Macquarie Matters » MQAlumni

Macquarie University celebrates alumni success at Macquarie Group

Yue Zhang — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 00:16:27 +0000

Almost 200 current and former Macquarie Group staff, who are also Macquarie University alumni, recently came together to celebrate the group’s remarkable achievements. Held at Macquarie Group’s Martin Place office, the event began with opening remarks from Leigh Harrison, Head of Real Assets at Macquarie Asset Management, and Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton. The highlight of the event was a panel discussion moderated by Professor Eric Knight, Executive Dean of Macquarie Business School. The panel featured Ben Way, Group Head of Macquarie Asset Management and Karen Khadi, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Commodities and Global Markets. Their success stories highlighted the exceptional education and mentorship provided by Macquarie University. Pictured L to R: Ben Way, Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton, Karen Khadi, Professor Eric Knight, Leigh Harrison “It is clear that our commonality goes well beyond our names – Macquarie University and Macquarie Group are well-connected communities,” said the Vice-Chancellor. “Whether interested in green energy, sustaining global food supplies, social housing projects, or infrastructure development, our students come to us with a desire to make a difference in the world around them, and Macquarie Group is where they end up, doing work that impacts people all over the world.” Following the event, Mr Way shared his perspective on the importance of strong networks: “I have found that throughout my career, staying connected with former colleagues and classmates has been a great way of sharing insights and learnings, presenting new opportunities and ideas. “I found this event a great way of continuing to do that. I look forward to building on the new connections I made that evening.” Susan Mills, Head of Alumni Relations, described the event as a platform to showcase the profound impact of Macquarie University on the lives and careers of its graduates. She said University alumni could expect many more celebrations that honour their success and resilience.

A life of service

Yue Zhang — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:23:12 +0000

When NSW Public Service Commissioner Kathrina Lo returned to Macquarie University as an occasional speaker for the 4 October graduation ceremony, 28 years after she graduated with a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Economics, her story spoke of an unwavering dedication to the public interest, the value of cultural diversity in the workplace, and how a strong sense of purpose has guided her career. It’s a story that will stay with graduands long after their mortar boards were tossed in the air … As Kathrina Lo explained in her address, almost 30 years ago, she too was sitting at a graduation ceremony, her career and all its possibilities stretched out in front of her. She may not have known the specific details of what lay ahead of her, but as she sat in the graduation hall surrounded by her peers, it might be said that her clarity of purpose – and her interests that developed out of her degree – are what have propelled her in her career. As she told the graduands in early October, ‘When I was studying law at Macquarie, the subjects I gravitated toward were the public law ones; after all, it applies to and shapes our entire society. I could also see the potential for impact in these areas and an alignment with purpose, so I made a deliberate decision to join the public service. I wanted to do work that was in the public interest.’ And it’s this decision and no doubt drive that have led to an exceptionally distinguished public service career at the state and commonwealth levels. Currently the NSW Public Service Commissioner, Kathrina leads workforce policy and programs as well as strategy and reform for the NSW public sector, the largest workforce in Australia. Before being appointed commissioner, she was the deputy secretary at the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. Kathrina has also held the positions of NSW Information Commissioner, NSW Privacy Commissioner, Assistant Auditor-General, and CEO of Juvenile Justice NSW. Kathrina says her career has been enormously fulfilling, and as a lawyer in the public service, she has had the opportunity to do work she couldn’t do elsewhere. She has led a wide range of civil and criminal law reforms; developed numerous pieces of legislation, including enshrining changes to surrogacy arrangements and victim impact statements, and extinguishing historical homosexual offences; and been part of the team advising the NSW Attorney General on matters such as the penalties that should attach to offences, and requests for reviews of criminal convictions. Kathrina was also part of a United Nations expert group at the UN headquarters in New York, and travelled to China as part of a delegation of senior Australian public servants strengthening ties between the two countries. As she says, ‘It’s big-impact work. I’m a proud career public servant and have never regretted my decision to join the public service – the work we do is purposeful, interesting, challenging and impactful; it makes a real difference to people’s lives.’ And never has this been more evident than in the last few years when she has seen the NSW public service through some of the most challenging periods in the state’s history. ‘Our frontline workforce in the Rural Fire Service, the State Emergency Service, and Fire and Rescue, are constantly preparing for and responding to extreme weather events, from fires to floods,’ she says. ‘At the moment, there’s a lot of preparation being done ahead of summer – because of climate change, we’re dealing with events that people might previously have only experienced once in a century, or once in a generation, but they’re common events now.’ No less, we don’t hear as much about the pandemic in the news any more, but nurses are still supporting COVID patients in ICUs, and people are still dying, so there’s still a lot of work going on behind the scenes. ‘In the early days,’ notes Kathrina, ‘we didn’t know how bad things would get, so we mobilised and trained hundreds of public servants ready to go as contact tracers, and later roll out vaccinations, as just one example. ‘It was a huge team effort – COVID wasn’t just a health response, it was a whole-of-sector response,’ she says. ‘I’m really proud of how our 430,000-strong workforce has continued to turn up, step up, and be there for the people of New South Wales during these extremely difficult times.’ But this is just the tip of the iceberg.‘Often, people are quite surprised to learn that 85 per cent of the NSW public service workforce is on the frontline,’ says Kathrina. ‘But our teachers, nurses, police, prison officers and paramedics, bus and train drivers and firies, they’re all frontline workers – they’re our unsung heroes,’ she says with genuine admiration. It’s a career that’s increasingly popular, too. From the highly competitive graduate program that’s one of the best in the country to people moving across to middle management from corporate, people are realising you can have a really interesting, purpose-driven career in the public service. ‘I’ve chosen to stay in the public sector for my entire career,’ says Kathrina, ‘but I’d like to see more movement between corporate and government as it benefits both sectors. ‘The really big problems we need to deal with as a state and as a nation – like Indigenous disadvantage, climate change and domestic and family violence – all require different sectors working together to solve them, so the more movement of talent there is between sectors, increasing understanding and building relationships, the more likely we are to tackle those problems successfully.’ Big-impact work, indeed. So where does Kathrina’s deep sense of purpose and desire to tackle huge societal issues come from? ‘It’s partly because my family are migrants,’ says Kathrina, explaining her father was born in China and grew up in Hong Kong, and her mother is from Malaysia, and is Malay–Chinese, while her great-grandmother was from Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. ‘My parents met in Australia, got married here, and never returned to their birth countries to live. As newlyweds, they moved to Canada, where I was born, before we returned to Australia and lived in a small town near Lake Macquarie until I was 13.’ Kathrina tells of the quintessential Aussie childhood, growing up in the country in the 70s and 80s, hanging out with other kids, riding their bikes down dirt tracks to the creek, and building cubby houses in the bush. ‘We’d be away for hours, only returning for dinner,’ reminisces Kathrina. ‘Our parents didn’t hover over us, and I think this fostered our independence, resourcefulness, imagination and resilience.’ Her parents did however drum into her the importance of contributing to society, and of helping people who are less fortunate. ‘It was very much about embracing our adopted country and wanting to give back,’ she says. ‘My parents always talked about helping other people who might not have the good fortune we had, and they both chose purposeful careers as educators at the university level, my father in maths and science, and my mother in nursing.’ And this is where Kathrina’s sense of purpose and background intersect. As she noted in her speech, she is one of the nearly 50 percent of Australians who were either born overseas or have at least one parent who was born overseas. She is also the first culturally diverse person to hold all the senior leadership positions she’s been appointed to in the NSW public service, and the first culturally diverse person to be a member of the NSW Secretaries Board, the top leadership team for the NSW public service. So, it’s no surprise that when asked what legacy she’d like to leave, she cites increasing cultural diversity in the workplace. As she explains, ‘I truly believe Australia’s cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths as a country, and it’s a competitive advantage we need to leverage more than we currently do. ‘I’m halfway through my seven-year term as commissioner, and I’d like to leave behind a public sector workforce that better reflects the diversity of the community we serve, including at the senior leadership level, so we’re better able to understand and respond to the needs of the community and deliver better outcomes. ‘There’s a large body of research that shows that diverse organisations and teams perform better across a whole range of metrics, including customer and financial metrics, and that they’re more innovative, creative and better at problem-solving. And that’s exactly what we want our organisations to be, whether they operate in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors.’ You could hear the passion in her voice as she shared her personal and professional journey with graduands and, as part of her six tips shared at the ceremony, Kathrina reminded the audience that we all have a sphere of influence within which we can choose to contribute positively. ‘No matter what level we’re at, we all play a role in ensuring our workplaces value diversity, are inclusive, and are places where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work.’ So, what’s next for Kathrina Lo? Although she still has over three years to go as commissioner and no doubt much to achieve, this may well be her last executive role. ‘I might find other ways to give back, whether that’s through boards and committees, or volunteer work,’ she muses, and indeed, she is now a member of the recently established Macquarie Law School Advisory Board. ‘I’d also like to have more time for my parents, who are getting older, and time for those things I didn’t get to do when you have a full-on executive career, like getting back to playing the piano and taking some art classes. There are lots of things to get involved in the local community too – I’m really open to different things, but it’s a little way off yet.’ She sounds satisfied with her career journey, the opportunities she has taken, the positions she has given her all to, and the changes she has made – from the large and significant to the more personal, such as writing letters to applicants to let them know that a historical offence that had been hanging over their heads for decades was no longer on their record. Ever mindful and pragmatic, Kathrina adds, ‘You’ve also got to know when it’s time to step aside and let other leaders come through – that’s part of your job as a leader, to develop other leaders, but you also need to know when to step aside and give other leaders an opportunity. I’ll find other ways to contribute, I have no doubt about that!’ she laughs warmly, knowing herself and her purpose well. Do you have a story to share with us? As Macquarie University approaches its 60th Anniversary in 2024, we're eager to hear from you. Whether you've pursued global ventures, achieved your dream career, or explored new horizons post-graduation, share your journey with us. Kathrina Lo is the New South Wales Public Service Commissioner and leads workforce strategy, reform and programs for the NSW public sector, the largest workforce in Australia with over 430, 000 employees. Kathrina has had a distinguished public service career. Prior to her appointment as NSW Public Service Commissioner in April 2020, a seven-year tenure, Kathrina was Deputy Secretary at the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. She has also held the positions of NSW Information Commissioner, NSW Privacy Commissioner, Assistant Auditor General, and CEO of Juvenile Justice NSW. Kathrina has a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from Macquarie University, a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. She is actively involved in the tertiary education sector as a member of the Macquarie Law School Advisory Board; a director of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government; a member of the Advisory Board for the Australian Institute of Gender Equality @ Work at the University of Sydney Business School; and she Chairs the Industry Advisory Board for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at UTS. Kathrina is a member of Chief Executive Women. She is passionate about working in the public interest and is a champion for diversity and inclusion.

