped 45 per cent insecticides on the environment and other I caught the farming bug.” meet global nutritional needs. focuses on resource-efficient production need more diverse and native crops we over 40 years. In April this year, a study insect species. An interest in biology took him into “We have to have much greater systems with the inclusion of technology, can tap into current production systems. warned four in 10 insect species could “But one thing I should say about agriculture at the University of Nottingham diversity in our farming systems. I’m pre-breeding and breeding to increase They won’t replace the three staple crops become extinct. And, echoing that bee insecticides is that, while people are and a talent for rugby brought him to confident we can meet these challenges disease and drought-resistance. She but will be part and parcel of adding on Facebook, Harvard entomologist looking at their downsides, without them Rutherglen in north-east Victoria after a because we’re as good as any country is researching unexplored wild lentil more diversity and especially resilience, E O Wilson warned we could follow. there’d be a whole lot less food in the State Department of Agriculture official in the world at scientists and farmers seeds for disease and drought-resistant because you don’t have to do much to Without insects, other life, and humanity world,” he says. “We cannot just stop using correctly guessed he could transition to working together to help adapt our genes that have been bred out of them – they have been tried and tested “would mostly disappear … And within these chemicals; we need to find effective the indigenous game and knew the local agricultural systems.” commercial crops. by time.” a few months”. Widespread use of and safe alternatives.”

FROM PAGE 12 Medal, the highest honour in Australian • Adaptation to climate change – “now a 52 million are wasted; while, on the other and sustainability of our farming lands. onset of crop diseases well before they agriculture. In his oration, he outlined crystal-clear reality right before our eyes” hand, 2 billion adults and 41 million “Sustainable intensification is one of the became visible to the naked eye. The iofortification is just one area in what he described as the five Grand • Nitrogen fertiliser-use inefficiency children are overweight or obese. key pathways to ‘regenerative agriculture’ sensor, able to capture light in and outside which University of Melbourne Challenges to food and nutritional • Food loss and waste To battle this, Professor Reeves because it concentrates on those five the visible spectrum in 100 times more researchers are working to security, which were posing “a perfect • The neglect and erosion of rural believes the world needs a new revolution elements: conservation agriculture, soil colour channels than normal digital address the pressing issue of storm” for agriculture. communities, with seven in every 10 of diversified and integrated farming, health, efficient water management, better cameras, was flown over tomato crops, Bworld food and nutritional “Globally, for me, these are absolutely people likely to be living in cities by 2050. aiming for – in what might sound genetic material and integrated pest detecting minute changes of pigment security – defined by Dookie campus- humankind’s greatest challenge,” he tells “But in addition, it is vitally important like a contradiction – the “sustainable management.” indicating early signs of disease. It enabled based sustainable agriculture scientist 3010. to view these challenges in the stark intensification” of agriculture. Dr Gupta and the team to build a spectral Dr Dorin Gupta as the need to ensure With the global population growing by context of nutritional security,” he adds. “Basically, we have to produce more esearchers in Melbourne and library of tomato diseases. “that all the people, all the time, have the 160 people every minute, the world will Malnutrition in its widest definition food from existing land with fewer Dookie, near Shepparton, “Matching the surveillance data to the right quantities and, particularly, quality need to increase food production by 70 is rampant, with 88 per cent of resources, and do so more efficiently,” have been tackling many of library data with further advancement of food, all year round.” per cent by 2060. And that will need to countries having two or more major he explains. “It can mean very specific these challenges – often with in interpretation of this data can assist But that ambition is a daunting one. happen in the face of: concerns around nutrition. Two billion things but the way I define it is, you’re Rground-breaking results and growers to selectively spray well in time Professor Timothy Reeves, professor • The loss and degradation of natural people are malnourished and lack key looking at agriculture that is regenerating implications for food security. before a pathogen can establish to a level in residence at Dookie, which is part of resources of air, land and water – with, micronutrients, with 800 million of the natural resource – you’re improving In 2017, Dr Gupta and a multi- of significant damage,” she says. “This the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural for instance, one hectare of productive those going to bed hungry every night; soil health, you’re improving biodiversity disciplinary team used a hyper-spectral is part of precision agriculture; we don’t Sciences, was recently awarded the Farrer land lost every 7.67 seconds 155 million children are stunted and and you’re improving the resilience sensor on board a drone to detect the CONTINUED PAGE 16 16 COVER STORY COVER STORY 17 THE FOOD FIGHTERS alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019

PROFESSOR ARY HOFFMANN DR RACHEL CAREY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ALEX JOHNSON AS A BOY ON HIS FAMILY’S VEGETABLE bacterial parasites, to block the spread ONE OF THE ATTRACTIONS THAT combined her experience and passion for ALEX JOHNSON’S INTEREST IN PLANTS team are utilising a wide range of biotech farm near Christchurch, New Zealand, of viruses. enticed Rachel Carey, when she moved to good food to collaboratively designing bloomed early. As a child in Washington DC, strategies to biofortify rice and wheat with Ary Hoffmann developed a keen “We can’t rely on broad-spectrum Melbourne from England 20 years ago, food systems that are healthy and he would follow his mother around the essential vitamins and minerals. interest in bugs; beetles, wasps and pesticides anymore,” he says. was the city’s famed food culture. Now, sustainable, while designing policy to backyard helping her plant flowers and Dr Johnson says there is still resistance lacewings were everywhere on the “They’re not selective. You’re not just she is protecting and enhancing that support that. vegetables, although his habit of digging to GM foods, but believes it is waning. farm, some bugs preying on others. killing one particular pest but a lot aspect of her adopted home. “I think we’re not really aware of how them up to see how they were progressing “We’ve now had 23 years of commercialised “My father certainly spent a lot of his of different insects – also the many A lecturer in food systems at Dookie, dependent Melbourne’s food culture is could be annoying. GM crops. People ask how many GM meals time spraying,” he says, “And I always parasitoid wasps and the beetles Dr Carey was the lead author of Roadmap on the quality of fresh food that’s grown An interest in human health almost took have been consumed and it’s trillions, thought, ‘This is crazy, we can’t keep that can potentially control the pests. for a Resilient and Sustainable Melbourne around the city,” she says. “I’d like to think him to medicine, but he realised he was and not a single health incident from any going like this’.” There’s a whole lot of good guys out Foodbowl, which outlines the keys – future generations will be able to source more attuned to plant biology. At Virginia of them. Young Ary was ahead of the curve. there. including recycling water and organic that same quality of food. Tech in the early years of commercialisation “The papaya industry in Hawaii was Now, Melbourne Laureate Professor “We need to change our thinking waste, and protection of inner farmland “The consequence of not protecting of genetically modified crops in the US, he wiped out by virus decades ago and the at the University of Melbourne School and come up with new ways of doing viability – to ensuring the fertile fringe these areas is we lose our supply of realised he could combine the two, studying only way back was GM. I was in Hawaii of BioSciences, and a past president it. But those new ways have to make continues to provide some of Melbourne’s fresh, local food. As we become more how biotechnology could be used to make recently and made a point of eating a lot of the Australian Entomological economic sense, and therein lies the fresh food needs. dependent on more distant sources healthier foods. of GM papaya. It was delicious.” Society, Professor Hoffmann works challenge, because people want to pay Originally working in the field of food, we’ll have a less resilient food Now at the University of Melbourne’s on integrated pest controls, including less for their loaf of bread, not more.” of human-centred design, Dr Carey supply.” School of BioSciences, Dr Johnson and his INTERVIEWS BY GARY TIPPET

