THE ILLUSION OF THE PERFECT PARENT

UniSA has opened up new opportunities for people to invest directly in innovative research projects through the use of online crowdfunding.

People interested in supporting UniSA research are able to invest in specific projects.

The first three projects relate to the mental health of asylum seekers; a novel approach for controlling feral cats (helping quokkas – pictured – and other native animals); and using interactive video technology to help stroke survivors regain movement and independence.

UniSA has partnered with leading defence systems company, Saab Australia, to establish a new institute, which will provide a key education and research pipeline for highly skilled systems engineers.

The new Saab Australia-UniSA Defence Technologies Institute will be located in a purpose-built wing at Saab’s Mawson Lakes headquarters, close to UniSA’s Mawson Lakes campus. 

UniSA will play a key role in a new partnership that will generate defence-related research and development activity for South Australia.

South Australia is establishing the Defence Innovation Partnership, a new organisation that will connect federal and state governments, the Defence Science and Technology Group, universities, and local and international defence industry.

UniSA has risen 25 places to be ranked number 32 in the latest Times Higher Education rankings of world universities aged under 50 years.

The results put UniSA at number four in Australia, the youngest, highest ranked in the nation, and the biggest mover.

UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd says the result is hugely satisfying.

The result puts UniSA in the top 50 world universities under 50 years old in the two most widely recognised rankings tables. 

O-Week activities were held on each campus in February providing new and returning students with the chance to celebrate the beginning of the university year. Activities included the chance to adopt a plant, giant Connect 4 and a range of live music.

A traditional Kaurna welcome featured as part of the orientation events, as pictured.

More than 4000 students began new chapters in their lives as 2017 graduations took place across nine ceremonies at the Adelaide Convention Centre, one in Mount Gambier and one in Whyalla. Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd congratulated graduates who he said were well equipped with the skills needed for the changing economy.

More than 1000 competitors from 15 South Australian secondary schools competed in the 2017 Schools’ Head of the River Regatta sponsored by UniSA on 25 March. Walford Anglican School for Girls won the 1st VIII girls and St Peter’s College took out the 1st VIII boys races, plus the prestigious title of Head of the River Champions for 2017.

Members of the winning St Peter’s College team are pictured with Chancellor Jim McDowell. 

WOMADelaide celebrated its 25th Anniversary with almost 90,000 local, interstate and international guests enjoying a lineup of more than 400 artists from 30 different countries. UniSA was again a proud sponsor of WOMADelaide’s Planet Talks Program, which this year included six panel discussions across three days. 

Team UniSA-Australia took out the team win in the 2017 Santos Tour Down Under, upstaging pro teams with multi-million-dollar budgets in the first WorldTour race of the cycling season. A mix of up-and-coming cyclists and ex-professionals, the Australian team earned the Winning Team classification – the first time a wildcard, amateur team has won this classification in a WorldTour event. For Team UniSA-Australia coach and Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Brad McGee, the spectacular victory was a well-deserved bonus after an exciting and successful week on the road.

The first Goodes O’Loughlin UniSA GO Scholarship has been awarded to Wirangu man and third-year Human Movement student, John Boxer.

Launched in 2016, the special GO Scholarships – named in honour of GO Foundation founders Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin – are for high achieving Aboriginal students at UniSA who are studying in a sports-related field.

One of Australia’s most loved and respected authors, Thomas Keneally is best known for his Booker Prize-winning novel, Schindler’s Ark (the basis of the Oscar-winning film, Schindler’s List).

Keneally is one of Australia’s most prolific writers of both fiction and non-fiction, with more than 50 works to his credit, ranging from historical novels to biographical works.

Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd said Keneally has helped to define and depict Australia across time and changing culture.

“He has also looked outwards and written defining works set beyond Australian shores and experience – including immensely powerful works, such as Schindler’s Ark,” Prof Lloyd said.

Emeritus Professor MaryAnn Bin-Sallik AO was recognised for her lifetime commitment to Aboriginal education and advancement, and her special place in the foundation of the University of South Australia, as a leader in Aboriginal histories and cultures and teacher education.

A Djaru woman from Northern Australia, Prof Bin-Sallik was the first Aborigine to graduate as a nurse in Darwin and she spent 17 years in the health care sector, working in Darwin and remote locations such as Lajamanu, before pursuing an academic career.

Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd said Prof Bin-Sallik holds a special place in the history of the University and in the history of Aboriginal academic achievement in Australia.

“She guided and championed many hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to complete their education, both through her work at UniSA and other universities, her research, and her advocacy,” Prof Lloyd said.