Answering the call

Yue Zhang — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 04:01:16 +0000

A graduation ceremony is an acknowledgment of the years of hard work that went into achieving a degree, and a genuine source of enjoyment for those alumni who choose to volunteer on the day. In 2023 alone, 32 MQ alumni volunteers gave 708 hours of their time at graduations. But, as powerful as they are, the numbers don’t tell the whole story – we speak with four alumni to understand what inspires them to volunteer and why giving back to their alma mater in this way is so important to them. Update your details to stay connected with your local network and Sign up to be a graduation volunteer today! ‘I saw a note in one of the alumni newsletters asking for volunteers to usher at the graduations and decided to give it a go,’ remembers senior HR professional Golnar Adl (BComm 2003). She had organised events and done ushering at conferences and other large gatherings, so it was something she felt familiar with. Still, after volunteering at her first graduation, she says there was no going back. Golnar Adl ‘We were given academic regalia to wear, and it felt like I was going through my graduation again, but this time I didn’t have the nerve-wracking moment of being on stage and remembering when to doff my cap – I could just enjoy the atmosphere.’ Golnar volunteering at graduation in 2018 Being part of the joy experienced by graduates at the end of many years of study is often mentioned by the volunteers. ‘As a volunteer, you are honouring the graduates’ achievements and also sharing in their enjoyment of the occasion,’ says Noel Wagg (BA 1977, Hon Doc 2019). ‘When I address the graduands, I always tell them this will be one of the most important days of their lives, and should not be missed.’ Noel Wagg One of the university’s most committed alumni volunteers, in 2022 Noel volunteered 147 hours of his time across 49 ceremonies and has continued this year as well. In fact, he has been volunteering since 2011 – two years after the first volunteers started in 2009 – and says, ‘I don’t see why I can’t volunteer for years to come!’ Noel Wagg in Academic regalia An active MQ alumni member over this time, Noel has occasionally volunteered on the alumni scholarship selection panel but says his main contribution has been at graduation ceremonies. ‘Initially, that involved being an usher, but for the last eight years I’ve been the onstage presenter before ceremonies start, instructing graduands on procedures.’ Noel Wagg delivering the occasional address at the ceremony His reasons for volunteering are personal. ‘I chose to volunteer to repay the university for offering the external study format and looking after us as external students,’ says Noel. ‘This form of study was essential for me as I spent my first six years as a teacher in remote locations such as Batlow and Norfolk Island. Volunteering is a way to express my gratitude to all the lecturers and tutors who did such a fantastic job.’ This sense of giving back to the university is important to many of the volunteers, including Phillip Morath (MA 1981, PhD 1993), who has been volunteering since 2018. In 2023, he has already contributed 81 hours across 27 ceremonies. ‘I responded to a call for volunteers at graduations because Macquarie has been very good for me in terms of the knowledge, skills and discipline I gained from my time there.’ Phillip Morath Both a student and employee of the university during the 80s and 90s, Phillip says, ‘I felt very supported, and was given opportunities to study and work in an innovative and influential environment – I’ve benefited so much from Macquarie.’ Volunteering in this way allows alumni to maintain an ongoing and meaningful connection to their alma mater. ‘Graduation is an important recognition of students’ effort and achievement, and for me, it’s wonderful to be a small part of it – it’s uplifting to see so much happiness in the graduates and their families and friends.’ Phillip enjoys listening to the announcements of the research theses because it gives him an appreciation of the newest issues and areas of research at the university. ‘It’s also an opportunity to see how the courses are leading and reflecting the changes in our community and environment,’ he says. No less, he enjoys meeting different alumni at the ceremonies, and says it’s interesting to see where people’s lives have taken them post-study, especially in terms of their careers. Golnar agrees, and has found that she has much in common with some of the graduates. ‘Being able to meet other HR professionals at Macquarie Business School graduations, in particular, has been a great opportunity to expand my professional network,’ she says. ‘Over the years, I’ve connected with quite a few people, and last year a work project even eventuated from a connection I made at a ceremony.’ It’s rewarding for many reasons, continues Golnar, and a great way to connect with your community. ‘You’ll be surprised by what can happen when you get involved – I was particularly thrilled to see one of my favourite professors at one of the graduation ceremonies I was ushering at. After all these years, I was able to thank him for the path he set me on,’ she says warmly. Of course, there are also the other volunteers, who you get to know as well. ‘There are so many amazing people who volunteer,’ says Golnar. ‘One of the volunteers was my maths teacher at high school – the one who first suggested I consider Macquarie University when I was trying to work out where and what to study.’ Many interesting stories come to light when speaking with the volunteers, and Jill Brewster (MBA 1999), a management consultant in financial services, has had her fair share. From the time she was ringing the bell for graduands and their guests to go into the Graduation Hall and the bell fell apart, to the occasional graduate who jumps off the stage, she has many good memories of volunteering at graduations. Jill Brewster Jill’s involvement is both practical and personal. As she explains, ‘I’ve had many different roles that help in the seamless running of the graduation ceremony, such as assisting with graduate registration, seating graduands and guests in the Graduation Hall, answering questions, and being backstage at the ceremony matching graduands to their testamurs, calming their nerves and explaining the process while they’re on stage. ‘I enjoy talking to the graduates about their post-university employment and where their degree has taken them, as well as listening to the inspiring stories from the occasional speakers and graduate speakers,’ she says. ‘Most importantly, though, you’re contributing to a memorable graduation experience for the graduates after many years of hard work, and you can see the enjoyment on their faces and that of their family and friends.’ It’s a purely selfless contribution to those who come after them and their alma mater, and a common thread among the volunteers – those who give so generously of their time, skills and often heart – is that they don’t do it for the recognition. ‘Volunteering is, by its very nature, adequate reward,’ says Noel Wagg humbly. Well as that may be, the university is rightly grateful for all its volunteers – and awarded Noel a Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) for his decade of volunteering at graduations – for without them, in no small way, part of the soul of the university would be lost. Jill volunteering at the 2018 graduation Would you like to become one of our graduation volunteers at MQ? You can choose from various time commitment options, and there’s an information session before the ceremonies. On the day, graduation volunteers assist in pre-ceremony preparations, from ushering guests to helping the Graduations team, and we encourage you to stay on for the ceremony and join the new graduates and their families afterwards for refreshments. If you’re interested in volunteering at our upcoming Graduation Series, please fill out the form to register your interest.