FROM PAGE 15 Professor Philip Batterham describes BioSciences, says that in the past, same parasite might block the spread of “Right now, about faculty team produced a comprehensive himself as “the latest baton carrier in particularly in broad-acre agriculture, plant viruses. and far-reaching plan, Roadmap for a have to spray all the paddocks. And, in the a research relay team” that has studied farmers would “insurance-spray” But the threats to food security are not 55 per cent of people Resilient and Sustainable Melbourne long term, it’s going to be beneficial for insecticide resistance at the University relatively cheap broad-spectrum just out in the broad hectares of wheat, Foodbowl. It outlines a vision for retaining environmental health.” since 1977. His team have used genetic pesticides, “whacking it on just in case. rice and canola. Currently, the fertile food globally live in cities, a resilient, healthy and fair food supply From Silent Spring to the “insect approaches to identify the proteins in The opposite of that is something we call bowl in Melbourne’s hinterland produces for the city, underpinned by key pillars apocalypse”, populations of many insect the insect brain that are targeted by integrated management, but that’s a more enough food to meet 80 per cent of the but by 2050 we expect of farmland protection, farm viability, species seem to be rapidly shrinking neonicotinoids. complicated game.” city’s demand for vegetables and 41 per almost 70 per cent of water access and re-use, nutrient recycling in size with insecticides being blamed. “But more recently, we’ve become Professor Hoffmann has worked with cent of its total food needs. But as the city’s through composting city organic waste, A collapse in European populations of interested in the downstream effects of the wine industry to increase shelter belts population heads toward 7 million, that people to do so. and sustainable farming. the major pollinator, honeybees – and low concentrations of neonicotinoids and and understory that protect the beneficial could fall to just 18 per cent. All these advances are important in the the subsequent threat to food production other insecticides on non-pest insects,” insects and mites that prey on pests; “Right now, about 55 per cent of people How we feed people in fight for food and nutritional security, but – has led to the EU banning some says Professor Batterham. “We don’t have developed genetic markers to discover globally live in cities, but by 2050 we expect Professor Reeves warns: “One of the things neonicotinoid insecticides. enough data at the moment. It’s like a jigsaw invasion patterns of earth mites; and fought almost 70 per cent of people to do so,” notes cities is a vital part of we have to be careful about is saying Whatever the reality of impending puzzle with some holes … [but] we need dengue fever using the bacterial parasite Dr Rachel Carey, an expert in food systems. something like, ‘If we can get this right, Armageddon, the University of Melbourne answers – and we need them quickly.” Wolbachia, which stops mosquitoes passing “How we feed people in cities is a vital part ensuring food security.” we’ll solve the world’s food problems’. has a long, impressive history of work Professor Ary Hoffmann, Melbourne on the virus. of ensuring food security.” All these are just tools in the whole system. towards better and alternative pest control. Laureate Professor in the School of His group is now investigating how the In March, Dr Carey and an inter- There is no silver bullet.” 3010 alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019 19 3010

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PICTURE: KATE BOWMAN

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THE BAILLIEU AT 60 AT BAILLIEU THE An intellectual An intellectual 22 24 FIVE QUESTIONS FIVE QUESTIONS 25 alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019 From top: An example of the It’s a very close club and we all know undeciphered Linear A script; each other very well. two samples of Linear B, One of the things that really marked Decoding the Everest deciphered in the 1950s; Michael Ventris’s approach to the The Rosetta Stone, decipherment of Linear B was his deciphered in 1822. willingness to share anything he found with everybody; he was completely open. That has become a great tradition now in of Aegean scripts, and it’s definitely something SCRIPTS we’re proud of. Anytime anyone discovers something new, they share it with everyone, because we need to work together on this, FIVE QUESTIONS FOR How does one it’s not a one-person job. DR BRENT DAVIS ARCHAEOLOGIST get into the business We email each other a lot. I’m involved of decipherment? in a collaboration right now on Cretan In the 1950s, great progress was made in the 3 Hieroglyphic, which was a precursor to field of undeciphered scripts when English My father was a meteorologist, but Linear A, and someone else is working on a architect Michael Ventris deciphered the ancient he’d always dreamed of being a history Cypriot script called Cypro-Minoan, which Mycenaean Greek script Linear B. But its parent teacher. It was never to be, but he had this (like Linear B) was based on Linear A. system, the Minoan script Linear A, remains wonderful set of bookshelves crammed Those are the three main undeciphered famously undeciphered. Archaeologist Dr Brent with ancient history books, and even as a Aegean scripts: Linear A, Cretan seven-year-old I’d look through them and Hieroglyphic and Cypro-Minoan. I actually Davis (PhD 2011) has devoted his career to its just absolutely fell in love with archaeology. work on all of them, though all of us tend study, winning the Michael Ventris Award for I got my undergraduate degree in to specialise in one. Mycenaean Studies earlier this year in recognition Linguistics at Stanford, and then for many of his work on undeciphered Aegean scripts. years after that I worked in IT, helping to What are the chances write the programmers’ manuals for the of deciphering Dr Brent Davis is a lecturer in Archaeology and Ancient Egyptian in the Faculty original Macintosh, back when Apple was Linear A? of Arts’ School of Historical and Philosophical Studies. His background is in both just a small company. I continued in IT for 5 archaeology and linguistics, and his interests include the ancient cultures of the a while, but I was unsatisfied. I’d just fallen When Michael Ventris deciphered Linear eastern Mediterranean and their languages and scripts. into it, it wasn’t something I’d intended B, he had texts that amounted to a total of to do. What I loved was languages and about 20,000 signs. That’s only about three archaeology, so eventually I decided just to times the length of this article, if you were What is an actually pronounce Linear A words, but quit, go back to school and do something to type it out. It’s not a lot. But that’s kind of undeciphered they’re gibberish, because they’re in a I really loved. That’s when I came to the a critical mass – you have to have that much script? language we don’t recognise. University of Melbourne to do my PhD, material in order to decipher a script without 1 which I did on Linear A. a bilingual. The Rosetta Stone is a great It’s a script we can’t read. Or, if we can Why does I had first read about Linear A when example of a bilingual: you’ve got Egyptian read it, we can’t understand it. There are deciphering I was about 18, and thought, wouldn’t that and Greek inscriptions, and they both say around 20–25 different undeciphered be wonderful to study? Years later it turned the same thing. You can read one of them, so Linear A matter? scripts around the world, some of them 2 out my PhD supervisor here in Melbourne you can intuit a lot about the other. We don’t much more important than others. As I tell my students all the time, was a specialist on the Minoans, so she have a bilingual for Linear A, and when you Decipherment of Linear A has always archaeology is not about the stuff that you greatly influenced my choices. The first don’t have that, you need at least 20,000 signs been one of the holy grails of archaeology, find, archaeology is about the people behind great key to deciphering a script is to figure of the script. Right now, we have about 8000 because the Minoan civilisation was so the stuff. That’s the only reason for digging it out which language it’s encoding. Until signs of Linear A, altogether. important, especially as a background for up – to try to understand more about them. you know that, you’re kind of adrift. This is But more is found every year. There has the Greek civilisation. And what better way of understanding a where the background in linguistics comes been one great Linear A archive in the past The Minoans were a Bronze Age people than to be able to read their records in. Being able to devise ways of looking at that’s responsible for the majority of the signs civilisation that lived on Crete. They used in their own voice? Deciphering Linear A the script and comparing various sentences we have. So, if someone were to find another Linear A on ritual objects and deposited would be enlightening, as it would tell us and intuiting things about the language archive, the total number of signs could go them by the hundreds at Minoan outdoor things about the Minoans we might not behind the script – that’s very valuable stuff, up substantially. They’re excavating all the shrines, so we have a lot of things like have any other way of finding out. That’s the because we’ll someday get a critical mass time in Crete; new Minoan palaces continue offering bowls with Linear A inscriptions value of it, it’s a direct pathway into these of those clues and we’ll hopefully be able to to be found, and palaces are where archives around them. The sentences are very ancient peoples’ brains. Awesome. identify what the language is. That’s half the tend to be, so hope isn’t lost. similar to each other but they’re never When the Greeks arrived on Crete, they battle right there. To decipher any script, you have to keep exactly alike, so by comparing them all absorbed a heck of a lot of Minoan culture your mind open and you have to go over to each other you can tell quite a lot about and religion, so the Minoans have coloured How niche and over and over it. That’s how Ventris the language behind the script. Western civilisation. But we can’t read their is this line deciphered Linear B. He worked on it for The Greeks, when they arrived on records. It’s just like before we could read ages, and then there came a day when he of work? Crete in the Late Bronze Age, borrowed Egyptian hieroglyphs. People made guesses, 4 realised, this is Greek! Before that, he’d been the writing system of the Minoans to write but 95 per cent of them were wrong We specialists in undeciphered Aegean absolutely certain it was Etruscan or some in Greek. We call this customised version about what the Egyptians were trying to scripts are an international group of people, other ancient language. Once he’d correctly of Linear A ‘Linear B’, and this script was say with their writings. Once we could but a small one. I would say there are identified the language as Greek, though, deciphered in the 1950s by Michel Ventris. read hieroglyphs, then we could hear the probably eight to 10 people around the his successful decipherment of the script Because we know what sound values the Egyptians talking in their own language, world who are serious scholars of these was just a matter of time. various signs have in Linear B, we can in their own voices. scripts. INTERVIEW BY LANI THORPE 26 LIVING BEQUESTS LIVING BEQUESTS 27 alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019 With her living bequest, Professor Gift adds up for Kerry Landman — a leader in the next-gen maths field of applied mathematics — aims to share the beauty of maths by education supporting future teachers in the field.

