It has been an incredibly exciting time to join the Faculty this year with so many events and achievements taking place.
I would like to thank the many people who have made valuable contributions to our Faculty over the past year, including our donors, industry partners, alumni, tutors, guest lecturers, placement supervisors and mentors.
So far this year we have received more than $7.2 million dollars in funds and 365 gifts from 167 different donors. This generosity and support allows our Faculty and its students go further in every possible future.
After joining UQ in August, I have had the privilege to see first-hand the potential and enthusiasm both our current and future students possess.
We welcomed more than 1000 new students through our Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) program and related dual degrees this year. A number we hope to see grow, after hundreds of prospective students toured our precinct at this year’s Open Day.
Our mineral and mining programs ranked number one in the world, in global subject rankings released earlier this year and our Chemical Engineering program also ranked first in Australia. This is just two of the many ways our Faculty is taking the lead when it comes to teaching, learning and research.
Our Women in Engineering program continues to lead the conversation around creating a more diverse industry. In 2018 the program visited more than 70 high schools and interacted with more than 1360 female students.
The School of Architecture welcomed new leadership this year, with Dr Cameron Bruhn starting his new role as Head of School in October. Cameron has been the editorial director of Architecture Media for nearly a decade and has worked as an adjunct professor at UQ for the past two years.
Through his networks and experience, he is hoping to expand the teaching and learning programs to deliver new opportunities to the next generation of students.
This year we also saw the deconstruction of the former Frank White building as we make way for a brand new education hub. Alumnus and global business leader Andrew N Liveris and his wife Paula have donated $13.5 million to help establish the Liveris Academy in a new 11-storey building.
This building will provide students and researchers with game-changing opportunities and will help to create and nurture leadership, as our next generation of engineers work together to solve the world’s most complex problems.
Mr Liveris and his wife have also pledged to raise an additional $26.5 million dollars to support UQ’s Not If, When philanthropic campaign.
While we have welcomed many exciting developments over the past 12 months, I am exciting to see what lies ahead for the Faculty in 2019.
I want to realise the extraordinary potential of UQ to contribute to the Australian and global stage. How we design, build, and operate is changing rapidly in both the technological as well as societal context.
This poses both challenges and opportunities to prepare our students in EAIT to successfully make a positive impact over their careers.
Thank you for your support in 2018 and I look forward to seeing you all at our events and other activities planned for 2019.
