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Equity Award presented to 'an exemplary employer'

June 10, 2005

GrasserEquity.thumb.jpgDr Hans Graser, the director of a research unit at The University of New England that employs and trains a wide diversity of people, has received this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Equity.

The Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) recruits staff from all around the world because of the international shortage of people qualified to do its work. (AGBU, a joint venture between UNE and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, applies the science of genetics to livestock production in Australia.)

In presenting the annual award to Dr Graser this week, UNE’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ingrid Moses, mentioned AGBU’s need to recruit staff from abroad. “Consequently it has an international flavour,” she said, “with nearly 50 per cent of its staff originating from overseas. Appointing staff from overseas often entails long delays as immigration formalities are completed. Nevertheless, the best person is always appointed.”

“Hans also provides support to well-qualified scientists from overseas through temporary appointments,” Professor Moses continued. “And he actively pursues postgraduate students and organises funding for foreign students when they are unable to obtain scholarships for their tuition fees.”

She mentioned “glowing testimonials” from scientific staff, students, visiting scientists, and administrative staff (including trainees), and pointed out that “one-third of AGBU’s staff are women, two-thirds of its students are foreign, and training is provided to young people of all backgrounds”. She referred to Dr Graser’s skill in making working conditions flexible enough to allow AGBU to meet contract deadlines while “keeping funding bodies, the University, and the employees happy”.

“As Director of AGBU, Hans has been living our values of equal opportunity, equity, and being an exemplary employer,” she concluded. (Professor Moses is pictured here with Dr Graser on the day of the presentation.)

Dr Graser joined AGBU in 1980 and has been its Director for the past seven years. He thanked his colleagues and UNE’s Human Resources staff, saying he felt honoured by the award. “My reaction was one of surprise, however, because, as far as I could see, I wasn’t doing anything special,” he said.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at June 10, 2005 11:10 AM