BY KENDALL RICHMOND how mathematics can be used. Students interdisciplinary approach of her She has also been an outstanding Things have changed, thankfully. applications of mathematics to encourage, can then appreciate the potential of what colleague, Professor Harvey Greenspan, role model for women mathematicians. “We slowly appointed more female inspire and support their students to first-generation Australian mathematics has to offer. with her desire to pursue applied Returning to the University in the lecturers in mathematics,” Professor succeed,” she says. whose parents were both “Most people’s reaction to my saying mathematics, maths within a real-world mid-1980s, she was the only female Landman adds, “and things have really “Success and confidence with wartime European refugees, I am a mathematician is, ‘Oh, I hated it’, context – for example, biology, the lecturer in the maths department. changed at Melbourne in the last few mathematics develops an incredible skill Professor Kerry Landman or ‘I was hopeless at it’ … or they shut environment or industry. In 2007, she became the first female years. set, the ability to have an impact in solving Akeenly remembers a story her their mind to it. I mean, they just wouldn’t What mathematics can do, Professor professor in the School of Mathematics “But how can young women who problems in different fields,” she adds. mother used to tell about the generosity say that if you’d said you liked reading!” Landman explains, is provide a fundamental and Statistics. want to become mathematicians or have “You might do a PhD in fluid mechanics, she received when her family first came Professor Landman’s own interest in understanding of how complex processes “The first time I experienced a female a career in mathematics succeed if they for example, but end up doing risk analysis to Australia and couldn’t afford her mathematics started at an early age, and interact to produce experimentally professor – Nancy Kopell – was when don’t see those role models?” she reflects, for a company. Because you can – because school fees. she still remembers vividly the thrill of observed behaviour – developing theories I was at MIT,” she says. “That was the commenting that diversity is vital to any you have studied mathematics.” “The headmistress said not to worry encountering geometry for the first time that may, at first, seem completely first time I’d seen a woman mathematician field, including maths. From Mrs Kneebone to her mentors about it,” Kerry says. “She gave my mother with Mrs Kneebone in grade 6. There was counter-intuitive. in a senior role.” Now retired, though still actively at MIT and at the University, Professor a full scholarship and said her parents never any question that she wouldn’t “For example, in a developmental involved in the University, Professor Landman is deeply appreciative of the could pay whatever they could afford once pursue maths at university. biology process, there’s so much going Landman remains passionate about inspirational teachers and colleagues who they had settled into their new lives. on – relying on intuition doesn’t work. education. shaped her career. “My mother went on to study dentistry “It’s my hope and A mathematical model can provide an “It’s my hope and vision that the “I had many role models who at the University of Melbourne, and when overriding theory that explains recipients of my scholarship will supported me in so many ways,” she says. she received her first pay packet as a vision that the experimental results. passionately communicate the beauty and “I’m hoping that my scholarship will dentist, she gave it to the school.” “Even experimental results that develop teachers that have this kind of This story was instilled in Professor recipients of don’t seem to make any sense may be influence in their students’ lives.” Landman from childhood. consistent with this theory. This approach “As children, we always knew that you my scholarship will can make a real difference in treatment or give back,” she says. intervention options.” Through the establishment of a go on to become Professor Landman’s distinguished mathematics teaching scholarship and leaders in the field contribution to research into real-world ensuring its long-term future through problems spans a range of fields, from a gift in her Will – a ‘living bequest’ – of mathematics colloidal fluid mechanics to developmental she continues to promote her family’s biology. She’s a recipient of the ANZIAM philanthropic values. education.” (Australia and New Zealand Industrial A living bequest is a special gift started PROFESSOR KERRY LANDMAN and Applied Mathematics) Medal, during a person’s life and finalised with a as well as a Fellow of the Australian gift in their Will. In this way, donors and Academy of Sciences. their families have the pleasure of seeing Encountering the rigours of the impact of their giving during their mathematics at the University of Professor Kerry Landman in lifetimes. Melbourne, she thrived, believing that, the Old Geology Building. The Kerry Landman Scholarship “If you are studying a subject that you PHOTO BY BEC WALTON supports high-achieving mathematics really love and have a passion for, you’ll graduates who are passionate about work at it and do well, and opportunities education, and who have the potential will arise.” to become leaders in a school setting. That guiding belief led to the unfolding With the scholarship, she aims to address of many interesting, and unforeseen, the shortage of trained teachers with a opportunities in her career. After background in maths, who can inspire completing her PhD, she received a and empower their students – and their post-doctoral appointment in the US at teaching peers. Massachusetts Institute of Technology “Having good maths teachers makes a (MIT). huge difference,” she says. “It’s so important “That was when I really figured out that teachers understand the importance what sort of mathematician I wanted to of teaching foundational mathematics and be,” she says, attributing the alumni.unimelb.edu.au 2019 29