Dream big

Yue Zhang — Thu, 11 May 2023 00:42:22 +0000

Entrepreneurs have a specific kind of energy. With an enthusiasm for bringing new ideas into the world, they see an opportunity and run with it. Victor Osman, who graduated from MQ with a Master of International Business in 2009, has brought this quality to his role as CEO and Founder of Dreamaxtion – and it’s also what’s helping bring MQ alumni together as he champions the launch of the Indonesia Alumni Network.

As a teen inspired by Bill Gates, Victor Osman dreamed of one day becoming an entrepreneur and starting his own business. He now has four. There are two diamond jewellery businesses and a kids’ concept store, but his main focus is Dreamaxtion, an integrated human capital solutions company that draws on his skills in IT and his passion for helping people reach their potential.

Based in Jakarta, Victor explains he and his business partner were inspired to start Dreamaxtion in 2017 because they saw the need for a more integrated and technology-driven approach to human capital management in Indonesia. ‘The employment market in Indonesia is notoriously fragmented and inefficient,’ he says, ‘and many employers struggle to find the right talent for their needs. At the same time, job seekers often struggle to find job opportunities that are a good fit for their skills and experience.’

In fact, Victor says in Indonesia, 58% of people are mismatched to their role, and the figures are similar elsewhere in the world. It’s a remarkably high figure, and one that he’s keen to point out is not a reflection of the ability of the candidate or the quality of the company but rather highlights the fact that you can be amazing, but if you’re in the wrong role, you won’t shine.

And that’s what he’s out to change with careers that fit the candidate’s personality and experience, so everyone can achieve their dream career – an especially fascinating concept in a post-lockdown world where younger generations are changing the work environment, fluidity is the norm, and loyalty has to be earned.

With these insights, Victor is putting the human into human capital, looking beyond the numbers and tech. ‘At Dreamaxtion, we believe technology should be used to have a positive impact on people’s lives and make a better world for everyone. That’s why we prioritise compassion and empathy in everything we do.’

Dreamtalent is the name of the technology matching candidates and companies, which goes beyond the somewhat dated traditional psychometric testing available, and makes it easy for employers to manage their human capital. The technology has been sold into Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Germany, and as we speak, Victor is about to jet off to Hannover Messe, one of the world’s largest trade fairs, with the President of the Republic Indonesia, Joko Widodo, as one of the official partner country delegates. You could say, he’s living the dream.

‘My goal was always to get into the international business industry,’ he says, explaining that’s what drew him to the Master of International Business at Macquarie to begin with. ‘I knew Macquarie University had an excellent reputation in the fields of business and innovation, but I was particularly impressed by MQ’s commitment to providing students with a practical and hands-on learning experience, which was important to me as an aspiring entrepreneur.

‘It was like a mini, fast-tracked MBA, and gave me the technical and business skills I needed to start not just my career but my own company in the information technology industry. It gave me the confidence to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams and the knowledge to build a successful business – first my own company in Jakarta, then Singapore and Seoul, South Korea.’

While at Macquarie, Victor was also involved with AISEC, a not-for-profit organisation that strives to build leadership in youth, and was a leader in PPIA, the Indonesian Overseas Scholar Organisation. He describes his time studying at MQ as a transformative experience, one that helped him develop personally as well as professionally.

‘I have many enduring memories from my time at MQ, but some of the most memorable experiences were the group projects and presentations,’ he says. ‘They helped me to develop my teamwork and communication skills, and provided me with the valuable experience of working in a collaborative environment. And I loved being exposed to an international mindset and attitude through multicultural friends and colleagues.’

Of course, it also helped Victor to build a strong network of contacts in his field, which he says has been invaluable in his career since, and he quickly became involved with the MQ alumni through networking events and other activities organised by the university.

However, when he returned to Indonesia, there wasn’t an alumni network. Inspired to give back to MQ and help other alumni in the region connect and network with each other, true to his entrepreneurial spirit, he decided to get together with some other alumni and make it happen.

As he explains, ‘We wanted to strengthen the Macquarie alumni in Indonesia, so we started a WhatsApp group and caught up online, mainly due to COVID. There were just a few of us to begin with, but we now have 100 people. Thanks to a lot of support from the university and Executive Director Philanthropy, Hedda Paisley, we’ve recently formed an Indonesia Alumni Network and now Committee.

‘We’re all keen to grow the alumni network and build a strong community of MQ alumni in the region,’ says Victor, referring to committee members Sandy Arief (PhD 2022), Emman Marpaung (MComm 2020), Sitti Rachmawati (MComm 2019), and Dessy Rosalina (MMedia 2020).

Naturally, Victor says he’s keen to ‘get some data on what people expect of the alumni network and what they can give to the alumni – most have high professional profiles, so I’m keen to understand how we can all give value to each other,’ he says, true to form, using technology to bring people together and make a positive impact.

Still, there’s nothing like bringing people together in person, and Victor says the committee is keen to start organising in-person events. ‘We’re especially looking forward to the official launch of the Indonesia Alumni Network in June,’ he says. ‘There are thousands of MQ alumni in Indonesia, and we’d encourage you all to become part of the network – it’s going to be amazing.’

We’re excited to establish the MQ Indonesia Alumni Network and would love you to be involved. Join us for our official launch event on Friday 9 June at Grand Hyatt Jakarta and catch up with old friends, make new connections, and celebrate your Macquarie experience. Register now!

You can also keep in touch with our activities via LinkedIn and Facebook. If you have any queries about the network or would like to join our WhatsApp group, please send an email.

Based in Jakarta, Indonesia, Victor Osman is an entrepreneur with a passionate focus on people, information technology and helping talent achieve their full potential. The founder and CEO of Dreamaxtion, an integrated human capital solutions company empowering people and organisations with advanced information technology, including people analytics and big data, Victor has over 14 years of experience in the people development and management industry.

Victor has held various positions with multinational corporations in Australia, Singapore and Indonesia, including SAP analyst for APP, IT auditor for Dairy Farm Singapore, development auditor and risk manager for Astra International, and head of learning and development for TransMedia.

A serial entrepreneur at heart, Victor has built several successful ventures since receiving his Master of International Business from Macquarie University Australia: THE PALACE National Jeweler, MOIR Jewellery, and PIGGABOO Kids Concept Store.

Continuously striving to challenge and grow himself, Victor founded Dreamaxtion with the dream of celebrating the human in human capital through integrated information systems and technology.

Victor is a very active member of the MQ alumni community and is now an Indonesia Alumni Network committee member.

Taking on the world

Yue Zhang — Thu, 11 May 2023 00:25:24 +0000

Attaining an MBA won’t in and of itself make you a global citizen or launch your international career. Like most things in life, it’s up to you to make the most of it, and it’s as much about the experience as the end result, says Roger Woodend, who graduated from Macquarie Business School with an MBA (2009). Currently Senior Deal Lead for Strategic Customer Engagements at Amazon Web Services and based in New York, Roger has made the most of his MBA and followed opportunities wherever they have arisen in the world ...

Speaking with Roger Woodend via Zoom from his home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he commutes to New York for business, it’s clear he’s a man with not just strong Northern Irish roots, but one who has enjoyed living and working all around the world. Scotland, Manchester, London, Sydney, Hong Kong and now the US, in fact.

