Ever wondered what the difference is between a policy and procedure? Governance Services Policy Officer Benjamin Dougall is here to help.

Work stuff
I’ve been at Macquarie for…
Two years this September.

In a nutshell, my job is to…
Provide advice and guidance to staff on policy development, approval processes and implementation. I support the University’s centralised policy framework, including policy drafting, review and updates. I attend Academic Senate and its Committees in order to monitor policy projects, and work with stakeholders across the University to develop policy.

The question I hear most often in my work is…
“What is the difference between a policy and a procedure?” This clip may help!

The top three things on my to-do list today are…
1) Amend a number of University policy documents as a result of the our new Fitness to Practice Procedure recently approved by Academic Senate.
2) Develop a draft process flowchart to support a new PACE Procedure that is being developed.
3) Play indoor Ultimate Frisbee after work.

If I could do any other job at Macquarie (with instant qualifications/knowledge) it would be…
Lecture in History, with a focus on the Bolshevik (Russian) Revolution, Stalin, Cold War and USA politics.

A Macquarie staff member who impressed me last week…
Paul Fairweather, Quality Assurance and Compliance Manager,  for showing tact and diplomacy dealing with some taxing stakeholders.

I get my campus coffee fix from …
Wally’s Coffee Cart – Pina the barista is always a delight.

If you were given $50 million to create or build something at Macquarie, what would you do with it?
Build a new Lighthouse Theatre overlooking the lake – with a least one Shakespeare play per year and scholarships, plenty of scholarships.

Personal life
My ethnic heritage is…
Australian, with heritage from Wales, Scotland and England back in the 18th century.

My favourite subject at school was…
History.

Outside work, you’ll often find me…
Playing Ultimate Frisbee, gardening or fishing.

I’m really looking forward to…
Planning a trip next year to Italy (Tuscany) and Ireland (all over).

The most amazing place I’ve ever visited is…
Burgos, Spain – having G&Ts in front of Burgos Cathedral with the bells chiming (after walking a section of the Camino de Santiago) – a vivid memory.

If I could have dinner with anyone (living or dead) it would be…
Julius Caesar (perhaps over salad).

The last great book I read was…
Asimov’s Prelude to Foundation.

The last great movie I saw was…
Inception – dream world or reality, who really knows?.

In 10 years from now, I hope to be…
A bit wiser, a tad thinner, but mostly just content with life.