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UNE welcomes its new Vice-Chancellor

February 28, 2006

VCWelcome.thumb.JPGStaff of The University of New England welcomed their new Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Alan Pettigrew, yesterday at a reception hosted by the University’s Chancellor, Mr John Cassidy.

The reception, ending Professor Pettigrew’s first day in the position, followed a meeting of the University’s Council during which the new Vice-Chancellor outlined his vision for UNE.
In welcoming Professor Pettigrew to the University, Mr Cassidy said that his appointment had been a unanimous decision of the UNE Council following a world-wide recruitment exercise that had attracted 67 applicants.

He outlined Professor Pettigrew’s qualifications and experience – including a distinguished research career in physiology, senior executive positions at the Universities of Sydney, Queensland, and New South Wales and, most recently, his term as inaugural CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council – that had recommended him so strongly to the UNE Council.

Mr Cassidy said Professor Pettigrew’s outstanding background in research and senior management would assist him in guiding UNE through a period of increasingly insistent “financial imperatives” for universities.

He also welcomed Professor Pettigrew’s wife, Mrs Ann Pettigrew, saying that she would have “a vital and beneficial impact on UNE and the wider community” – particularly through her love of art and music.

Richard Torbay, Member for Northern Tablelands, welcomed Professor and Mrs Pettigrew to the Armidale and New England communities. Mr Torbay, a member of the UNE Council, said Professor Pettigrew’s contribution to the Council meeting had shown that he had “a very strong vision for the University”. He urged everyone to work together to realise that vision.

Professor Pettigrew replied to the welcome by observing that the history of UNE was “underpinned by a great deal of passion – and a high level of enthusiasm – for education in the New England region”. “We can build on that,” he continued, emphasising that the University community included all students and staff in “an integrated whole”.

While there were “strategic challenges” ahead, he said, there were also “emerging opportunities” – particularly Federal Government initiatives targeting research quality and collaboration – that the University was well placed to take advantage of. He added that UNE was known for its world-quality research, including research generated by its involvement in seven national Cooperative Research Centres.

“It’s a great pleasure for Ann and I to join this institution,” Professor Pettigrew said.


The photograph displayed here shows Mr Cassidy (left) with Professor and Mrs Pettigrew at the reception.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at February 28, 2006 04:29 PM