Behind him, there’s a poster with the word Ulster, his homeland, proudly emblazoned on it, and there’s another with the words Dare to Dream, a memento from when he watched Northern Ireland play in the 2016 UEFA European Championship in France. ‘The manager commissioned it for each of the players,’ he explains, ‘and they made another ten or so; it’s a limited edition.’

Still, even without these hints as to his origins, his characteristic lilt and laidback air mean there is no question of where he’s from. But there’s also a painting of Hong Kong Harbour, where he lived and worked for two years before moving to New York, and we’re here to talk about his time at MQ in Sydney, completing his MBA.

‘I was always interested in international business and had a strong desire to travel,’ he admits, saying he was keen to combine both, so when the time was right to undertake his MBA, having studied in Scotland and worked in the UK, he knew what he wanted to do.

‘I wanted to study full-time in the Asia-Pacific region with a university that had strong credentials and international candidates. At the time (2008), Macquarie featured highly on The Economist Global MBA Rankings, and it was also one of the few universities where you could complete the MBA within 12 months.’

Not long after, on a holiday to Sydney, Roger visited the campus at North Ryde and was impressed with the setup, so applied shortly afterwards. ‘The first day of the MBA will always hold a special place in my memories,’ he says. ‘Meeting people from all over the world, from different backgrounds, who had put their careers on hold to sign up for the full-time MBA, was a very memorable experience.’

As was the European study tour where, as part of the course, along with 12 other candidates, Roger spent two weeks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland studying and meeting executives from well-known international companies that were recognised for their sustainable leadership practices. ‘It was a stand-out,’ he says.

Of course, there was hard work involved, too. ‘One of the big things about the MBA is being outside your comfort zone and pushing yourself to learn about things you’ve perhaps avoided for years. Everyone has subjects in which they’re less comfortable than others. Accounting, finance and statistics were the challenging ones for me, but I felt it was necessary to go through the pain in order to learn new skills.’

Skills Roger says he now uses every day. ‘Whether it’s in my work or personal life, the comprehensive nature of the program is invaluable in how you think and act. Before the MBA, my career was almost exclusively in enterprise sales and sales leadership roles.

‘Completing the MBA gave me the confidence, credibility and skills to move into general management roles, the first of which was running a software start-up in Surry Hills, Sydney. We built mobile apps and mobile marketing campaigns for the likes of the ABC, the Australian Stock Exchange and Vodafone.’

Roger was in that role for three years, but the desire for international experiences was still not quite sated, so he started looking at positions in Asia. ‘As you go through your career, jobs come to you through your networks and connections. My old boss was with British Telecom (BT) in Singapore, and they were looking for people in Hong Kong, so I moved there.

‘I eventually became Vice President and ran an international division for BT Global. That particular role gave me many opportunities to use my MBA as I was responsible for a full international P&L encompassing sales, finance, marketing, HR, service and contract management.’

Seven years ago, a promotion came up in the BT New York office, and Roger jumped at it. ‘It’s very difficult to get a work permit in the US, so being able to get a company transfer and an executive visa was ideal. Moreover, in my profession, in enterprise sales, there’s no greater territory than the US. The headquarters of some of the largest companies in the world are in Manhattan – there’s no bigger patch in the world.’

Now working at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Roger says, ‘I’ve been at AWS for almost two years. AWS is Amazon’s cloud computing division, which reported $62 billion in revenue for 2021. I work in our Strategic Customer Engagements Group, leading, structuring and negotiating large deals in terms of revenue and scale with some of our biggest prospective and existing customers.’

AWS is one of the fastest-growing technology companies and is still in high-growth mode. As Roger explains, ‘AWS is the market leader for cloud computing services and many of the services you use each day, such as amazon.com, Netflix, Zoom Video, Coca Cola and McDonald’s, run on AWS. I love working in the fast-paced technology market,’ he adds. ‘It’s always changing and has a tremendous impact on consumers and businesses alike.’

Still, Roger cautions that an MBA is not a dream ticket to your next promotion, nor will it guarantee you a better job. ‘It’s a personal learning experience,’ he says, ‘and you have to realise it’s up to you to put your MBA to work by using what you learn in your role.

‘An MBA can at times be overlooked and underestimated, but again, it’s up to you to give examples of how you’ve used your MBA in your career and how it has impacted your decision-making and performance, especially when being interviewed, for example.’

Since finishing his MBA, Roger has kept in touch with other alumni and says he has met up with them all around the world, including in the US, Canada, Chile, the UK, France, Thailand, Vietnam and India. An MQ US Alumni network leader, he is also involved in organising social events in New York.

‘I’m a strong advocate of the power of human networks. The MQ US Alumni brings people from many countries and industries together, which can lead to job, network and friendship opportunities. It’s amazing how many alumni we have in the New York area and how diverse the alumni is.’

So, is it enough for this global citizen to finally put down roots? It’s too early to tell. ‘We’ll be here for another three or four years, then either the UK, Europe or Asia. Or maybe we’ll stay, we’re not sure yet. My wife is from Thailand, and that’s an option; we’ll see.’

‘Nowhere is perfect. Every country has its opportunities and challenges, but culture is the biggest thing you need to learn and respect wherever you live and work. I like to think I’m a global citizen,’ he says, ‘always have been, and want to bring my son up in that environment, too.’

It would seem the world is still his oyster, but home, an entirely different concept, will always be where his heart is – Northern Ireland, as the posters in the background attest. As he says, even though he has lived and worked in some of the world’s great cities, visited almost 80 countries, and hasn’t lived in Northern Ireland for nearly 30 years, ‘the north coast of Northern Ireland will always be home.’

Wherever you are in the world, stay connected to Macquarie University. To get in touch with the Macquarie Alumni Network – United States, connect via LinkedIn.

Roger Woodend graduated from Macquarie University’s MBA program in 2009 and has been the MQ US Alumni network leader since 2017.

Currently the Senior Deal Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Roger is an experienced enterprise sales leader and general manager with an aptitude for leading diverse teams and achieving outstanding results. He is responsible for large, complex global deals with AWS Enterprise Customers across multiple sectors.

Before joining AWS, Roger served as Executive Vice President of BT’s global business, leading BT’s global sales vertical focused on Media and Technology customers. His international experience spans living and working in the UK, Australia and Hong Kong. He moved to the US in 2016.

Roger earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. A keen global traveller, he has visited almost 80 countries yet still finds time to support various community and charitable initiatives in his home country of Northern Ireland.

Owning (hi)story

Larissa Moore — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 02:55:24 +0000