Janet Holmes à Court was acknowledged for her outstanding contribution to the arts community, cultural organisations and to business – both in Australia and internationally.

For many decades Holmes à Court has generously supported cultural and arts organisations ranging across theatre, art, music, urban design and architecture.

Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd said Holmes à Court has been a strong promoter of public ethics in corporate life and her own philanthropy has inspired other business people to invest in the arts.

“Over the years Janet has served on many boards and generously supported the arts and other causes including research into cancer and diabetes,” Prof Lloyd said.

“Her contribution to the community and to business has been recognised with many awards and honours including a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) and being named one of the National Trust of Australia’s ‘100 Living Treasures’.”

Acknowledging a long career working to unpack the causes of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, colorectal cancer and hypertension and in research leadership, the University made Professor Richard Head an Emeritus Professor in March.

Among his many leadership roles, Prof Head led UniSA’s Sansom Institute for Health Research in 2012, and in 2013 was appointed to the University’s senior leadership team as Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President, Research and Innovation. 

UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd said Prof Head has been a champion for the importance of creative, collaborative research to tackle some of the big health challenges, from cancer to diabetes across a 40-year career in health science.

“In his time as director of the CSIRO’s Preventative Health Flagship he was responsible for driving a national research program focussed on early detection and intervention in chronic diseases and for integrating CSIRO’s fundamental and applied research in human health to support greater innovation,” Prof Lloyd said.

Former Chancellor of the University of South Australia, Dr Ian Gould AM was recognised for his enduring commitment to the University and his leadership across mining, health and science.

He was Chancellor of the University for eight years, playing a vital role in one of the University’s greatest periods of growth.

Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd said the University, like many other organisations in the community, has benefited enormously from his contributions and support.

“Ian’s commitment to service, both at UniSA but also across the community – whether that be on the councils of organisations such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service or St Andrew’s Hospital or in advocating for science education and broader access to education – has been indefatigable,” Prof Lloyd said. 

Former Global Chief Marketing Officer for Mars Incorporated, one of the world’s largest confectionery and food manufacturers, has joined UniSA’s Business School as an Industry Professor at the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute.

Known as a champion of both creativity and science, and advertising that emotionally resonates with consumers, Australian-born Professor Bruce McColl is an award winning CMO with an enduring career at the head of Mars marketing, in an industry notorious for rapid turnover. Prof McColl left Mars last year after 10 years in the top job.

Director of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute and author of the top selling publication How Brands Grow, Professor Byron Sharp, says the insights Prof McColl brings will be invaluable for students and industry partners.

“The kind of experience Bruce has is unique, he’s seen great changes in the industry, and is a leader in the application of scientific knowledge to marketing practice,” Prof Sharp says.

Former Director of the Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation (ARCAA), Professor Duncan Campbell is the new Head of UniSA’s School of Engineering.

Prof Campbell joined UniSA from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) where he was Professor in Robotics and Autonomous Systems, and also served as Director of QUT’s ARCAA for five years.

As an expert adviser on policy, legislation and developmental roadmaps related to unmanned aircraft systems and drone technology, Prof Campbell was also the leader for the recently completed Project ResQu, a two-year, $7 million collaborative research partnership between QUT, CSIRO, Boeing Research & Technology Australia, Insitu Pacific Ltd and the Queensland State Government.

Project ResQu fast-tracked research focusing on the enabling technologies and the regulatory environment toward the routine operation of unmanned aircraft.

With grant funding of more than $11 million over the past decade, Prof Campbell’s research focus has largely centred on unmanned aerial systems across areas including airspace integration, enabling technologies and biosecurity.

Nationally awarded education leader Mr Ian McKay is UniSA’s new Regional Manager: Mount Gambier.

Most recently the Principal and CEO of King’s College in Warrnambool, McKay’s impressive career includes more than 30 years serving regional and rural communities across three states. He has worked in both the government and non-government sectors in roles spanning early childhood to adult education.

McKay has also been involved in international research activity including a joint Harvard University/Independent Schools Victoria project focused on innovative education leadership in Europe and the United States.

Pro Vice Chancellor Student Engagement and Equity Dr Laura-Anne Bull says McKay has made extensive contributions and built valuable partnerships throughout the communities where he has lived and worked.

A renowned expert in the large scale study of proteins (Proteomics) and tissue imaging mass spectrometry, Professor Peter Hoffmann is the new strand leader in Biomaterials Engineering and Nanomedicine at UniSA’s Future Industries Institute (FII).