KENZIE c GALLERY LEAH JUSTIN LEAH PICTURE: STEPHEN M STEPHEN PICTURE: generous we are.” we generous respectful, and I’m and respectful, always touched by by touched always people saying how how saying people Art House Museum. they are guests in our in our guests are they are very very are People house. Charles and Leah Justin in their home, the Justin Charles and Leah “We want people to feel feel to people want “We CONTINUED PAGE 30 PAGE CONTINUED “Being an architect, I designed the new architect, an “Being for their larger scale artworks and installations. installations. and scale their artworks larger for collecting contemporary began couple The the collection with ago art 30 years Australian 50 artists, by 350 pieces around numbering now Arkley, Howard Andrew, Brook including Shaun Callum Morton, Piccinini, Patricia Crooks. Daniel and Sturmer von Daniel Gladwell, the and so the originalbuilding Housemuseum Galleries be can together,’’ joined Housemuseum gift the eventually to plan couple The says. Lyon their foundation. through the public to museum Charles (BArch 1972) is now retired from the from retired now 1972) is (BArch Charles 1986) works 1971, GDipLib&InfoSt(Gen) (BA the of one 2016) is 1979, DArch (BArch Lyon could also be that new home the for ideaTheir radically Lyon Yueji and Corbett year, This and Lyon new spaceThis is by alsodesigned storage spaces, and living rooms and bedrooms bedrooms and rooms living spaces, and storage will view and the at wander can visitors where art. striking contemporary collection of couple’s co-founded, he practice interiors and architecture while Leah (SJB), Bialek Justin Synman the at Coordinator Education Community as were couple The Australia. of Museum Jewish which was Housemuseum, the Lyon by inspired Corbett Lyon. architect-owner its designed by alumni. distinguished most Design’s School of their ‘Housemuseum’ built Yueji wife his and He their of the site they term on coined) (a one-word which had been falling in Kew literally home old them. in on the stately a gallery by inspired similarly was museum Guggenheim’s Peggy and Museum Frick collectors the first they were However, in Venice. their art share – to in the world – possibly while stillcollection the public with in residence. 2010, drawing so since done They have as List Larry’s by cited acclaim, international buildings exciting 10 most the world’s of “one museums”. private of by footprint their collectors’ increased the size of Galleries’. ‘Housemuseum the adjoining building five and a courtyard a forecourt, of made up is designed galleries It’s ceilings. all 5.5 metre under ouse museums appear to be to back appear museums ouse a 19th Once century in vogue. robber by favoured extravagance in New (the Frick barons (the Musee eccentrics or York) in Paris), Jacquemart-Andre

1983, LLB 1984, ORMOND COLLEGE) ORMOND 1984, LLB 1983,

RAYMOND GILL GILL RAYMOND Consider two of the new crop – the Lyon – the Lyon the new crop of two Consider visitors is that difference other major The Museum, Art House the the case Justin of In explains us,” for of drivers the one “That was on situated house, striking The three-storey BY GALLERY (BA (BA are drawing international audiences. international drawing are Two distinctive art galleries built by alumni by built art galleries distinctive Two their collections their At home with with home At and the Justin Art galleries, the Justin and and Housemuseum – both designed and (JAHM) Museum House be to architects who happen collectors in by lived in Melbourne. who live and century these 21st two into welcomed are view to their owners’ museum a house of versions there. still whilecollections reside the owners neighbourhood Prahran which opened in the city’s Melbourne of University and in 2016, owners their welcome Leah and Charles alumni Justin their kitchen. into right guests in guests they feel are people to want Leah. “We very are respectful, I’m and People house. our generous how saying people by touched always our sharing just are when we really are, we art.” for passion of a block of the front on built was corner, a busy of the fabric into reworked were that 1940s flats zinc. in a skin of wrapped and the new building a visitor into converts that a garage houses It a gallery viewing days, on art area and welcoming focused intent. more far have they now H 28 30 GALLERY ALUMNI PROFILES 31