[caption id="attachment_4831" align="alignnone" width="743"] Craig Middleton[/caption] There’s no doubt the world of work has changed. Obviously, more of us are working from home, but there’s another significant shift that is much more subtle. Who we are as a person, our background and our values, is not only enriching the work we do, it’s having an impact on the world around us and how we see ourselves as a society. For Craig Middleton – who credits being able to follow his interests in the Masters of Museum Studies at Macquarie University with setting his career in motion – as Senior Curator at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, he brings his whole self to work. And we, and the collection, are richer for it. ‘Absolutely, my Masters of Museum Studies at Macquarie University is what led me to where I am today,” says Craig Middleton from his office in Canberra. Currently Senior Curator at the National Museum of Australia, it’s not a career he would have seen for himself as a young boy growing up in Adelaide but, as a series of work opportunities have unfolded in his life, the recurrent theme of following what you’re interested in has served him well. Middleton always enjoyed history at school and university, but it wasn’t until he was at the end of his undergraduate degree in arts and international studies and he had the opportunity to study in Rome, Italy, that the subject really came to life for him. ‘Museums and galleries weren’t really on my radar when I was growing up,’ recalls Middleton, ‘but in Rome, I was engaging almost daily with these amazing buildings and monuments. What really struck me was how they were being cared for and communicated; people were really proud of them. ‘It was a fascinating cultural experience and helped me realise there were career pathways in history, and that museum studies was what I wanted to do – I wanted to look after my place, my home; I wanted to care for our history.’ One of the few masters degrees in museum studies at the time, Macquarie University also offered the course by distance, which meant Middleton didn’t have to give up his position at the National Motor Museum in the Adelaide Hills to move to Sydney. ‘Museum jobs are hard to come by,’ he affirms, ‘so the flexibility of being able to study externally was perfect. Plus, there weren’t any other courses at the time that allowed me to pursue social history, art history and science – with so many museums on campus, they could offer a really diverse course.’ Still, what Middleton liked most was that the course was heavily research-focused and self-directed in terms of content. ‘The structure of the course meant I was able to follow my own interests in the sector,’ he says of his masters project, which focused on political ephemera collections from the Bob Hawke era. ‘Things that are created for a moment in time and then meant to be chucked out, such as what you see in the bins outside polling booths at elections. I was really interested in how and what to collect in those spaces,’ he explains. Middleton has drawn on this focus on contemporary collecting throughout his career ever since, building on it over time through various positions in Adelaide, such as with the History Trust of South Australia, the Migration Museum and the State Library, as well as the Centre of Democracy, where he was the inaugural curator. Joining the National Museum of Australia in August 2019, Middleton was on the run from the beginning. ‘One of the first things I did was go to the climate strikes – there was the big one in Melbourne with 150 000 people – and then the bushfires started. I was ready with the skills to do contemporary collecting around those issues,’ he notes. Then, of course, COVID happened. ‘I’ve led the COVID collecting at the museum through an online project called Momentous, which pulls together stories of COVID-19 and the 2019–2020 bushfire season and gets people reflecting on profound change and how we as a nation respond to it.’ How we see ourselves, and seeing ourselves in our national collections, is a driving force in Middleton’s career. ‘It’s important to me that museums are not just rooms full of objects, but they’re world-making, so what you see in a museum and what is reflected back to you informs how you understand the world. ‘If you think about a young person who goes into the museum and can’t see themselves or their perspectives or their story, they’re not going to want to come back – but it could also say to that person that their story doesn’t matter, or they don’t matter. ‘That’s why I’m so passionate about being in this sector, breaking that apart to ensure that diversity and complexity exist within these spaces so that people can either see themselves quite literally in a museum, or they can find ways to see themselves through the tools of display and labelling, and can engage more deeply.’ Another area of interest in Middleton’s professional practice is the intersection between the LGBTIQ+ community and museums, which covers everything from audiences to collections and content. ‘I started that journey in South Australia,’ he explains. ‘I was noticing a lack of queer stories across the board, so started working on building better representation for LGBTIQ+ communities in museums with my colleague Dr Nikki Sullivan, who coincidentally had been an associate professor at MQ in cultural studies. ‘This led to many different projects, including community history projects, and exhibition projects where we invited community members into the museum to relook at existing collections from the perspective of gender and sexuality. We also wrote a book called Queering the museum, which is still having an impact in the sector nationally and internationally.’ It’s almost difficult to keep up with the number of projects Middleton has been and is currently involved in, reflecting his energy and bright, enquiring mind that is open to the world around him; one that sees others and the myriad possibilities of life. No less, there’s a sense of joyful purpose as he explains his most exciting current project is a targeted collecting project around the LGBTIQ+ community aimed at diversifying representation in the National Museum’s collection. ‘It covers everything from the kinds and number of stories that are told, so we don’t rely on recycling the same ones over and over, and then moving out of the cities and into the regions, thinking about what life is like and has been like in regional Australia, which just hasn’t been represented.’ It’s clear talking to Craig just how important museums are not just to remember the past but to reflect on the present moment and inform the future too. And, as institutions lean into the current moment, the crucial role they play in society. ‘It’s commonly understood that a visitor comes to a museum with their own lived experience,’ offers Middleton. ‘They come with their own perspective, and with a background of class, race, gender, ethnicity, and that influences how they understand the world, how they operate in the world, as does their privilege or their lack of privilege, and their marginalisation. ‘There’s an acknowledgment now that all these things play into how people understand their experience of museums, how they look at objects, and what they will and won’t engage with. Because of that, museums have had to make a shift away from the grand narrative history that privileges the conquerors. ‘Those stories are real, they happened, but particularly in the last decade or two with the inclusion of First Nations voices, the different perspectives that are told within a museum are now giving a multi-dimensional story, which leans into the complexity of life and the world. ‘So, we’re not just distilling history into a single, very easy-to-read narrative, we’re saying the world’s more complicated than that, and we’re more complicated than that, and there are lots of different ways to look at history – the museum sector has changed enormously.’ It’s a shift that also extends to those working in the arts and cultural sector. ‘There’s an acknowledgement that these institutions are made up of people with particular skill sets and expertise, and institutions should draw on that so people can contribute in purposeful ways. ‘I’ve been fortunate throughout my career that I’ve been enabled to do that,’ says Middleton, who often refers to himself as a community-engaged professional. ‘I do what I do not for the sake of art or history, but so I can have a meaningful impact on people’s lives through representation, a moment of joy, or a sense of belonging that this work can give someone.’ Craig Middleton (he/him/his) graduated from Macquarie University with a Masters in Museum Studies (2014). He is a curator and creative producer with wide-ranging interests in Australian social history, histories of LGBTIQ+ people and communities, and critical museology. Across his career, he has been responsible for collection management and development, content and creative production, exhibition project management, digital innovation, community engagement, public programming, marketing and more. His commitment to LGBTIQ+ representation has informed his work in museums, including through the creation of tours, programs, exhibitions and research. He is a widely published author. His book Queering the museum, co-authored with Dr Nikki Sullivan and published by Routledge in 2019, develops a queer analysis of how museums construct themselves, their core business and their publics through the often-unconscious use of inherited ways of knowing and doing. Middleton believes in the role of arts and culture to strengthen communities, combat social exclusion and support a healthy and active democracy. Middleton tweets.

Together we rise

Larissa Moore — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 02:48:24 +0000

