From the President
Preparations continue for the Collegiate Way International Conference, incorporating our UCA biennial conference, at ANU in November, with a great range of presentations from both overseas and local delegates. They can be seen on our Conference website http://collegiateway2016.com.au
The Conference will be officially opened by Professor the Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO, Governor of New South Wales 2001 – 2014 and Chancellor of the University of Sydney 2007 – 2012. Marie Bashir was a resident of The Women’s College at Sydney University while studying medicine and was later Chair of the College Council. She and her husband, Sir Nicholas Shehadie, were married by the late Felix Arnott, then Warden of St Paul’s College, Sydney University. Dame Marie established the Rivendell Adolescent Unit in Sydney and in 1993 was appointed Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Sydney University. She has worked closely with the Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service (establishing the Aboriginal Mental Health Service) and later became Patron of the Australia-Vietnam Medical Trust. She has a deep and abiding interest in the wellbeing of young people, and her services have been recognised with multiple Australian and international honours and awards, including seven honorary doctorates and Officer in the National Order of the French Legion of Honour. Dame Marie Bashir is the second-longest serving Governor of NSW and on numerous occasions ‘deputised’ for the Governor-General as Administrator of the Commonwealth of Australia.
A focus on the needs of international students will include a talk by the Indian High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Mr Navdeep Suri. Mr Suri was previously India’s Ambassador to Egypt, and since joining the Indian Foreign Service in 1983, has had postings in Syria, USA, South Africa, Tanzania and London.
Our guest speaker at Dinner at Old Parliament House (the Museum of Australian Democracy) will be ANU Chancellor, Professor the Honourable Gareth Evans AC QC. Professor Evans was appointed Chancellor in 2010. He was a member of the Australian Senate for Victoria from 1978 – 1996, and of the House of Representatives 1996 – 1999. He served in both Opposition and Government portfolios, including as Australian Attorney-General and as Foreign Minister 1988 – 1996. He was closely involved in the peace settlement in Cambodia and from 2000 – 2009 he was President and CEO of the International Crisis Group based in Brussels. In 2011 he was listed in ‘Foreign Policy’ magazine as one the Top 100 Global Thinkers “for making ‘the responsibility to protect’ more than academic.” In 2010 he was awarded the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute Four Freedoms Award for Freedom from Fear. Our dinner in the Dining Room of Old Parliament House will be very familiar ‘territory’ for the Chancellor!
The Conference will conclude with an address by 2016 Australian of the Year, Lieutenant General David Morrison AO, who was Chief of the Australian Army 2011 – 2015. David Morrison took a strong lead in dealing with issues related to sexual harassment and assault in the Australian Defence Force and since his retirement he has championed a range of matters related to overall culture change and the building of respectful communities, free of harassment and harm. General Morrison is a graduate of ANU and was a resident on campus during his undergraduate years.
With warmest wishes,
(Dr) Ian Walker
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