Meeting of Convocation

Important Notices to Members of Convocation of the University of New England

1. Upcoming Meetings of Convocation

The following Meetings of Convocation have been scheduled for 2026:

  • NOTE - Date Change - Wednesday, 29 April 2026 at 12:30pm AEST
  • Friday, 30 October 2026 at 12:00pm AEDT.

Registered members of Convocation will receive an email with the Zoom registration link ahead of each meeting.

2. Call for Proposals

The call for proposals for the upcoming Meeting of Convocation is now closed. Details on how to submit a proposal are provided below.

Proposals are to be submitted by:

  • Monday, 09 March 2026 (for review by the Standing Committee of Convocation on 27 March 2026, and consideration at the Meeting of Convocation on 29 April 2026); and.
  • Monday, 07 September 2026 (for review by the Standing Committee of Convocation on 25 September 2026, and consideration at the Meeting of Convocation on 30 October 2026).
3. Register to participate in Convocation

While most members of the UNE community are eligible to be a member of Convocation, you must opt in to actively participate. This includes the ability to nominate as a candidate and vote in Convocation elections; and receive official communications (e.g. meeting notices and proposal calls).

Please complete the Convocation Membership Form to register. You only need to complete this form once.

What is Convocation?

UNE is committed to listening to the views of members of Convocation in a forum that will contribute to and enrich the communication between the UNE community and the UNE Council in a mutually beneficial manner.

Convocation is established by the University of New England Act 1993 (NSW). Under the Act and the University of New England By-law 2005 (NSW), its function is to submit to Council such proposals as Convocation considers appropriate with respect to the interests of the University.

Members of UNE's Convocation are:

  1. graduates of the University;
  2. current or former members of UNE Council;
  3. current or former academic staff (full-time, part-time or casual);
  4. current or former professional staff (full-time, part-time or casual);
  5. such graduates of other universities or other persons as are, in accordance with the by-laws, admitted as members of Convocation (by resolution of Council).

While you may meet the eligibility criteria above, you must register (opt-in) to be considered an active member of Convocation. Only registered members will receive official communications, vote in elections, or nominate for elected positions. To participate, eligible members of the UNE community must complete the Convocation Membership Form.

For more information please read the Framework for Convocation, the Frequently Asked Questions below, the Terms of Reference for the Standing Committee of Convocation, or email convocation@une.edu.au.

How to make a proposal to Convocation:

  • Proposals must be made by a person eligible to be a member of Convocation, and be consistent with the function of Convocation and be in the interests of the University.
  • Please note that matters which subject to an existing or are a new individual/personal grievances, complaints/whistle blowing reports should be dealt with under relevant UNE policy.
  • Proposals which may be disparaging to individuals will also not be considered at a Convocation meeting.
  • Proposals should be brief (no more than 250 words) and clear as to the intent and benefit to UNE.
  • Proposals will be reviewed by the Standing Committee of Convocation and then put forward for the consideration of Convocation.
  • If Convocation supports a proposal, it is submitted to Council for consideration.
  • Use this form to make a proposal.
  • Proposals should be submitted by:
    • Monday, 09 March 2026 for the meeting on 29 April 2026
    • Monday, 07 September 2026 for the meeting on 30 October 2026

Standing Committee of Convocation members

Chair:

  • Dr Tim Battin

Current or former Council members:

  • Megan Aitken
  • Professor Margaret Sims

Current or former academic staff members:

  • Associate Professor Eric Ghosh
  • Associate Professor Elizabeth Temple

Current or former professional staff members:

  • Geoffrey Hart
  • Craig Johnson

Graduate members:

  • Emeritus Professor Edward (Snow) Barlow
  • Peter Hayes
  • Dr Peter Lloyd
  • Scot MacDonald
  • Narelle Sheppard
  • Michelle Squire

Co-Opted member:

  • Donna Moodie

Ex officio member:

  • Professor Chris Moran, Vice-Chancellor and CEO

The term of office for each member will be two years, subject to the provisions of the Terms of Reference, commencing 28 July 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Meeting of Convocation?