With more than 90 papers published and almost $10 million raised for research, Prof Hoffmann’s area of expertise is focused on biomarker discovery in cancer, detection of protein phosphorylation and Tissue Imaging Mass Spectrometry.

Prof Hoffmann’s research team was the first to use and publish Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS) techniques in Australia, techniques that are used to investigate protein and peptide distributions in human tissue.

More recently Prof Hoffmann formed the spin out company Onco DX to commer-cialise patented biomarkers for the early detection of ovarian and gastric cancer.

He joins FII from the University of Adelaide where he was Deputy Director of the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) and Director of the Adelaide Proteomics Centre. Prof Hoffmann is also Director of the National NCRIS facility for Tissue Imaging Mass Spectrometry.

Tom Steer has been appointed to the new role of Executive Director: UniSA Online.

Steer joins the University from Hewlett Packard Enterprise and will be familiar to many UniSA staff through his leadership on the development of the joint UniSA HP Innovation and Collaboration Centre, and the highly successful Bachelor of Information Technology (Enterprise Business Solutions) program.

His most recent role was Chief of Staff for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Australia and New Zealand and he was a member of the HPE Country Management Team.

Steer previously led Hewlett Packard’s Higher Education business and has performed key management roles on some of the company’s largest government accounts in both London and Canberra.

In 2003 Steer was awarded the most outstanding masters student for the Master of Business Information Systems at UniSA.

Professor Andy Koronios has been appointed to the new role of Dean: Industry and Enterprise.

Prof Koronios has extensive experience in both commercial and academic environments and a strong track record of successful collaboration with industry partners both in Australia and abroad.

Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Tanya Monro says Prof Koronios will work closely with staff from across the University and provide a greater focus on the University’s activities in the area of enterprise.

Prof Koronios is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society and a Foundation Fellow of the International Institute of Engineering Asset Management. 

Professor Jason Bainbridge has been appointed to head up UniSA’s School of Communication, International Studies and Languages.

Prof Bainbridge has been a key player at Swinburne University in Melbourne helping to transform and energise media and arts education – where he has been Chair of Media and Communication, and Acting Dean of the School of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

He has a PhD in Cultural Studies from Queensland University where he also completed his Bachelor of Arts Honours and his Bachelor of Laws.

Prof Bainbridge, who took up the role in April, says he is excited to be joining UniSA and by the new challenges and opportunities the role will offer.

The innovative approaches of UniSA academic, Dr Peter Balan OAM, have been recognised through a national award for teaching excellence.

Dr Balan, a Senior Lecturer at the School of Management at UniSA’s Business School, took home one of 18 awards at the Australian Awards for University Teaching in Canberra in December. He received the award for excellence in the category of Law, Economics, Business and Related Studies.

The awards celebrate those who make outstanding contributions to student learning and equipping students for the future.

Dr Balan – who has an extensive industry background and teaches entrepreneurship and innovation – is no stranger to accolades and received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) “for service to tertiary education and to the community of South Australia” in 2016. His work has also been highlighted with several UniSA and national awards.

UniSA’s Professor Debra Rowett has been awarded the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia’s most prestigious award, which recognises individuals who make outstanding contributions to hospital pharmacy in Australia.

Prof Rowett, who is Discipline Leader: Pharmacy External Relations in UniSA’s School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, was presented with the Fred J Boyd Award in recognition of her achievements and leadership in the development of national practice standards, education and research excellence in Australian hospital pharmacy.

Established in 1978, the award is in memory of the society’s founding president Fred J Boyd. 

UniSA Professor Lorimer Moseley has been presented a Doctor of Science by the University of South Australia, acknowledging his distinguished international contribution to physiotherapy and clinical neuroscience.

The degree is awarded to an academic who has a proven record of internationally recognised scholarship and is assessed by an international panel of experts.

UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd, who presented the award during the graduation ceremonies earlier this year, says Prof Moseley’s passion for his research work into chronic pain and pain management is palpable.

“His work has changed the way pain is treated and changed the way we teach health professionals to support and treat sufferers of chronic pain,” Prof Lloyd says.

UniSA senior lecturer Dr Kylie Johnston has been awarded a 2016 Churchill Fellowship to learn new methods to manage chronic breathlessness using non-drug interventions.

The Fellowship will provide Dr Johnston with the opportunity to travel to centres of excellence in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada that provide specialised breathlessness intervention services.

Dr Johnston will also visit projects that use innovative approaches to understand and change the experience of people with chronic breathlessness in the UK and United States of America.