[caption id="attachment_4828" align="alignnone" width="743"] Stephanie Salazar[/caption] There’s always more to a story than first meets the eye. Assistant Principal and MQ Bachelor of Education alum Stephanie Salazar recently came to the public’s attention for winning a Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award, with a feature in the Sydney Morning Herald and airtime on ABC Sydney to boot. Few people work in isolation, however, especially in teaching, and Stephanie is keen to acknowledge the collaborative effort across the school community that contributed to her success. Still, rather than diminishing her efforts, it brings into even sharper focus Stephanie’s drive to continually lift up those around her ... Sometimes, to understand someone, you need to start at the beginning. Most people, after all, don’t start out doing great things – they work on their strengths, improve over time, and have people who believe in them. Still, there’s usually a glimmer of who they will become, if you look closely. For Stephanie Salazar, Assistant Principal and Instructional Coach at John Purchase Public School on Ku-ring-gai Country in north-western Sydney, that glimmer can be found in her drive to bring people together as an undergraduate student at MQ, where she first started groups and led initiatives on campus, culminating in the establishment of the Macquarie University Education Society. But, Stephanie wasn’t originally enrolled in education. Studying and working in the field of accounting, she soon realised she was drawn more to people than numbers, so transferred courses. ‘It was hard to move on from what I thought – at the time – was a failure,’ she says with characteristic insight and the strength to be vulnerable, something that has struck a chord with those she teaches, collaborates with, and coaches. As she explains, ‘I keep it real, I keep it calm, and I keep it kind – that’s what I do and I think people appreciate that,’ she offers. ‘I think it is my Filipino values,’ she says thoughtfully, enjoying the opportunity to reflect. ‘Being hospitable, being in service of others, thinking beyond yourself; my Dad always instilled that in me.’ And so, it’s no surprise that Stephanie founded Sweets by Sweets at MQ, which organised baking events on campus to raise money for various charities. ‘It brought together people from all different faculties, from law and science to education,’ she says, and you can still hear the enthusiasm in her voice. Stephanie was in her element. Still, a gentle reminder to focus on her studies served her well. ‘My lecturer Dr Penny van Bergen gently pulled me up and said I needed to work on my grades; that it would help me get the most out of my degree. Rather than focusing on just passing, it was good to have someone like Penny encourage me to focus on doing well.’ Giving credit where credit is due is trademark Stephanie but, listening to her speak, there’s more to her story. Open in her communication and friendly, laughing often, she readily admits to being an extrovert. Moreover, she explains when she needs help, connecting with others is what gets her through – and what inspired the Education Society. ‘As a pre-service teacher, I had so many questions,’ she remembers. ‘I thought, I can’t be the only one, so brought my friends together and we organised a lunch where we could have informal conversations with our lecturers. That’s how the Education Society started; it was all about supporting each other socially and academically.’ The friends are lifelong and the society is still going, and was just the start of great things for Stephanie, who is now in her ninth year of teaching. Always full of ideas – and, lesson learned, willing to try them even if they failed – Stephanie has continued to bring people together in her professional sphere, now with the support of her principal, Leonie Black. ‘Since my first year of teaching, she has believed in me as an educator and a leader, giving me opportunities to lead professional learning such as a quality induction program at John Purchase Public School and the New Teacher Tribe initiative on Twitter,’ for which Stephanie won the Australian College of Educators’ award for best young teacher in NSW in 2018. Describing the New Teacher Tribe as a space to connect experienced teachers with beginning teachers, Stephanie says, ‘It helps new teachers realise they’re not alone. It’s normal to feel a range of feelings when you’re starting out, and I wanted teachers to feel encouraged, supported and empowered – that was my mission,’ she says, crediting her experiences at Macquarie with giving her the opportunities and support to go on to create groups such as this. ‘MQ allowed me to thrive and gave me the confidence to bring people together to connect,’ she says, the pieces falling into place in her mind as she speaks. ‘I just love bringing together good people who want to make a difference in the world. We lift each other up because we genuinely want the other to succeed – and that means more great work is going to happen in our schools and for our kids.’ Because ultimately, that’s what it all comes down to for Stephanie – whether it’s the teaching, the groups, the awards, of which there have been a few, even the parent masterclasses, they are all driven by her desire to support her students’ success and growth. And it’s why she’s so passionate about coaching in education through her work as an Instructional Coach at her school and leading the Instructional Coaching Group on Twitter. ‘Coaching in education is quite common in the private school system, but I haven’t really seen it in public schools,’ she says, explaining, ‘I’m going in at the teacher level, working with them on what they want to work on. I’m not judging them; I’m helping them realise they have the tools already within them to make an impact on students’ learning.’ It’s also very effective, and why she decided to apply for the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award. ‘It’s going to help accelerate what we want to do with our students,’ she says, referring to the prestigious Teaching Fellowship she received. ‘We’re a public school, so can’t afford this level of professional learning otherwise,’ she says, noting she has already planned out development opportunities for staff and has her eye on courses and books that will help her become an even better coach and leader. But there’s a bigger conversation at play as well, which is why she’s so grateful to Australian Schools Plus for giving her this platform. ‘I’m hoping to be part of a more positive narrative about teaching and education in Australia, highlighting the amazing work that’s happening across the country, especially in the public system – I am just one of many who are doing great things. ‘Every child deserves a quality education and exemplary teachers and that’s what I’m trying to create,’ she says warmly. ‘I like to show my students and teachers and leaders that I really believe in them, because when you believe in people, they rise to that – and it helps them see more within others, too. That’s the magic for me.’ Stephanie Salazar is an award-winning Assistant Principal and Instructional Coach at John Purchase Public School in Ku-ring-gai Country in north-western Sydney, where her expertise in creating a network of teachers focused on professional development has transformed her school’s teaching and student learning. She is the founder of the New Teacher Tribe initiative and #PSTchat, a chat dedicated to supporting pre-service teachers around the world. Stephanie’s vision is empowering educators to see more in themselves and their students in order to co-create sanctuaries of learning. She was awarded the Australian College of Educators Young Professional Award 2018. In 2017, Stephanie also won the Executive Director’s Recognition Award for Innovation and Creativity in Leading Learning Towards Improved Student Outcomes. More recently, she was awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award, becoming an Australian Schools Plus teaching fellow, winning $45,000 for her school. With an abundant level of enthusiasm, passion and plans to produce a podcast titled The Heart of Coaching, Stephanie is poised to grow her impact even further and help shape the future of education practice across Australia.

Home away from home

Larissa Moore — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 02:26:01 +0000

There’s an energy and genuine collegiality that comes with being part of the MQ alumni community. And now that the worst of restrictions and lockdowns are over, many alumni are enjoying reconnecting, both in Australia and overseas. Andrew Han (FCPA), Director of Business Research at Fireblocks and MQ Bachelor of Economics (1995) graduate, recently took part in alumni events in Singapore, deepening his ties with his alma mater and affirming its value. As he can attest, you never know where life will take you after university, but MQ will remain a shared experience that will bond you – no matter where you are in the world. Andrew Han left Australia not long after graduating from Macquarie. He explains, ‘I was working for a US multinational at the time, my first job after graduation, and had the opportunity to work in Singapore – I was one of the pioneers of the Aussie exodus to Asia,’ he remembers, as many of the big banks and companies like BHP moved there in the mid-2000s, but Andrew arrived in 1998. There was another reason Han was drawn to Singapore, besides the obvious career benefits. ‘I was looking to discover my Asian roots,’ he says. ‘I’m fourth-generation Australian, born Chinese, so was very interested in Asia and understanding where my ancestors came from.’ With some relatives still living in Singapore, Han was able to get to know his extended family, and made some other important connections, too. ‘I discovered that my grandfather was also in the finance industry, more on the accounting side, and my education was in finance and accounting,’ he says, referring to his Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie. ‘There was that element of history there,’ he says, and you can hear how rewarding that has been for him, deepening his sense of who he is. He continues, ‘My grandmother was a teacher, which also explains my leaning toward training and education, in the financial field, though. ‘I do feel I have discovered my roots,’ he affirms. Even so, establishing yourself in a new country isn’t always easy, and that’s where the MQ alumni community has played such a significant role in his time overseas. ‘Being here, arriving alone, the MQ Alumni Association of Singapore (MUAAS) was an important source of social contact, and still is. ‘It provides a forum for those of us with a shared experience, from either early in our studies, or later, to come together,’ he continues, noting that many of those he has met through the MUAAS did their masters or other post-graduate studies at Macquarie. ‘I was an undergraduate student in the early stages of my life, so my impressions of MQ are very deep. I made a number of lifelong friends there,’ he says, encouraging young alumni to “maintain their friendships as best they can when they graduate.” It starts to build a picture of a man who places a strong value on forming and nurturing relationships, both personal and professional, and it’s perhaps not surprising to learn he was the president of Student Life, a faith-driven and student-led group at MQ, for two years. He explains, ‘We organised on-campus events, including O Week, collaborated with student groups on campus, and jointly organised retreats with Student Life groups from other universities in New South Wales. ‘Those early years of leadership responsibility taught me the importance of teamwork and that you can’t achieve organisational goals alone. I’ve always been a strong advocate of teamwork and ensuring that each team member knows they are valuable and can contribute to the organisation, no matter how small or large their role.’ Han spent 18 years with the US multinational he first started out with, a stint that took him from Singapore to the United States and back again, just as the GFC was reaching its peak. ‘I stayed with them until the end of 2013 when I decided to pursue my interest in trading derivatives, and then got involved in training people in how to trade derivatives.’ Fascinated by cryptocurrencies, Han started to write on bitcoin for the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in Singapore and says, ‘When the bitcoin derivative contract was launched here, because of the relationships I’d established, they engaged me to write the Bitcoin Weekly Commentary.’ And it was this experience that led Han to where he is today as Director of Business Research at Fireblocks, a digital asset infrastructure firm that provides custody technology to financial institutions. ‘I can trace the progression of my career back to some of the relationships I’ve formed over the years here in Singapore,’ he muses. He says there have been times when people have contacted him through the alumni network because they need some help with something and, vice versa, he’s been able to reach out to people through the alumni. ‘Those who have left Australia possibly appreciate the familiarity of the alumni and that connection a lot more.’ Han suggests that with employment being a lot more dynamic since he graduated, and especially post-coronavirus, combined with people moving around a lot more again, this connection is only going to become more important. ‘People are taking more risks while they’re young,’ he says. ‘They want to do something different with their knowledge and their life and, because of that, you need people with shared experiences, like the alumni. There’s a trust factor in the community, too, which can’t be underestimated.’ He encourages people to get involved at the early stage of their career, but it’s never too late. ‘‘If you’ve just graduated, be curious. Find people you click with, who you can talk to, and who can help you network. Look to your seniors to help you orientate yourself; it’s that unofficial mentoring that’s so valuable, but you’ve got to show the initiative. It’s the same for those who are more senior – we need to be willing to reach out and spend the time; often it’s just a coffee. Just start the conversation.’ This is how, little by little, you build a new life in a new country, a home away from home. ‘You always have it in the back of your mind that you’re going to go home,’ he says thoughtfully, though does admit his parents probably gave up on the idea years ago. ‘It’s work,’ he explains. ‘You want to go home in some ways, but work keeps you here, the opportunities. As I said, a lot of Australian companies moved here, so you don’t want to go against the flow. Of course, I’ve formed relationships and friendships here, too, so I’ve stayed. ‘I still feel very Australian,’ he counters, ‘but I have missed many things that have changed in Australia over the years – that’s another reason why it has been so valuable to connect with the alumni and the Australian community as a whole here. The alumni also has a strong relationship with the Australian High Commission in Singapore, and they’ve actively engaged with the alumni.’ A vibrant yet stable country, with good work opportunities depending on your skill set and what you want to develop, the bond between Singapore and Australia has always been strong, starting with the Colombo Plan in the 1950s and now the New Colombo Plan, where Australians are heading to Singapore to experience work and Asia. ‘Being here has given me a real understanding of the Asian mindset and culture, which is what I was searching for,’ says Han, who with the support of the alumni has made the Lion City home. For those considering moving to Singapore after their degree, or indeed anywhere in the world, Han’s message is clear: connect with the alumni, and discover who’s out there. You never know where it might lead. The MQ Alumni Association of Singapore (MUAAS) is on LinkedIn and Facebook, and can be contacted directly by email. Want to know more or connect with your local alumni? Visit our website for more information on our global network and keep up with alumni events in Australia and around the world. Our quarterly newsletter, Macquarie Matters, features the latest articles, alumni profiles, research and updates, and you can also follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook. Get involved! Andrew Han is an experienced finance professional with a proven track record in trading financial derivatives, financial market analysis, corporate credit and financial risk management, treasury, tax, compliance and operational improvements. As the Director of Business Research at Fireblocks, Andrew provides industry-leading insights for digital strategists and business leaders across traditional and digital asset native institutions, while actively engaging clients in strategic projects. Prior to Fireblocks, Andrew was at Traddictiv as Head of Institutional Solutions, wrote the Bitcoin Weekly Commentary for ICE Singapore, and served as a former Divisional Councilor with CPA Australia in Singapore. Andrew holds a degree from Macquarie University in Economics, majoring in Finance, Accounting and Management Information Systems. He has also earned certifications in Hedge Fund Management, Finance and Financial Management Services, and Family Office Management from Henley Business School.

