Supporting Deakin to Become Australia's Most Progressive University
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ANNUAL REPORT 2015 DEAKIN COMMERCE ALUMNI SUPPORTING DEAKIN TO BECOME AUSTRALIA’S MOST PROGRESSIVE UNIVERSITY MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE Throughout 2015, the Deakin Commerce Alumni Chapter (‘the Chapter’) continued to build on strong foundations of the founding executive group and the vision of celebrating the achievements of Deakin commerce graduates providing a medium of lifelong communication between Deakin University and its alumni. 2015 has been an exciting year for the On behalf of the Chapter, we extend sincere Chapter. On behalf of the Executive and thanks to all those who committed their Steering Committee, we are pleased to valuable time and resources in support of present to you the 2015 Annual Report. the Chapter’s strategic plan to executing networking events, professional development We hope that you will be inspired by the events and university profile enhancement achievements and continue to be active events. members of the Chapter as we work collaboratively towards helping Deakin We look forward with confidence to the University achieve its mission of becoming Chapter’s future as it continues to add value Australia’s most progressive university. by providing a relevant alumni community to further enhance the careers and personal The Chapter is the largest and most active development of its members. alumni chapter within Deakin University with approximately 15,000 registered members. To date, Chapter members have established a strong presence in commerce nationally and internationally. Deakin graduates today command distinguished positions in the Roger Fredrick public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Deakin Commerce Alumni President 2015 The success of the Chapter is primarily due to the keen participation of the alumni, tireless volunteering efforts of the steering committee members and continued strong support from the Pro Vice Chancellor and staff members from the Faculty of Business and Law and corporate sponsors. deakin.edu.au FROM THE EXECUTIVE DEAN, FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND LAW It gives me considerable pleasure to provide the foreword for the 2015 Deakin Commerce Alumni Annual Report, which provides highlights of the significant amount of activity that has been undertaken this year by the Commerce Alumni chapter. Specifically, the key highlights for this year’s During a recent visit to the UK, I hosted an Deakin Commerce Alumni (DCA) have been alumni networking event in London which networking events at some of the cities was attended by 14 alumni, all of whom are hot-spots, as well as the Annual Charity now in senior positions in the UK. Additionally, Ball themed ‘Casino Royale’. With over 150 I had follow-up meetings with senior alumni attendees, the ball raised much-needed funds at the Hinduja Group, the Saga Group, Bank for Deakin’s Change 100 Lives campaign. of America and Merryl Lynch and there are The funds raised provided emergency plans to establish a formal alumni group in assistance to ten young people experiencing the UK. Professor Barry J Cooper, Associate financial difficulty while at University – a Dean (Industry Engagement and Partnerships), life-changing result. Deakin Business School, also hosted a networking function for approximately During the year, professional development 50 alumni in Shanghai in November and made events included a presentation on Inspiring contact with alumni in Beijing, with the view Growth and Success from chairman of Westpac to establishing a formal alumni group in 2016. Bank and Deakin Alumnus Lindsay Maxsted. My sincere thanks goes to Roger Fredrick Dan Monheit, co-founder and Director of for the leadership he has provided to the Strategy at Hardhat Digital, a communications Deakin Commerce Alumni Chapter, as well as agency built for today, also spoke about members of the executive. We are extremely Digital Disruption: From big bangs to subtle blessed to have such a capable and energetic shifts where he provided key insights into how group of individuals and I wish you all the some of Australia’s leading organisations are best for 2016. becoming more digitally intelligent. Warm regards, DCA’s final professional development was another inspiring commerce alumni, Liz Tehan who inspired and challenged our views on start-up businesses. Liz presented a fantastic recollection of her journey from business into entrepreneurship and her experience starting multiple businesses and embracing ever- evolving technology. Professor Mike Ewing Deakin Commerce Alumni Annual Report 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 History and background of the Chapter 2 Structure of the Chapter 2 2 Mission, vision and core strategies 4 Our core strategies 4 2015 Action Plan 5 Partnership with the Faculty of