FROM PAGE 29

In August 2019, Corbett and Yueji PROFESSOR SALLY SMART Lyon and the University’s Faculty of Architecture announced they were FORGING AN ARTISTIC PATH teaming up as ‘knowledge partners’, in (MA (Fine Art) 1991, PGDipFineArt 1988) which they will collaborate on the exhibitions program of the Housemuseum Galleries for both Melbourne School of Design students and for the general public. As well as taking a leaf from the Lyon Housemusuem book, the Justins were also inspired by the Maison Particuliere in Brussels, the Samlung Hoffmann in Berlin and, for sheer chutzpah, the approach of billionaire gambler David Walsh to his Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart. The Justins’ museum is on a much smaller scale than the Lyon Housemuseum and the JAHM building was not designed by Charles himself, but his daughter, Elisa Justin, who runs her own firm, Justin Architecture. For the past three years, her parents have opened their home for weekly tours of the house and its collection, with the couple conducting the tours personally. These have become so popular that in 2018 Lonely Planet included JAHM in its Top 8 attractions for visitors to Melbourne. The appeal might be sticky-beaking into someone’s home and assessing their s one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists, to texts and focusing on their work in context with the history of art artistic taste, revealed through a private Professor Sally Smart is deeply familiar with both and contemporary thought.” collection amassed over 40 years and which the delight that is intrinsic to making her large- Developing a strong relationship with Indonesian art and artists includes painting, sculpture, works on scale assemblages, paintings and performance- through her work in the past decade, Professor Smart’s dramatic paper, and photography, with an emphasis video works, but also the committed labour that inclusion of shadow puppetry, especially in her most recent body of on digital and video work. underpins art-making as a profession. work, The Violet Ballet, speaks eloquently. A mix of video projections, “I think [digital art] is just part of the For much of her 35-year career exhibiting textiles, costume, performance and large-scale installation, The Violet world we are experiencing here in the here and internationally, Professor Smart Ballet has its roots in the dynamic, avant-garde Paris-based dance 21st century and if Rembrandt were alive Ahas been cutting things out — felt, fabrics and other materials — and company the Ballets Russes (1909–29). Having realised how much today he’d probably be working as a video ABOVE: Yueji and Corbett Lyon. TOP: An exhibition at the Lyon Housemuseum. re-assembling them in new, arresting forms that deal with identity hybridisation and multiple discourses were involved in the challenging artist,” says Charles. politics, alternative cultural histories and the relationships between Ballets Russes performances — they collaborated with visual artists But as the couple have discovered, the responses from people you least expect, The 2019 show Let There Be Light the body and the world. Likewise, as an such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and heart of the appeal is in the conversations whereas ‘art people’ are perhaps more was drawn from their collection with a art professional, she combines and adapts Sonia Delaunay — Professor Smart also they have with their visitors about why inhibited to talk so openly.” particular emphasis on their enthusiasm many skills and experiences. These were “[There’s] nothing crossed many disciplines, with stunning, and how they collect, and invariably about The museum includes three permanent for immersive works that play with light, forged, she says, during her student years at richly coloured results. She describes her the meaning of art. These free-wheeling works that the couple commissioned for projections and optics. the Victorian College of the Arts. like the lived own process as “digital cutting”. discussions are conducted as the group of the house when it was built and which The 2020 exhibition Country (running The first woman artist to be appointed a experience of “For a long time, I have had an interest 20 or so wander through the rooms before form part of its actual structure. from late February to November) is from Trustee for the National Gallery of Victoria in the costumes visual artists created for settling in the open kitchen and living room Tunni Kraus created a striped wall the private Arthur and Suzie Roe (2001–08), Professor Smart was this year practising artists.” the Ballets Russes, and I was interested to to chat over ginger tea and refreshments. composition inspired by the striped Collection of Contemporary Australian appointed to the council of the National re-imagine the performance, presenting an Most visitors do not appear to have any canvas awnings of the Melbourne suburbs Art. It will include significant examples of Gallery of Australia; and, as well as being on opportunity to combine my increasingly professional expertise of contemporary of the 1950s; Paul Snell has digitally Australian contemporary Indigenous and the board of the National Association of Visual Arts, she is now a Vice- cross-disciplinary practice. What was also extraordinary was that art, according to the Justins, but what they ‘decomposed’ his photographs to create non-Indigenous art and fill the galleries Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne in the Faculty of Fine most of my collaborating artists are graduates of the VCA. The filming do have is open curiosity. vibrant abstract images over a full wall; and the private apartment. Arts and Music. In this one-year, full-time role — which she has taken was also done on campus at the Martin Myer Arena.” The installation “Most visitors are ‘non-art’ people,” and Australian/Israeli artist Ilan El’s Meanwhile, In Full View: Works from quarter-time over four years (beginning at the end of 2016) — she brings featured at the Adelaide Festival last March-April. according to Leah, who says they come 39 Steps welcomes visitors at the entry as the Lyon Collection, featuring 60 artworks her own practice into focus as part of her mentorship in the Faculty. More recently, she has been working with a publisher on a coming from all parts of Australia and overseas. the staircase incorporates an “immersive spanning 30 years, is on display in the The skills she shares, she says, flow directly from her VCA days when book about her career and, as a result of reviewing her decades of “During the week, we mostly attract lighting experience” as each step randomly Lyon Housemuseum Galleries until she learnt that there is “nothing like the lived experience of practising practice, she has noted various consistent threads running throughout. retirees and at weekends it tends to be changes colour as visitors climb it. 26 January, 2020. For its upcoming artists” to discuss those turning points and challenges with which all “Often, you are moving through work and one body of work will come younger people. The JAHM exhibitions change annually exhibition program, the Housemuseum artists must grapple. out of another body of work,” she says. “But there will be something “Often people say, ‘Oh, I know nothing and usually comprise about 40 pieces of says it is partnering with one of the world’s “Critical thinking, and a commitment to the relationship of theory residual, so it is interesting to see how those strands have come together about art’, but they are always so insightful. art that the couple select from their own leading museums in art and design for and practice, is an approach that was strongly embedded, and — over such a long time you don’t set out, of course, to do that, but We are learning from them all the time.” collection of 300 works or are drawn from a co-curated exhibition focusing on formative during that period,” she says. “To this day, it still informs the eventually there seems to be something created that appears decisive, Adds Charles: “You get the best other private collections. design and public life. 3010 way I will discuss work with younger artists. I will always be referring manifest.” BY ANDREW STEPHENS 32 ALUMNI PROFILES ALUMNI PROFILES 33

JACK ZHANG MAKING LELA MCGREGOR BEING THE A BILLION IN REAL TIME BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES (BEng 2007) (MMktg 2003, MAPP 2015) ack on campus, alumnus Jack Zhang is ela McGregor is passionate about positive fielding questions from students eager psychology. She graduated from the Master to grab some of his valuable time. of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) in Zhang is in Melbourne at the invitation 2015, adding the discipline to the professional of the Faculty of Business and Economics, expertise that has seen her lead culture presenting to third-year Entrepreneurial and engagement programs for more than Finance students and sharing the story 30 organisations across Australia and Asia. Bof his very successful fintech startup, Airwallex. L“I think everyone should study positive psychology. This year the real-time payments platform firm made It changes the lens of how you work, learn, parent and live,” headlines for achieving ‘unicorn’ status – a valuation of she says. more than $US1 billion. As one of only three unicorns in “It’s not about being happy all the time because that Australia (300-plus worldwide), the rapidly expanding is just not possible but it’s about having the wellbeing life business also nabs the title of fastest-growing unicorn, skills that help us navigate through life’s many challenges, reaching this milestone in only four years since its launch. allowing us to be the best versions of ourselves.” Having Zhang speak at the University is clearly a coup McGregor studied business at RMIT before training for the faculty. But the Airwallex co-founder and CEO is as an accountant. She worked in marketing overseas and only too happy to get in front of an audience who will likely undertook a Master of Marketing degree at Melbourne be thinking carefully about their own careers as they near Business School. completion of their studies. But her subsequent studies in positive psychology – “We are very interested in hiring University of which has been described as ‘the scientific study of what Melbourne alumni and grads,” says Zhang. “We have 300 makes life most worth living’ – have given her a fresh take people now, we’re looking to be about 1000 next year. on her work. We’re hiring a massive amount of people.” “Working in the corporate landscape, I felt I knew Airwallex is an ideal case study for those with dreams what drove human performance and wellbeing at work of fintech glory. But it wasn’t an easy route to success, says but learning about positive psychology gave it a name Zhang. and more importantly substance through the scientific Arriving in Australia as a teenager from his hometown evidence,” she says. of Qingdao, China, Zhang went on to skip a year of high “It is exciting to see that there is rigorous science that school and enrolled at the University of Melbourne, where drives wellbeing and it is important to be able to show he eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Computer this as evidence to leaders to assist them to shape their Science. It was during his time at uni that he faced an business and employee strategies.” unexpected hurdle. McGregor studied the MAPP program while holding “I lost most of my financial support, so I had to figure down a full-time job and raising three children. “I found out how to survive and pay my fees,” he explains. “I worked I enjoyed MAPP so much that it actually helped me to be three part-time jobs. I did everything you can think of – a better parent and leader. worked in petrol stations, factories, restaurants … ” “I felt I was learning from leaders in the field. Not only After uni, he remained driven. While working in were they teaching but they were researchers too. Whatever investment banking in London, Hong Kong and Melbourne, I learnt was current and relevant.” Zhang started about 15 different businesses on the side, One of those leaders was Professor Lea Waters, the including a cafe, an import–export business, a project founding Director of the University’s Centre for Positive management firm, and a real estate development company. Psychology. McGregor and Waters collaborated on a It was an attempt, he says, to find true career satisfaction. wellbeing program called Positive Detective that has been “Every single one was making rolled out to more than 300 schools in 11 countries. money but none of them really While she was studying, McGregor set “You probably spend more had a social impact and at some up her coaching and mentoring business “. . . there is rigorous science than 60 or 70 per cent of stage I didn’t feel like they were Splendour Labs. making me happy anymore.” “My business is centred around getting that drives wellbeing and it is your life at work. If you don’t Deciding to devote all his people to uncover their ‘authentic self’ and attention to solving this “very distill what really drives their happiness. important to be able to show enjoy it, that’s pretty sad.” large problem”, Zhang resigned I use all the science I have learnt to help from his job. In 2015 he found people achieve their authentic goals.” this as evidence to leaders.” the solution, launching Airwallex She has also established a not- with its four other co-founders, three of whom are also for-profit organisation to help coach University of Melbourne alumni. underprivileged individuals and give local communities “With Airwallex, which is such a long-term, bold, ambitious access to wellbeing resources and workshops. vision, I truly feel that I’m very happy and I’m able to enjoy And she was instrumental in bringing the 6th World day-to-day life,” says Zhang. “You probably spend more than Congress for Positive Psychology to Melbourne this year, 60 or 70 per cent of your life at work. If you don’t enjoy it, which shone a light on the work of the Centre for Positive then that’s pretty sad.” BY LANI THORPE Psychology. BY VAL McFARLANE 34 ALUMNI PROFILES ALUMNI PROFILES 35

