Candidates for Election

Council seems to suppose that monitoring Management effectively is tantamount to micromanaging it illegitimately. Those members of Council who secretly share my view, - that the central job of our Council is to protect our people – would be strengthened by my election. I would encourage them to defend that view more openly. As a Professor of Accounting with decades of accounting practise, I cannot under-estimate the role of money in university life; but I will not keep silent when affordability gets used as an excuse for sacrificing people in implementation of contestable models of our workplace ecosystem.

I will not be driven by any factions within the university, but will keep robust, open and honest communication channels to salient groups. I would not continue in the Union Branch Presidency, but I would cultivate friendly relations with my successor. Like the NTEU itself, I stand for the sustainable health of the university community. That means its’ people first, foremost and forever.

I will faithfully and accountably represent academic staff, by holding monthly open forums and by a wide variety of engagements with colleagues.

I don’t say: “trust me.”  I say: “hear me and hold me to account”.

Academics are aware of the ominous direction of higher education, but Council must also understand the implications for UNE and resultant impact on academics. Academics and students drive UNE so clear, transparent communication is vital; failure erodes the academic engine resulting in a discontented culture which contributes to staff shortages and workload uncertainty.

After two years as the current academic representative, I now understand the intricacies of university governance so I can better convey our academic reality. It is vital that Council hear how their decisions impact us, as they determine the future direction of UNE, making an informed academic voice ever more important.

Since joining UNE, I have tried to make a difference by engaging and speaking up. As a result, I have an all too comprehensive understanding of our many problems – from the bottom up and top down. Though currently on secondment as Director of Place-based Education and Research, I continue to teach, remaining engaged at the coalface. Academics often don’t have the time to engage with governance, so we need a representative who has the strength to express our concerns. I stand up and speak truth to power.

As both a UNE alumna and staff member, I am committed to doing my utmost to ensure a strong future for UNE.
As the M&H elected representative on the AWC, I have played a pivotal role in the development of the AWC’s academic workload model. The extensive consultation that my AWC colleagues and I engaged in with academics across UNE has been integral to this process. Throughout the ongoing negotiations with management, including at the Fair Work Commission, I have stood firm, advocating for fair and accurate workloads.
My involvement in the AWC and NTEU’s Better UNE Survey has given me a deep understanding of the current issues affecting UNE’s Academic staff. Along with Professional staff, WE are the University, so when we are not heard, the future of the University is put at risk. It is because of this very real risk that I have decided to nominate to be your representative on the UNE Council.
If elected as the academic voice on Council, I will listen to your concerns and ideas, and work hard to ensure they are heard and addressed. I will uphold the principles of fairness, equity, and transparency, acting in good faith and with integrity.

My name is Sam. I am a Dhungutti woman who grew up on Darkinjung and Gumbaynggirr country. Mum to Audrey and Jensen, eldest of four and first in my family to complete university. I began working when I was seventeen. Through hard work, education and challenging myself to be more, I have been successful across many industries including event management, logistics, technology, employment, administration and education. UNE and the community of Armidale is my past, present and future.

I joined UNE 5 years ago, working with the team at the Oorala Aboriginal Centre. I started out as the tutoring program coordinator, and spent the last 2 and a half years managing the Student Experience Team.

Yet my connection with UNE began over 20 years ago. I came to UNE as a school leaver, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws in 2007. During my time as a student I lived on campus as well as in town, and in the final stages of my degree I studied online from Melbourne. I loved my UNE experience, right down to meeting my husband.

The diversity of my experiences will serve me well as a member of your UNE Council.

My name is Geoffrey Hart, and I work as a professional staff member in the position of Research performance Analyst, in Research Services. I am a UNE graduate, and I have over a decade of experience working in professional roles at UNE, in positions ranging across IT, marketing, library, and now Research Services. This broad background lends me insight into the diversity of interests that non-academic staff need represented at Council.

I am deeply interested in UNE’s research environment, and have spent the past 8 years working to improve our understanding of UNE’s research, and I am passionate about ensuring that UNE remains a high-performing institute of research.

My key aim in running for UNE Council is to improve the transparency and accountability of university executive. Too often I hear my professional colleagues lament being kept in the dark about decisions being made that directly, and indirectly affect their work. I believe that UNE can do better, and I will everything in my power to ensure this is the case.

Having lived in Armidale all of my life and commencing work at UNE in 1986, I have a strong connection with UNE and the broader community. I’m passionate about the success of UNE and the support and experience we provide to both our students and staff. Over the past 36 years, I’ve worked across many of the central administration areas, including Student Administration, IT, Finance, and the Strategic Projects team, where I have gained extensive knowledge of how UNE operates. Therefore, I am able to support many staff and students throughout their UNE experience. The natural progression of the continued support I provide to staff and students, and an aspiration of mine, would be to work with Council to further support staff, students, and the future of UNE.