Business and Law 5 3 Accomplishments of the Chapter 6 Networking and professional development events 6 4 Supporting the Chapter’s activities 12 Financial support 12 Administrative support 12 5 The road ahead: Ensuring the long term sustainability of the Chapter 15 Commerce Alumni Committee profiles 16 Commerce Alumni Advisor profiles 20 deakin.edu.au 1 HISTORY AND BACKGROUND 1 OF THE CHAPTER The Chapter was established on 2 August 2007 in response to the Faculty of Business and Law’s commitment to Deakin University’s mission of becoming Australia’s most progressive university. Through this mission, the University will seek international recognition for the relevance, innovation and responsiveness in its teaching and learning, research, partnerships and international activities. To this end, it is the faculty’s mission to constantly develop the skills of its current students and academic staff to ensure that they are maintained at world-class standards. It is also the faculty’s mission to provide a medium of lifelong learning and communication between the university and its alumni. STRUCTURE OF THE CHAPTER In 2015 the Chapter was organised as follows: The Chapter is Deakin University’s largest alumni group encompassing alumni from the Faculty of Business CHAPTER EXECUTIVE (President and VPs) and Law, including Deakin Graduate School of Business, School of Management and Marketing, School of Information and Business Analytics and the School ADVISORY of Accounting, Economics and Finance. (Immediate past year president) Alumni are primarily past graduates however the group also consists of, and welcomes, former staff UNIVERSITY LIAISON and academics, providing a lifelong connection with the university. There are currently close to 13,000 registered alumni linked to the Chapter. STEERING COMMITTEE The president of the Chapter for 2015 was Roger Fredrick (Deakin Graduate 2010). A number of University staff directly Savio D’Sa commenced as the Vice President but due to an unforeseen work restructure Savio stepped down assisted with the day-to-day in April 2014 and was not replaced. organisation and management of the In 2015 the steering committee included Sasha Chapter providing invaluable support Liyanarachi, Sharlene Gunatilake, Sophia Dang, Ben Tesoriero, Michael Drysdale, Hayden Van Roon to the executive and steering committee. (until April 2015) and Tom Lynch. The key university liaisons in 2015 were: The advisors providing support to the Chapter this • Professor Barry Cooper year were: James Osenaris, Michael Levy, Mark Hui, (Associate Dean Industry Engagement and Partnerships) Shiraz Engineer and Rani Engineer. • Lynne Lucas (Director Alumni and External Relations) The team was was structured as follows: • Ron Fairchild (Vice President – Advancement) NETWORKING EVENTS • Gemma Willocks (Faculty Alumni Liaison) • Alex Kuo (Marketing Manager, Faculty of Business and Law) Ben Tesoriero Sophia Dang • Jessica Coffey (Co-ordinator, Events) • Claudia Ottobrino (Senior Events Officer) CHARITY BALL • Lisa Moylan (Events Officer) Sharlene Gunatilake • Fiona Sanna (Events Officer) Sasha Liyanarachi • Bri Gunn (Senior Partnerships and Recruitment Officer) Ben Tesoriero • Jean Blundell-Caulfield Michael Drysdale (Coordinator, Partnerships and Recruitment) Sophia Dang Tom Lynch PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS Sasha Liyanarachi Michael Drysdale Michael Levy SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE Hayden Van Roon Michael Drysdale MARKETING Michael Drysdale UNIVERSITY PROFILE ENHANCEMENT James Osenaris Roger Fredrick deakin.edu.au 3 MISSION, VISION AND 2 CORE STRATEGIES The mission, vision and goals of the Chapter were set in consultation with the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Business and Law. The mission of the Chapter is to provide meaningful lifelong communication between the University and its alumni. The vision of the Chapter is to provide the most relevant alumni community for its members to further enhance their careers and personal development. OUR CORE STRATEGIES UNIVERSITY PROFESSIONAL PROFILE NETWORKING DEVELOPMENT ENHANCEMENT Provide networking avenues Provide valuable and relevant Enhance the overall that add tangible value lifelong learning resources reputation of the schools, to the alumni community. for alumni members. faculty and university. The 2015 Committee met in January 2015 to discuss and plan the year ahead which included objectives and goal setting as well as sub-committee formation. The strategic plan was formed from those discussions and tabled by Roger Fredrick (President) to the University. The plan was approved by Professor Barry Cooper, Associate Dean Industry Engagement and Partnerships, Faculty of Business and Law. The Chapter sustains its activities through financial support from the faculty and from corporate sponsors in the form of access to corporate function rooms/ boardrooms