GRIFFITH 2018 MAGAZINE Griffith’s Planet Hunter Dr Jessie Christiansen a rising star in planet discovery LEADING GRIFFITH’S TRANSFORMATION Vice Chancellor and President Ian O’Connor AC retires GRIFFITH INSTITUTE FOR DRUG DISCOVERY Griffith continues to lead research towards a potential cure for spinal cord injury COVERSTORY ViceChancellorandPresidentProfessor IanO’ConnorACretiresPAGES 4–9 1 Careerjourneyoutofthisworld MESSAGE FROM THE 2 Inauguralawardshonouroutstanding Griffithalumni VICE CHANCELLOR ReflectingonthehighlightsofanothermomentousyearforGriffithUniversity, Plantsmayholdkeytospinalcordrepair 3 wecanfeelimmensecollectiveprideintheachievementsoftheGriffith 4 LeadingGriffith’stransformation community—students,staffandalumni.Thereisapalpablesenseofforward momentumacrosstheUniversityasGriffithcontinuestobuilditsreputation 9 NewViceChancellorannounced asoneofAustralia’sleadingcomprehensiveresearchuniversities. 10 Lion-heartedfilmcareerforAngie EarlierthisyearsawthestagingoftheGoldCoast2018CommonwealthGames (GC2018)withGriffithplayingasignificantpartincontributingtotheevent’s 11 Rethinkingourstateoforigin successasamajorpartner.TheGamesprovidedauniqueopportunityforour 12 Andrewdiningoutonbusinesssuccess staffandstudentstoaccessopportunitiesincludinginternships,secondments, scholarshipsandtheparticipationof41Griffithcommunitymembersasathletes. 13 Mikaelaonamedicalmission IamalsodelightedtoseethecontinualriseofGriffithuptheglobaluniversity 14 GriffithshinesatGC2018 rankingswithourprograms,teachingandresearchoutcomesbeingrecognised internationally.TheUniversitywasrecentlyrecognisedbytheprestigiousjournal 18 Jake’strulyaschoolskipper Natureasoneofitsglobal‘RisingStars’for2018.Outcomessuchasthissee theUniversitynowrankedinthetop300onfourmajorinternationalrankings, 19 ShubshrifindsmusicalmagicinAladdin placingGriffithinthetoptwopercentofhighereducationinstitutionsworldwide. Sheddinglightonseajellies 20 Thismagazinecelebratesthestoriesofindividualandgroupachievementleading 21 Personalconnectioninspiresspinalresearch totheseoutstandingsuccesses,includingourremarkablealumnisuchasDrJessie Christiansen,whoisworkingatNASAandhuntingforunknownplanets,andBAFTA 22 Promisingprogressinmalariavaccinetrial andAcademyAward-nomineefilmproducerAngieFielder. 23 Glycomicshostsnewresearchnode Itcoversourresearchoutcomesincludingthegroundbreakingworkbeing undertakenatGriffithtoestablishthetimelinefortheworld’soldestknown 24 Climateplanisagiftfortourism fossilfoundoutsideofAfrica,thequesttodevelopaneffectivemalariavaccine, 25 JaymakesaquantumleapatIBM andthedevelopmentofnewtreatmentsfortherepairofspinalcorddamage. 26 ThrivingcommunitytherewardforMPMichael Frommyperspective,ithasbeenanhonourtoguidetheUniversity’s transformationoverthepast14years.AsInearretirement,Iamdeeplysatisfied 27 Sam’sastaratthecreaseandlectureroom thatGriffithhasneverstrayedfromitsmissiontobeauniversityofinfluence makingamajorcontributiontosociety. 28 QCAstudentsturnalensonlife TheappointmentofProfessorCarolynEvansasGriffith’sfifthViceChancellorand 30 Spiritssoarfor25yearsofGriffithAviation PresidentfromFebruary2019signalsanewchapterintheGriffithstoryandIwish ProfessorEvansallthebestasshesteerstheUniversitytoevengreatersuccess. 31 Rankingsconfirmgloballeadership Professor Ian O’Connor AC Theconservationcrusader 32 Vice Chancellor and President 33 Thehumblehumanitarian 34 GenderpolicyhonourforSusan 35 GriffithscientistsshineatYoungTall Poppyawards 36 GoldCoasttourism 37 Positivediagnosisforpartnersinmedicine 38 $1mbequestisagiftforthegifted 39 Studentsfeeltheimpactofgenerousdonors 40 MessagefromtheDeputyViceChancellor Griffith Magazine is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications in partnership with the Office of Development and Alumni. Magazine compiled and edited by Very Media Pty Ltd. Editorial contributions from Mitch Knox, Stephen O’Grady, Deborah Marshall, Carley Rosengreen, Nick Nichols, Robert Kidd, Jane McCubbin and Ben Dobson. Griffith University Nathan campus, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Qld 4111 Australia Griffith University Gold Coast campus, Parklands Drive, Qld 4222 Australia Enquiries: Marketing and Communications, +61 7 3735 7818 griffith.edu.au/omc COVER IMAGE: NASA scientist and Griffith graduate Dr Jessie Christiansen 1 OUT OF THIS WORLD CAREER JOURNEY OUT OF THIS WORLD An early passion for astrophysics continues to burn brightly for NASA scientist and Griffith graduate Dr Jessie Christiansen. DrJessieChristiansenhasalwaysbeena ThencamethecallfromaNASAcolleague ‘It’seasytoloseperspectivewhenyou’re starry-eyeddreamer. aboutarolethateventuallyprompted inabubblelikethat.Butmytwinstell JessieandherhusbandtomovetoLos peoplethatMummyhuntsforplanets AtStMary’sCollegeinIpswich,shehelped Angelesandtakeuptheircurrentroles andthattheyhelp.SoIamgladand startthehighschool’sfirstastronomy atCaltech. gratefulthatwhatIdoissomething club:theZubenelgenubis.Thatearly theyareexcitedaboutaswell.’ passionforastrophysicshascontinued Asakeenadvocateforcitizenscience, toburnbright,propellingherstudiesand Jessiesaidsharingherworkwiththe researchintoastellarcareerthathas public,includingherownchildren, landedheraprizedroleinherfield. keepstheseeminglyfar-offrealms ofspacewithinreach. ‘Doing the Advanced Studies AsaStaffScientistatNASA’sExoplanet extension of the Bachelor of ScienceInstitute—basedattheCalifornia ‘Attheprofessionalastronomylevel, InstituteofTechnology(Caltech)— everyoneissoaccomplished,sodriven, Science at Griffith was such JessieworksontheNASAExoplanet soresults-focused,thatI’msurrounded an amazing opportunity to Archive,keepingtrackofhowmany bypeoplemyageandevenyoungerwho do research in a variety of labs exoplanets(planetsorbitingstars areachievingamazingthingseveryday,’ and disciplines.’ outsideoursolarsystem)havebeen shesaid. found.Sheisalsoconductingherown researchonexoplanets. ‘DoingtheAdvancedStudiesextension oftheBachelorofScienceatGriffith wassuchanamazingopportunityto doresearchinavarietyoflabsand disciplines,’saidJessie,whoin2018 receivedtheOutstandingYoungAlumnus AwardattheinauguralGriffithUniversity OutstandingAlumniAwards. ‘Workingwithadifferentfacultymember eachsemesterallowedmetoexplore manysubjectsandtypesofresearch. Imovedatomsaround,Ifiredproton beams,Imodelledtheinteriorsofstars.’ Aftercompletingherinitialstudiesat Griffithin2002,JessiedidherHonours atAustralianNationalUniversitythen completedherPhDattheUniversity ofNewSouthWales.Apostdoctoral fellowshipatHarvardUniversitysaw hermovetoBoston. NASAscientistandGriffithgraduateDrJessieChristiansen Griffith Magazine | 2018 EDITION OUTSTANDING GRIFFITH ALUMNI 2 INAUGURAL AWARDS HONOUR OUTSTANDING GRIFFITH ALUMNI In 2018, Griffith University celebrated the exceptional contributions of its graduates at the inaugural Outstanding Alumni Awards. Atrailblazerforwomeninleadership,a Atopscientistandpublichealthspecialist, ‘TheUniversitygreatlyvaluesitsalumni NASAastronomer,atoppublichealth ProfessorQiyongLiu,wasnamed relationshipsandisproudoftheamazing scientist,andapsychologistand Outstanding International Alumnus thingsyoudoeachdaytomakea entrepreneurwerethewinnersofthe Award.ProfessorLiuisinternationally difference.Iwouldliketothankeachof inauguralGriffithUniversityOutstanding renownedforhisresearchaddressing youforbeingoutstandingambassadors AlumniAwards,announcedatagaladinner climatechangeandhealth,devoting fortheUniversity.’ inBrisbaneinSeptember. 30yearstocombattinghealththreats topoorandvulnerablecommunities. QueenslandFireandEmergency Outstanding Alumnus Award ServicesCommissionerKatarinaCarroll NASAastronomerDrJessieChristiansen QueenslandFireandEmergencyServices APMreceivedtheGriffithUniversity receivedtheOutstanding Young CommissionerKatarinaCarrollAPM Outstanding Alumnus Award. Alumnus Award.DrChristiansen spendsherdayslookingforplanets Outstanding First Peoples Thefourthwomanandthefirstmother andhaspublisheddiscoverieson Alumnus Award toachievetherankofAssistant severalexoplanets.Sheisanactive Psychologistandsocialentrepreneur CommissionerintheQueenslandPolice mentorandeducator,alwaysseekingto ClintonSchultz Service,CommissionerCarrollbecame fosterwomenandunder-represented Outstanding International Australia’sfirstfemalefirecommissioner minoritiesinthenaturalsciences. Alumnus Award in2015.Shehasbeenapioneerfor Scientistandpublichealthspecialist womeninthepolicingandfireservices, Twentyexceptionalalumniawardgroup winnersinArts,EducationandLaw, ProfessorQiyongLiu andarolemodeltowomenandgirls Business,HealthandScienceswere aspiringtosimilarcareers. Outstanding Young Alumnus Award alsorecognisedattheawardsdinner. NASAastronomerDrJessieChristiansen Psychologistandsocialentrepreneur ViceChancellorandPresidentProfessor MrClintonSchultzreceivedthe IanO’ConnorACsaidthereachand Outstanding First Peoples influenceoftheUniversity’s200,000 Alumnus Award.MrSchultzfounded alumniandtheirpositiveimpactonthe MarumaliConsultations,providing worldaroundthemwasoutstanding. culturallyresponsivewellbeing supportservicestoAboriginaland TorresStraitIslandercommunities. Healsoconsultsonorganisationaland culturalresponsiveness,includingthe QueenslandChildDeathsCaseReview Panel.Inhissparetime,MrSchultz foundedClinto’sKupmurrifoodvan, providinghealthynative-focusedfood, andSobah,Australia’sfirstnon-alcoholic Aboriginalcraftbeer,whichisalignedto theSobahInitiative. L–R:DrJessieChristiansen,ProfessorQiyongLiu,ClintonSchultzandCommissionerKatarinaCarroll Griffith Magazine | 2018 EDITION 3 GRIDD PLANTS MAY HOLD KEY TO SPINAL CORD REPAIR Griffith University continues to lead research towards a cure for spinal