A season of beginnings and endings

Yue Zhang — Wed, 18 May 2022 06:08:40 +0000

A Season of Beginnings and Endings May Graduation season marked a new tradition for Macquarie, with the introduction of the Pro-Chancellor role to preside over many of the graduation ceremonies. A purely ceremonial role, the robes have been dutifully filled by Emeritus Professor Nick Mansfield. The University has a very packed Graduation schedule for 2022 after it made a commitment to offer all graduates who missed out on a public celebration of their achievements due to the pandemic shutdown, the opportunity to participate in an in-person ceremony. As well as the added bonus of creating a wonderful atmosphere on campus, it also means this new role has been necessary to make this large number of ceremonies possible. Emeritus Professor Mansfield, who retired from his role of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Training and Partnerships) in 2019, was thrilled when he was approached by the Vice-Chancellor to take on this new role. And he is already loving it. Having had a lifelong association at Macquarie (first as the son of a staff member, then a student and then as a member of academic staff himself) Emeritus Professor Mansfield is a natural fit for the robes. “I like the way we do Graduation ceremonies at Macquarie; a perfect blend of pomp and informality,” he says. “I especially love the positive, happy atmosphere brought by the graduates themselves and their friends and families.” This is a season of farewells, with it being Professor Martina Möllering’s final graduation season in her role as Executive Dean for the Faculty of Arts. In her long career at Macquarie, Professor Möllering has many fond memories of graduations. One that stands out though, is the ceremony she attended that included the conferring of a PhD candidate who was well into their eighties. “I thought that was marvelous because it spoke to lifelong learning and the value of ‘learning just to learn’. This wasn’t a person who was going to have a career afterwards, it was somebody who did the PhD out of interest and had the stamina to complete it. I was very touched by that,” she recalls. Like many of our graduates, Professor Möllering will be farewelling her role at Macquarie this month but is excited about the future. “It’s a farewell to the roles I’ve held, and it will be a different kind of relationship with the University, but it won’t end with retiring because there are so many connections that are ongoing outside of a particular role,” she says. Pro-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Mansfield making a surprise presentation to Professor Möllering at her final graduation ceremony on Friday 13 May. Three exceptional women awarded Honorary Doctorates The President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Australia’s Chief Scientist and a leading figure in the growth of the Australian research infrastructure landscape were among five outstanding individuals awarded honorary degrees by Macquarie University this May Graduation season. A former Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service and a retired District Court Judge rounded out the list of esteemed recipients. Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM was recognised for her leadership in law, receiving the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), recognising her work advancing legal reform and human rights in Australia. Emeritus Professor Croucher began her academic career at Macquarie University in the early 1980s, and in 1999 returned as Dean of Macquarie Law School, a role she held for seven and a half years. She has since been Commissioner, then President of the Australian Law Reform Commission, before being appointed President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. Dr Cathy Foley AO PSM, Australia’s ninth Chief Scientist, received a Doctor of Science (honoris causa). Dr Foley is a strong advocate for increasing Australia’s scientific capabilities, for emerging technologies such as quantum and for building diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. Dr Foley graduated from Macquarie University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science with Honours and a Diploma of Education, followed by a PhD on the properties of the semiconductor indium nitride in 1985. Dr Rosie Hicks was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa) recognising the profound impact her work supporting the growth of Australia’s world-class research infrastructure has had on university researchers and industry innovators. A physicist by training, she served 12 years as the inaugural CEO of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), which counts among its national network of facilities the nanoscale laser processing facilities at Macquarie University. In recognition of his long and distinguished career in the law and service to the community as a judge, His Honour Judge Martin Blackmore SC received the award of the degree of Doctor of Letters. Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons AO AFSM was awarded a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) for his leadership in fire management and contributions to building community resilience. Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton congratulated the five recipients on receiving the University’s highest honour in recognition of their exceptional contributions to their fields. “Macquarie University is proud to award honorary degrees to five pre-eminent people whose extraordinary achievements in their fields have had positive impacts on the wider community.”

Composite image caption:

Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM with Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton, Dr Cathy Foley AO PSM, Rosie Hicks with Pro-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Nick Mansfield.

Surprise guest at May Graduations

While this most recent season of Graduations has been filled with special moments for the 2400 graduates attending 21 ceremonies in May, one of the highlights occurred at Faculty of Arts ceremony on Tuesday 3 May. The young niece of one of the graduates had come dressed in academic regalia to support her aunt and inspired the Vice-Chancellor to go ‘off script’ at the end of the ceremony and invite them both on stage for everyone in attendance to see. “This little one has been itching to come walking down the red carpet,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton to a captivated audience. “There is a very bright future ahead of this child.” Earlier in the ceremony the Vice-Chancellor had remarked that in Graduation ceremonies over which he presides, babies and children are always welcome. “I believe that all celebrations are enhanced by the presence of children,” said the Vice-Chancellor in his opening remarks. “Everyone is meant to enjoy graduation.”