I have just commenced my fourth course at UNE since beginning my Undergrad in 2015/2016. A former journalist, corporate public relations executive and experienced welfare worker and a mother of three adult children, two of whom have also studied at UNE, I feel I bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to this position. I am passionate about life long learning particularly in the areas of literacy and literature. I volunteer with the EAL/D homework centre at Drummond Primary School and have always volunteered for the community I live in. I enjoy the multicultural atmoshphere at UNE and have made many personal friends, of all ages, many different backgrounds and learning areas. I am a strong, independant resilient person who has overcome many obstacles to achieve my academic career later in life.  I am proud of my ongoing association with UNE and have made plans to make Armidale my forever home. I have strong links throughout this region, having worked in landcare and drought support and local government roles throughout the New England, North West.

I am a Master of Arts student in Italian Studies, with a thesis on Indian background authors writing in Italian. I am a father of a wonderful four-year-old, and my partner of two decades is an India-expert historian and playwright. I am a Philosophy Honours graduate, a Social Worker of two decades experience, and for a decade I led a nation-leading multidisciplinary advocacy service for Sydney University postgraduates.

From March 2020 to February 2022, I was an elected member of UNE’s Academic Board. In and out of committees I was a consistent, principled, thoughtful and effective voice with and for students. I called for and will continue to work towards a properly constituted, genuinely democratic, effective UNE student representative body. I sought and will continue to seek resources to revive on and off campus community.

I argued against staffing cuts and for comprehensive quality program offerings. During pandemic I led students in achieving many of the supports you benefited from. I wanted more. A vote for me is a vote for much more. I put you first. If elected I will be with you and for you, as I have been all along.

My name is Dominic and I’m currently in my 3rd year of the Bachelor of Medical Science, Doctor of Medicine.
I started at UNE as a school leaver in 2016 where I began studying various degrees, ranging from Arts and Languages to Business and Science, before commencing the Bachelor of Medical Science, Doctor of Medicine in 2020. My experience in a broad range of degrees, at varying stages of life, has given me the unique perspective to represent our diverse cohort of students. Studying both on-campus and as an online student has given me an understanding of the challenges that are present for both cohorts of students, particularly with the impacts following the Covid-19 pandemic. Working for the university as a student support officer has shown me the value of supporting the community from a place of compassion and integrity.
I believe that it is important to have a broad understanding of all aspects of university to be a successful student representative. I aim to instil the morals and values I have gained from my experience at university if elected to UNE Council, to ensure each student feels valued and supported as they progress through their degrees.

I am a third year Master of Arts (Archaeology) student, based in Armidale in 2022. I returned to study in mid-2019 as an online student, pursuing my dream to study archaeology. While everyone’s university experience is different, I believe I can represent the needs of students; I have been an on campus and online student, studied at undergraduate and postgraduate level and taken my learning into the workplace.

My diverse background has included many roles; student, co-worker, mentor, advocate, employer and manager. I have operated in boardroom environments and negotiated with people at all levels; I am not afraid to speak up when I believe things are not working and need to be changed. I have experienced first-hand many areas where the university needs to improve and know others share similar concerns. I want to hear your concerns and work with you all to achieve positive change, ensuring that all students have the best university experience and can achieve their dreams.

Moving to Armidale this year has allowed me to engage differently with the university community. I would be honoured to represent the diverse interests and needs of all students, building a culture of collaboration, understanding and respect.

I would love to join the university of New England council as I believe I can make a difference to students on and off campus I currently sit in both the FEC council for health and medicine and I’m a representative that goes to the SARG council meetings also.
I am also one of the newly appointed representatives on the student consultative committee as the college student I look forward to working with you soon.
Regards Christin

Having completed a mixture of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Computer Science, Nutrition and Education, I took a few years off and am currently studying a Diploma of Modern Languages.

Adaptation to online and remote learning has been a challenge for many of us and the UNE community plays a significant role. One area of concern is the spending of your Student Services and Amenities Fees to support students with their studies and create change for the better.

I am passionate about UNE. Thanks to the support of my peers, I previously served as the elected UNE Council Student Member for 8 years and held student representative positions on The Academic Board, and both the Teaching & Learning and Research Committees. I have the knowledge and experience to hit the ground running.

As the current Secretary for the Armidale International Association I engage with students, refugees and their families residing in Armidale.

I am knowledgeable regarding university governance and have the commitment and essential skills to represent you well. I strongly support equality and inclusion with regards to gender, age, religion, sexuality, nationality, race and disability and would be honoured to serve you and be your voice once again.

Hi, I’m Emma, a 4th year Medical student based in Tamworth and the current student on UNE Council.  Despite the challenges of Covid, I’ve loved the opportunity to lead the Student Consultative Committee (SCC) and work on how to best provide the student voice to University decisions.

I’m standing for re-election as I’m currently leading two student projects; investigating Harassment and Assault on campus at the UNE Colleges, and addressing disparities between online and on campus student experiences and resources. I would love to see these projects through, and bring about a tangible change in the student experience at UNE.

I’ve learnt a great deal about University Governance and if re-elected, will continue to strongly voice the student perspective at the Management level.  As Chair of the SCC, we’ve developed a Constitution, we’re working on providing greater visibility of SCC and communication between UNE and students, and are planning a student summit to provide a direct feedback channel between students and University management on issues important to you! We’re also looking into SSAF disparities between on-campus and online students, which I’m passionate about, being a former Mary White College resident but having also studied online.

Thanks for your consideration! :)