The function of Convocation is to submit to the Council such proposals as Convocation considers appropriate with respect to the interests of the University. The format of Convocation is set out in section 14 of the University of New England Act 1993 (NSW) and the function is set out in By-law 16 of the University of New England By-law 2005 (NSW).

Who can attend a Meeting of Convocation?

Meetings of UNE Convocation are open to registered members of Convocation. Registered members will receive official communications in the lead-up to each meeting, including invitations, agendas, and proposal notices.

As per the University of New England Act 1993 (NSW) and University of New England By-law 2005 (NSW) the following individuals may register as members of Convocation:
  • Graduates of the University of New England (UNE)
  • Current or former members of UNE Council
  • Current or former academic staff (with at least 12 months' service)
  • Current or former professional staff (with at least 12 months' service)
  • Individuals who have been invited by the Council to become members of Convocation, including:
    • Staff invited by Council or as part of an invited group
    • Individuals who have given outstanding service to the University or are specially qualified to advance its interests (admitted by Council resolution)

For the purposes of formal participation and elections, each member may be included in only one category. Please follow the hierarchy below and select the first category that applies to you.

  1. Current or former member of UNE Council
  2. Current or former academic staff member (12+ months’ service)
  3. Current or former professional staff member (12+ months’ service)
  4. UNE graduate

Note: There are currently no members in the “invited by Council” category.

Eligible members of the UNE community must opt-in by completing the Convocation Membership Form in order to attend meetings, vote, or nominate for elected positions.

Why call a Meeting of Convocation?

UNE is committed to listening to the views of members of Convocation in a forum that will contribute to and enrich communication between the UNE community and the UNE Council. Meeting of Convocation is a valuable platform for submitting to the Council such proposals as Convocation considers appropriate with respect to the interests of the University.

Who will convene the Meeting of Convocation?

Interim Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Evans chaired the first meeting, future meetings will be chaired by the elected Chair of the Standing Committee of Convocation, Emeritus Professor Graham Maddox.

How will the meeting of Convocation be conducted?

A meeting of Convocation will be conducted in accordance with the Framework for Convocation and UNE's Code of Conduct.

What is the quorum needed for Meeting of Convocation?

By-law 18 of the University of New England By-law 2005 provides that a quorum for a general meeting of Convocation is one hundred (100) members.

How do I attend a Meeting of Convocation?

Eligible members of the UNE community can "opt-in" to participate in UNE Convocation by completing the Convocation Membership Form. This form only need to complete this form once.

Once registered, Convocation members will receive information about upcoming meetings, including an email with the Zoom registration link ahead of each meeting. Members are required to register for each Meeting of Convocation to ensure the integrity of the meeting. This helps confirm that attendees are members of Convocation and not individuals from outside the UNE community, and also helps prevent unauthorised participants from joining.

Will minutes of the Meeting of Convocation be circulated to attendees?

Minutes of the meeting of Convocation will be circulated via email to registered members of Convocation as soon as possible after a meeting.

Will the meeting be recorded and uploaded to the UNE website?

The meeting will not be recorded but minutes of the meeting of Convocation will be circulated to registered members as soon as possible after the meeting.

I voted in the 2023 Convocation elections but have not received any Convocation communications since. Why?

If you were on the Convocation Electoral Roll at the time of the 2023 elections, you would have received communications and been able to vote in that election. In August 2023, all individuals on the Roll were notified that Convocation was moving to an opt-in membership process. To remain on the Convocation Roll and continue receiving official communications (including voting invitations for future elections) eligible members were required to register (opt-in) by completing the Convocation Membership Form.

If you did not complete the opt-in process after the 2023 elections, your details would not have been added to the Convocation Membership Register (current Roll), and you would not have received further communications. This process ensures the Membership Register is accurate and includes only eligible and interested members.

If you wish to participate in future Convocation activities, you can opt-in at any time by completing the Convocation Membership Form.