JOHN TASS-PARKER FROM WILD WEST DR ADA CHEUNG FIGHTING TO ‘DEMOCRACY SAUSAGE’ FOR EQUALITY IN MEDICINE (BCom, BA(Media&Comm) 2012) (MBBS(Hons) 2003, PhD 2017)

ohn Tass-Parker has already had his fair Inspired by a partnership he developed with Fairfax ince 2017, Dr Ada Cheung has focused her physician expertise and research skills share of career highlights. He’s worked for Media in the 2013 Australian election to capture portraits on improving medical services for transgender Australians. two Australian prime ministers, in the movie of Australia’s political leaders, he helped develop a similar Dr Cheung began seeing transgender patients in 2016 after a lunch with industry in Los Angeles, and as a wedding partnership between Instagram and US broadcaster CNN. Professor Jeffrey Zajac (MBBS 1977, PhD 1985), Director of Endocrinology and photographer. But for the past five years, Tass-Parker argues that social media can not only Head of the University of Melbourne Department of Medicine at Austin Health. Tass-Parker has worked for Instagram’s Politics connect politicians and voters but help people with shared “Jeffrey was seeing more and more transgender people, but he couldn’t and Government team in New York, and he’s political interests find like-minded communities and find anybody else willing to see them. I was astounded that doctors could Jrecently been listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30. give a voice to those traditionally underrepresented by Srefuse to see patients,” she says. What strings these seemingly disparate interests mainstream media. At the time, Dr Cheung was near to completing her PhD, exploring the long-term together, he says, is stories. During the 2018 US midterm elections, Tass-Parker was effects of hormone therapy for prostate cancer on muscle and bone. Her award- “I’ve always been attracted to stories,” he says. part of the team that built a product to help voters access winning research provided many opportunities for career progression, but it had not “Originally I was really interested in production and important voting information. At its peak, more than 1000 been an easy road. Hollywood, but I wasn’t quite clicking with that world. people – including celebrities – were using Instagram’s “As an Asian woman with two young children, I was used to fighting gender Gradually, I became attracted to the idea of working in ‘I Voted’ sticker per minute. discrimination. I had endured racial abuse just before speaking with Jeffrey,” she says. government.” He helped bring similar features to Australia for the “When I heard about discrimination in the transgender community, it really After graduating, Tass-Parker took a job as digital 2019 federal election. Instagram collaborated with artist struck a chord with me.” communications adviser in the Office of the Prime Minister Tony Albert to create four election-themed stickers for use She established the Trans Medical Research group to conduct research of Australia. in Instagram Stories, including, of course, a ‘democracy that would guide clinical care improvements for transgender people. He was responsible for shaping Julia Gillard’s online sausage’, something Tass-Parker had a lot of fun explaining First was a project that documented the 10-fold rise in transgender presence when she was Prime Minister. “This meant to his US colleagues. BY SUSANNA LING patients seeking medical services over five years, then a study with working closely with the PM all the time, being her 1000 Australian transgender adults. photographer day-to-day, producing videos, engaging with “I listened to hundreds of stories of difficulty accessing medical bloggers and shaping all of that into a cohesive strategy,” care and societal discrimination,” she says. Tass-Parker says. “Our survey asked what members of the trans community “These days there are multiple people involved in the thought the top priority for funding should be or what their digital presence of most high-profile political leaders, but biggest health issue was. It wasn’t hormone therapy. It was back then it was the wild west.” better training for doctors in trans health.” After the 2013 federal election, he moved to the US Next, the group surveyed doctors and found that 96 per to work for Instagram. Having been on exchange to cent of them had never been taught about transgender health Georgetown University in Washington, DC while studying in medical school. Many lacked confidence and wanted more at Melbourne, he already had a network there. training. Today, Tass-Parker’s ‘wild west’ is no more. Social media “We took our research to the Department of Human is now a key communication channel for most of us – Services and the Minister for Equality, the Hon Martin including politicians. Foley MP (MCom 2001), and the government responded,” Tass-Parker takes this evolving role of social media she says. seriously. “With Instagram’s prominence comes a lot of In late 2018, the Victorian Government announced a responsibility to protect the integrity of elections and civic $3.4 million investment to better meet the health needs of discourse,” he says. trans and gender diverse Victorians. New multidisciplinary “Along with our work to promote civic engagement, health clinics are being established, and a state-wide Instagram is doing a lot of work to increase account training program implemented for health professionals. transparency, improve efforts to detect bad actors, expand “It’s been really satisfying to see our election information operations, and fight misinformation research translated into policy and now on Instagram.” delivered on the ground,” says Dr Cheung. “It’s been really satisfying His role as Instagram’s head of politics and government The Trans Medical Research group plans gave him a “front row ticket and backstage pass” to the to launch a longitudinal Australian gender to see our research 2016 US presidential race, right when Instagram’s potential health study, a little like the Census. in the political sphere was being realised. “We want the study to empower the translated into policy and transgender community to guide policy makers into investing in health and wellbeing delivered on the ground.” “I’ve always been attracted to programs for the community,” she says. “Forty per cent of trans people have stories … Gradually, I became attempted suicide. We don’t understand the long-term effects of hormone therapies, we don’t know what happens attracted to the idea of working with ageing, heart disease or cancer. Our team want to provide an evidence base for treatments and to see mental health in government.” outcomes improve. Societal culture needs to change, and we hope to contribute a little.” BY CECILIA DOWLING 36 MILESTONES: AWARDS, HONOURS & ACHIEVEMENTS MILESTONES: AWARDS, HONOURS & ACHIEVEMENTS 37