Reaching for the light

Yue Zhang — Mon, 16 May 2022 03:20:25 +0000

From a Master of Arts Literature student being given sage advice by a newly published Margaret Atwood to nurturing some of Australia’s most exciting writing talent such as Liane Moriarty, Associate Professor, researcher and published poet Marcelle Freiman has spent more than thirty years as a student, academic and lecturer at Macquarie University. Now, as she embraces retirement and life beyond campus, as one door closes, another is most definitely opening. Reaching for the light Associate Professor of Literature and Creative Writing Marcelle Freiman says, on reflection, Macquarie University has been like a second home to her. It’s not that she needs time to think about her response, it’s more in talking about her time at Macquarie, unravelling one story after the other, it becomes clear what a fundamental role the University has played in her life. ‘Most of my time in Australia since arriving in the early 1980s has been associated with MQ,’ explains Marcelle, who left South Africa in her mid-twenties for London before moving to Australia and settling on Sydney’s north shore. ‘It’s been an incredibly strong connection,’ she says, and one she hopes will continue to evolve. Listening to Marcelle, her story is almost an oral history of both Creative Writing in the Department of English and the University itself as she recounts her early days studying in the grey concrete of the old library (now the Student Hub), venturing into casual teaching, and then gaining an appointment as a lecturer among nurturing and committed colleagues like Jane Messer, Antonina Harbus and Hsu-Ming Teo, who guided the department to reimagine itself over time. There have been numerous changes too, of course, many of which Marcelle says have enriched the University. Close to her heart has been the integration of First Nations culture and narratives on campus. ‘I’ve been very moved by that,’ she says. ‘It wasn’t present when I arrived, and it still has a long way to go, but it moves me a lot. There’s a real presence now.’ Often an early adopter, Marcelle notes the great changes in technology, particularly online learning, which unsurprisingly has altered how teaching is delivered and learning occurs. Importantly, there has also been the rise of creative writing as an academic pursuit. ‘It just went boom!’ she remembers, noting the increased student numbers due to the course’s popularity. ‘We’ve had to adapt how we offer the courses over time and how we manage larger classes. It’s different now – not better, not worse, just different,’ she says with the perspective of someone who has seen the University shift and change over time while retaining who it is at its core; inclusive and welcoming. Marcelle naturally recounts her delight in playing her part as emerging writers have found their voice and achieved success beyond graduation. ‘Liane Moriarty’s talent and ability were obvious,’ she says, but notes many students have made their mark, surprising her in the best possible way. ‘When that spark suddenly starts to show through, it’s very exciting,’ shares Marcelle, who counts Raelee Lancaster, Aileen Westbrook, Jack Stanton and Jeremy Page as standouts. She reflects, ‘They have all used their creativity to bring what they want to say out into the world,’ and there’s a knowing that understanding what you want to say is crucial to saying it well. Marcelle continues, ‘My initial guiding has always been to allow students to find their own creativity, to use their own perceptions and to notice things. Often students are afraid to write about personal experience or family, especially intergenerational stories, so I like to open up the possibilities for them to do this.’ It’s clear as she speaks that an academic life was always going to be a natural fit for Marcelle, who says she has loved writing since she was young. Indeed, her own spark was first recognised by her grandmother, who kindly admonished her as a teen not to neglect her talent, something that stays with her even now in the choices she makes. And so it was, while her children were young, in her early forties, Marcelle decided it was time to pursue a Masters and then a PhD in literature. ‘It was a golden time,’ she says, referring as much to the intellectual stimulation as the privilege of studying without debt and being part of a fresh, young university. Being able to run with her ideas as she wrestled with her own identity and background, Marcelle focused on the novels of fellow South African J M Coetzee. She says, ‘It took me a while to realise I’d chosen his work because, in his earlier work particularly, he deals with what I saw as being a white South African writer.’ It was a theme Marcelle first grappled with while in London, where assumptions were made about her political ideas against the backdrop of apartheid. Migrating to Australia only brought this disconnect into sharper focus, and writing poetry helped her make sense of her world, her homeland and her Jewish–Lithuanian family history. ‘I felt a need to articulate the truths of these experiences so I could understand them – and myself – more,’ says Marcelle in her considered way. ‘Poetry became essential to my sense of self and how I was making sense of my own life.’ As Marcelle speaks, you’re drawn into the world of this thoughtful woman who carefully excavates the past and pieces together memories, writing them into life as poems. ‘Memory is interwoven with everything in my writing,’ she says, citing the opening poem Still from her new collection Spirit Level as an example. Still there is a stillness I require no rain drumming the surfaces of things. now, there is no quiescent water rather a dry crackle of grasses, a sunset in Africa yellow-brown and moving soft as hair. only the child’s eye can see a memory like this. a making of time. here, there is nothing in your eyes that can take me back there – though I want those traces of past where every stone turns for me as the line grows shorter. the stillness I seek is not darkness: it is the shimmer of red at the centre of the throat of a leather-faced monkey calling across acacias; a heart-muscle pink as flamingos against a mirror of russet plains. the thrum of rain on the roof returns. times of dislocation – each sense a feeler reaching for the light From Spirit Level (Puncher & Wattmann, 2021), first published in Westerly 2 (2018). In an uncertain and dislocated world, the beauty and timelessness of Marcelle’s poetry is a balm, and it’s interesting to note that the natural surroundings of Macquarie University have provided solace and inspiration for her in equal measure. ‘In the midst of a difficult day, or after teaching class, I would walk through the green spaces and be restored,’ she says, adding another reason to return to campus in her retirement. Naturally, many poems have come to life or been reworked and revised amidst the green and built environment of Macquarie, and Marcelle fondly remembers taking groups of students to the Macquarie University Art Gallery, which has been a place of inspiration, too. In fact, it is where Still first emerged from fragments of memory as Marcelle, as she does, ‘made shapes and forms in poetry, playing with lines and language’ while one of her early classes sat on the floor, absorbed in a free-writing exercise in response to the artworks. ‘I’ll never forget the peaceful feeling of students engrossed in their writing in a teaching space,’ she muses. ‘They’d all be writing at the same time – pens scrawling in notebooks, or keyboards tapping, even on their phones. There was a quiet buzz in the room. Everyone was being creative, playing with words in their own way – it was wonderful.’ As much as Marcelle has inspired many of her students – who, in addition to her wise counsel, often note her office door that featured the book covers of published students – they, in turn, have left an indelible mark on her, too. ‘Teaching has informed my own writing and my research,’ she says. ‘Significantly, my interest in the writing process, cognition and writing, and the making of texts came from the many drafts of student writing I’ve read, marked and provided feedback on. ‘I wanted to explore what was going on in the writing, cognitively, and in the production of narratives, which is how my research into how writing and thinking connect has developed over the past few decades.’ And it’s here we come to understand just how intertwined Marcelle’s teaching, research and writing at the University all are, and why it’s so hard to single out the different strands one from the other. ‘It’s all connected,’ she says, with a smile and gentle lilt that points to how rewarding this interplay between her life’s work and her work life has been to her. ‘I’m exceptionally grateful to have had a full career in my chosen field for the last 20 years,’ she says. Adding sincerely, ‘Macquarie has been embedded in my life. It has given me opportunities and allowed me to grow in the way I needed to – it has been seminal for me in how my life has progressed.’ And now, as she stands on the threshold of retirement, which she hopes is punctuated with more time with family, what she longs for is to step into a period of her life where, unrestrained, she can devote the time and space to her thoughts and memories, writing poetry first and foremost while exploring other genres and completing her academic writing. ‘I want to do things for myself now,’ she says unapologetically. ‘When you reach 70, you realise you don’t have forever, and I want to focus on my writing. I still have much more writing in me,’ she says with a deep understanding of both the privilege and challenge it has been to forge a creative life. And so, it would seem Margaret Atwood’s early encouragement – that a tentatively offered poem still had much more to say – could equally apply to Marcelle now. As our conversation comes to a close, I have a feeling that with the memory of her grandmother at her side and a room of her own, not only does Marcelle have much more to say, but her insightful voice is one we need to hear. … Marcelle Freiman was born in South Africa and migrated to Australia in the early 1980s after residing in the UK for four years. She has two sons and five grandchildren and has had a long career at Macquarie University in Sydney, where she was most recently Associate Professor of Literature and Creative Writing. Her poetry has always been a way to negotiate connections between the vividness of emplaced and remembered experience, and the ambiguities of memory and history. Spirit Level is her third volume of poetry following Monkey’s Wedding and White Lines (Vertical). Her poetry also appears in Australian literary journals such as Antipodes, Cordite, Mascara Literary Journal, Meanjin, Southerly, StylusLit, Transnational Literatures and Westerly.