December 17, 2018

Dear colleagues,

As we approach the end of another busy year, I write to send my warmest good wishes to each and every member of the Macquarie University community for a happy and restorative holiday season.

This has been a tough year in many ways, with significant challenges in Australian government policy alongside international market shifts constraining our resources, but it has also been a remarkable year.

Our central commitment to students and their success was very evident in the enormous effort by so many of you in the curriculum transformation program.

The MQ2020 curriculum transformation will allow us to offer our students a greater depth and breadth of study options that will equip them for the careers of tomorrow, as well as clarity around their entire journey with Macquarie, from enrolment through to graduation.  I know that the program required an enormous investment of time from many staff and I thank you for that commitment.

In research, we were very pleased with the outcomes of the latest Australian Research Council (ARC) funding round, which saw Macquarie awarded the highest amount ever in one funding round, outstripping our previous record by more than $4m. In the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants of more than $3.3m, it is noteworthy that most researchers were awarded the full amount requested. These are major milestones in the life of the University as we extend our focus to the impact of our research.

Multiple building works across our beautiful campus reflect our ongoing program to remediate ageing University buildings and provide new facilities to best serve our students and support the work of our staff.

This year the University continued its commitment to service and engagement with society – locally, regionally, nationally and internationally – both directly and through strong partnerships with our corporate neighbours in the Macquarie Park Innovation District (MPID).

But, at this time of year I think most about the wonderful people in this University community, and the privilege I have in leading Macquarie.

I thank each of you for your contribution this year and wish you a happy and safe holiday season, in whatever tradition you celebrate.

I hope that you will take the time away from work to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends.

I look forward with great anticipation to welcoming you back to campus for another year which promises to be similarly challenging, but also to provide opportunities to display those fundamental notions of service and engagement that set Macquarie University apart.

With warm good wishes,

SBD