PICTURE: AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS 2018 BERLINER APPOINTMENTS AWARDS BOARD DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL MUSIC Adrian Collette Peter Bell (LLB 2002) stepped down At the 2018 Rio Tinto Women in OF SUSTAINABLE COMPETITION AM (MA 1980) was as director of Fremantle Football Resources National Awards, mining DEVELOPMENT appointed chief Club to accept the club’s newly manager Melanie McCarthy AUSTRALIA Malaysian classical soprano executive officer created position of general manager. (BA 1997, BE(Hons) 1997) was named Ang Mei Foong (MMus 2007) of the Australia Bell is a former Fremantle captain winner of the Exceptional Woman The Business Council of received a gold medal at the Council for the and three-time Doig Medallist, past in Australian Resources award. The Sustainable Development 2018 Berliner International Music Arts after almost president of the AFL Players’ awards acknowledge the efforts and Australia (previously Sustainable Competition, which is judged seven years as Association, inaugural chairman of achievements of exceptional women Business Australia) appointed based on recordings of recent Vice-Principal the AFL Players’ Trust and Australian and gender diversity champions in Professor Kate Auty (BA(Hons) performances by the artist. Engagement at the University of Football Hall of Fame inductee. the Australian resources sector. 1977, LLB 1979) as a board Also a lecturer at Universiti Putra Melbourne, with oversight of the McCarthy is a Fellow of the director. Professor Auty Malaysia, Foong has trained in University’s museums and galleries Professor Carolyn Evans Australasian Institute of Mining & is currently the Commissioner Taiwan, Rome and Melbourne and arts sector partnerships. Before (LLB(Hons), BA 1993), pictured right, Metallurgy FAusIMM(CP). for Sustainability and the – where she obtained her that, Collette was Chief Executive of has been appointed Vice Chancellor Environment (ACT) and a Master’s in Music Performance. Opera Australia. He was made a of Griffith University, and is the first Associate Professor Enzo Porrello Professorial Fellow at the member of the Order of Australia female to hold this position. (BBiomedSc 2003, BSc (Hons) 2004, University of Melbourne. in 2008 for service to the Professor Evans served as the PhD 2009) received one of two performing arts. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Graduate 2018 $50,000 Metcalf Prizes from and International) and Deputy the National Stem Cell Foundation Professor Keith Nugent (DSc 2014) Provost (2017-2018) at the University of Australia. Associate Professor Yvonne Ginifer (MPH 2006) has been awarded a Red Cross Florence was appointed Deputy Vice- of Melbourne. Prior to this, she was Porrello is Group Leader of Cardiac Nightingale Medal, the highest international distinction a nurse can receive. Chancellor (Research and Dean and Harrison Moore Professor Regeneration at the Murdoch This was in recognition of her work in responding to epidemics, natural Innovation) at Australian National of Law at the University of Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) disasters and armed conflicts in some of the most disadvantaged University (ANU). Professor Melbourne Law School (2011-2017). and a Senior Research Fellow at the communities in the world. During her deployment overseas for the Nugent’s previous roles include Professor Evans is an internationally University of Melbourne. The prize Australian Red Cross, Ginifer worked in Liberia during an Ebola epidemic, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) recognised expert on religious recognises his leadership in stem cell spent a year managing a health clinic in Pakistan that was destroyed during at La Trobe University, Laureate freedom and is a barrister and research, particularly in exploring the an earthquake and worked on a malnutrition program in Somalia. Professor of Physics at the solicitor of the Supreme Court of heart’s ability to regenerate. University of Melbourne and Victoria. She holds a doctorate from advisory board member at the Oxford University where she studied Jack Banister and Marketing’ by Forbes Europe as well as a registered veterinarian in Australian Synchrotron. as a Rhodes Scholar. (MJourn 2018) and ‘30 Under 30 Arab’ by Forbes Australia. Dr Aleri’s research interests has been awarded Middle East. In 2019, he was awarded are in the health and welfare of dairy the highest honour the Rising Star Award for Young cattle and in the epidemiology of ARTS, Artist Camille Hannah in journalism in Alumni by the University of infectious diseases of cattle in BOOKS & (BFA(Hons) 2011, MFA 2013) Australia, a Walkley Melbourne’s Faculty of Arts. Australia and overseas. ENTERTAINMENT held her latest solo exhibition award, as part of The Sixteen Pleasures at the the Deaths Inside Gertrude Tamade Elai (M. Dr Garry Russ (BSc 1972, PhD 1981) Nam Le (BA(Hons), LLB(Hons) Olsen Gruin Gallery in New York. Project with the Commercial Law, 2016) has been has received an honorary degree 2003)’s debut novel The Boat, Hannah’s paintings use fluid Guardian Australia team, profiling awarded the Australian Alumni of from Silliman University in the a collection of short stories, has brushstrokes to create movement Indigenous deaths in custody in the Year for Papua New Guinea. Philippines. Professor Russ was received a number of awards embedded in 21st century the past 10 years. Banister was also Elai has been recognised for her role conferred a Doctor of Science for including the Australian Prime abstraction and digital screen awarded an inaugural Melbourne in developing the first dictionary and his international work as a marine Minister’s Literary Award, the Dylan technologies. Hannah was the Press Club Michael Gordon Fellowship, children’s book, Songgoleng Kom scientist and for his contribution Thomas Prize, the Anisfield-Wolf recipient of an Australian and the John Newfong Prize for Kumwa Nei (Frog Where Are You), towards shaping policy on marine Book Award and the Melbourne Postgraduate Scholarship Award Reporting on Indigenous Affairs. in her local language, Taemi (with reserves and local marine resource Prize for Literature. Le’s collection during her studies and was selected UoM’s Research Unit for Indigenous management. Professor Russ is also encompasses a diverse geography by an international jury in 2015 to Nana Liu (BSc 2008, MSc 2010) was Language), spoken in her home town Chief Investigator of the Australian and each story transports the reader win the T.I.N.A. Art Prize, Maurizio announced as one of 10 winners of Taemigidu, a village of fewer than Research Council Centre of to a different setting. The influence Caldirola Arte Contemporanea in the 2019 MIT Technology Review’s 5000 people. Excellence in Coral Reef Studies of his Vietnamese family heritage Milan, Italy. Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific at James Cook University. is reflected through the presence Competition. Liu is a quantum Anchuli Felicia King (BA(Hons) 2015) of the Vietnam War in his first and physicist focusing on employing won the 2019 American Shakespeare Researcher Dr Trent Perry last stories. Dr Juliet Flesch Artist Kristin Headlam (BA 1976, quantum resources for both quantum Center’s New Contemporaries Prize for (BSc(Hons) 2000, BCom 2004, (BA(Hons) 1964, Trinity College, Janet Clarke Hall) computation and sensing. Her her play Keene. King’s play was one PhD 2006) is part of a team that has Dr Christina Thompson PhD 2002) exhibited a suite of etches, The research lies at the interface between of two selected for a $25,000 award received $2.5 million in funding from (PhD 1990) has been awarded published her latest Universe Looks Down, at Charles quantum computing and security and and a world premiere production in Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) to the General History Prize in the book, Not just Nodrum Gallery, the Baillieu Library machine learning, which will be useful American Shakespeare Center’s tackle flystrike, a parasitic infection 2019 NSW Premier's History Profs & Toffs – at University of Melbourne and at in building a future quantum internet. groundbreaking new play initiative. that costs the industry more than Awards for her book Sea People: Families living in the Art Gallery of Ballarat. Headlam’s Liu is now based at the John Hopcroft Keene is a playful riff on early-career $173 million annually in management The Puzzle of Polynesia. A ‘detective the University of etchings were created to accompany Center for Computer Science, academics, Shakepeare’s Othello, and and lost production. AWI has story’ questioning established Melbourne Grounds. the epic poem of the same name by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. the power of American pop. announced a vaccine project which narratives about who first settled The book tells the partner Professor Emeritus is a collaboration between AWI, the the islands of the remote Pacific, story of residents and families that Christopher Wallace-Crabbe (BA Mohamed Khairat (BA 2014, Dr Joshua W Aleri (PhD 2016) University of Melbourne and CSIRO. Sea People was inspired by stories lived on the grounds of the University 1957, MA 1964, Dlitt 2006). She was JD 2016) is the founder of Egyptian received a Research Award at the of the ancestors of Thompson’s of Melbourne’s Parkville campus, awarded the Doug Moran Portrait Streets, one of the region’s fastest Ruminant Well-being Awards held in Do you know any Melbourne alumni Maori husband. Since 2000, during the University’s first hundred Prize in 2000 and Wallace-Crabbe growing media organisations and Japan last year. Dr Aleri is a lecturer who should be recognised? Email Thompson has been editor of years. Dr Flesch is an Honorary Fellow received the Centenary Medal in 2003 Egypt’s leading independent English and researcher in Production Animal [email protected] with Harvard University’s Harvard in the University’s School of Historical and was winner of the Melbourne media organisation. In 2018, he was Health and Management (Cattle the subject line ‘3010 Milestones’. Review. and Philosophical Studies. Prize for Literature in 2015. named among ‘30 under 30 in Media Medicine) at Murdoch University 38 THE LAST WORD ENTERPRISE 39 unimelb.edu.au/3010 Marathon man

