Dear colleagues,

For many of us, these final few weeks before the end of the year are an opportunity to tie up loose ends, finish outstanding jobs on our to-do lists and prepare for a productive start to the new year. Some of us will take leave in the lead up to Christmas, while others will return a little later in January. Whatever your plans in the next few weeks, I wish you a peaceful and restorative break in the company of family and friends.

For others, this is a busy time of year and the break will be short-lived. For our Future Students team, Student Connect, Session 3 lecturers and students, and many support staff the return after Christmas is a peak period. I am grateful to them for their hard work on our behalf at this time of year and to you all for your dedication over the past 12 months.

Among the University leadership, this has been a particularly busy period as we lay the foundations for 2017. At its most recent meeting, after many months – and in some cases, years – of work, the University Council approved two major initiatives to develop our campus facilities and govern our activities from next year.

The campus master plan sets out the future of our land asset, its buildings and open spaces for the long term. The vision it lays out will allow us to develop a vibrant and visually striking home for our community, creating a landscape that clearly identifies us as a place for learning and research, and also allows us to better integrate with our neighbours and partners within Macquarie Park. The Council’s in-principle endorsement of a series of major capital works on campus enables us to continue the work already underway, and from next year we will see major changes proceed at a rapid pace.

The Council also approved a revised Delegations of Authority policy and register. These documents set out the governing principles and policies of the University and were recently revised to more clearly define the powers and responsibilities of its principal officers and the staff more broadly. The changes ensure that decisions can be made swiftly and effectively by those with expert knowledge in the relevant fields, and I am confident they will make us more able to quickly grasp opportunities in the future.

I have been privileged to lead this community since September 2012. With the renewal of my role as Vice-Chancellor at the same meeting, I am very grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me to guide and shape our journey until late 2024. The Council also re-elected the Chancellor for a further three years. The Honourable Michael Egan AO has been an outstanding advocate for Macquarie University during his tenure, and I have found his guidance and support invaluable in my role as Vice-Chancellor. I look forward to continuing to work with him and other Council members in the future.

The next year, and every year after that, will be a fast paced and an exhilarating journey for us all. During this festive break, I encourage you to relax, enjoy the company around you, and take time to do things that you enjoy and make you happy. There is much work to be done, and I hope that you will return refreshed and ready to make our vision for the future a reality.

With warm good wishes,

SBD