BY HASSAN ESUFALLY (BCom 2014, International House, Ormond College)

n 2014, I saw an ad in the paper for the distance, 42.2 kilometres. There were a Melbourne Marathon. It was just three couple of close calls. I rolled my ankle three months away. I was living at Ormond or four times; I was in pain, but walking College, and spent my time playing up through the Sun Gate. Seeing a world I tennis for the University and hiking. wonder in all its glory during golden hour IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS My friends said I wouldn’t be able to do it at sunset was just incredible. given the time frame, which just made me The last event was the Antarctic Ice determined to prove them wrong – and I Marathon. It is a truly formidable challenge did. Four years later, I had become the first where one is essentially running on ice INSPIRE STUDENTS Sri Lankan to have run a marathon on all with an average wind-chill temperature seven continents. of -20C, and strong katabatic winds I never really expected to do all of this. to contend with. When I crossed the When I came to Melbourne my plan was to finish line, it was incredible to know graduate, get some experience in Melbourne that I am part of the history of my and come back and join my family business. country. But when I ran the Melbourne Marathon, I never lost my motivation the feeling of achievement, satisfaction because I knew my reasons and fulfilment that I got from it was really for doing it. The number one amazing. By the time I crossed the finish reason was that I wanted to line, I had a dream: I wanted to do the seven Hassan Esufally proudly continents. waves the Sri Lankan But first I wanted to do the Ironman, bring glory my coach Sean Foster, my sponsors and flag after the Antarctic considered the world’s hardest sporting and fame to well-wishers. Ice Marathon. event. It consists of a gruelling my country. At University and College, I surrounded 3.86-kilometre swim, 180-kilometre I wanted a career myself with good people, people who bike ride, and a 42.2-kilometre full in sports, health were ambitious, focused and wanted to do marathon run. Once I’d finished that and fitness, and I good things with their lives. When you are I had a real mental transformation. I thought this was surrounded by people like that you tend felt I could do anything I wanted to. a good way to to be inspired back. I was very fortunate My favourite race was the build my brand. to be exposed to a variety of people who one in Africa, the Big Five I wanted to raise challenged my world view. I have to thank Marathon, because you are funds for victims the University a lot for that experience. running in the Savannah with of the Boston My next goal is the World Marathon the wild animals. You could see Marathon bombings, Majors, six of the ‘biggest’ city marathons in elephants close by, rhino, zebra, for whom I raised $7500. the world. This year, I’ll be attempting the giraffes … they are almost within Finally, I thought it was Chicago and New York marathon. Currently, touching distance. Fortunately, they a very interesting and I’ve been recruited as the Head Fitness keep the lions 5 kilometres away unique way to travel Trainer at the Shangri La gym in Colombo, from the runners. and see the world. and I’ve started my own online fitness The Inca Trail was probably Yes, I put a lot of effort business. Hopefully, I’ll do an MBA at some the most challenging. It’s the most and mileage in, but I point, too. I’m proud of what I have achieved difficult marathon in the world had a lot of support: my but I want to do more. for a reason! Each step is infinitely wife Rashida, my family, WITH VAL McFARLANE more difficult at altitude. You run the first two hours in pitch blackness, by torchlight. You THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN could easily get lost on the trail. It Hassan Esufally has completed marathons in: was extremely undulating. In the AUSTRALIA Melbourne, 2014 and 2016 morning it would be raining, then it became really hot and humid EUROPE Stockholm, 2017 Ask Alumni is an exclusive University of Melbourne network, connecting students with alumni like you for and then at the highest point there ASIA Colombo, 2017 quick, one-off conversations. Reflect on your skills and gain confidence as a professional while making an was snow. On top of all that, it just impact to students’ lives. Connect via email, phone or face-to-face – whatever suits you best! kept getting tougher to breathe. NORTH AMERICA Boston, 2018 Usually it takes three nights AFRICA The Big 5, South Africa, 2018 2015 ISSUE 2, and four days to hike 30 kilometres to Machu Picchu. SOUTH AMERICA The Inca Trail, 2018 REGISTER NOW We were only given 24 hours ANTARCTICA The Antarctic Ice, 2018 IT’S QUICK AND EASY, VISIT: to complete the full marathon

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