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Many in our community are experiencing distress related to the conflict in the Middle East, particularly as we approach the anniversary of the 7 October attack.  

We ask that everyone remains respectful of each other during this time. While you are free to express yourself on any issues in line with Australian law, please be mindful of how expressing your views may impact others.   

Please don’t hesitate to access support through the . If you would like to disclose any harmful behaviours at ANU – please complete a confidential . You can also access the for free and confidential support.  

If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to that was developed by the Student Safety and Wellbeing team.

Parking rates across ANU will change next year.  

The University recently conducted a benchmarking exercise, examining nearby parking rates in our broader community to assess whether our rates are consistent with those imposed by the ACT Government. The benchmarking extended beyond a 2km radius of our campus, including the Parliamentary triangle. 

Following this exercise, the University’s parking rates for surface and parking stations will increase in 2025 to better align with our community. However, the new rates at ANU will still be 10 per cent below the ACT government rates. The University Leadership has endorsed the new rates.  

More information can be found on . If you’re a current permit holder, you’ll receive additional information via email in the coming weeks. 

As you may be aware, the University is investing $8 million in two new childcare facilities on its Acton campus.

ANU, Heritage Early Childhood Centre (Heritage) and University Preschool Child Care Centre (UPCCC) have agreed key terms for the provision of high-quality childcare in the new facilities.

We are now in the final stages of drafting the agreements for execution with both providers and we will make an announcement in due course. We will provide further updates on final arrangements for the other childcare providers in the coming weeks.

The new facilities will be prioritising spots for current ANU staff and students. Families who haven’t done so already are encouraged to contact Heritage and UPCCC as soon as possible regarding a place for 2025.  Any remaining spots will then be opened to the wider community.

For more information, please see our .

Wednesday 16 October, 5.30-7pm 

ANU and the ACT Branch of the Order of Australia Association are pleased to present the 2024 Order of Australia lecture. 

Today’s environmental challenges require us to urgently rethink how we envision the future. In her keynote, A possible world: transforming gender relations for sustainability, AO will address why we must prioritise gendered livelihoods and care and create a world that is more sustainable and gender equitable. 

Her forward-thinking yet realistic plan places gender equality, social justice and sustainability at the heart of efforts to shape a better future for us all.  

Wednesday 16 October, 2-3.30pm 

Would you like to make your courses more appealing, improve your students' learning experience, and increase retention? 

Join us for this in-person seminar, where Professor Harrington from the University of New England (UNE) will outline an award-winning program designed to improve student retention, particularly for first-year students.  The program is now being implemented across all courses at UNE. 

Tuesday 15 October, 12-1pm 

Join the for an in-depth seminar that will offer a critical perspective on using AI in intelligence analysis. The seminar will raise significant concerns about the reliance on large language models, especially in high-stakes contexts such as state-level decision-making regarding the use of force. 

Thursday 10 October, 12-1.30pm   

In this workshop, Dr Marina Iskhakova from the will discuss strategies to include videos, interviews, poetry, art, dance, painting and observations into your assessments to enhance student engagement. Through practical exercises and discussions, you will learn how to integrate these unconventional formats effectively into assessments.  

Wednesday 9 October, 1-2.30pm 

Grassy woodlands are a threatened ecosystem, and we are fortunate to have a relatively well-preserved example here on campus. Join our Landscape & Conservation Manager Mick Kelly for a walk through this important habitat and learn how to manage and conserve the threatened and protected species that can be found there.

Bring your hat, some comfortable shoes and a bottle of water.

Monday 14 October, 4-6.30pm 

Join the  and for a screening of The Ice Cream Sellers. This film tells a human story of the Rohingya people. Following the screening, there will be a conversation with the film's director, Sohel Rahman, facilitated by Professor Bina D'Costa. 

This event provides an opportunity to watch the film and engage in an important discussion about South Asian studies, migration and refugees, human rights, social justice, and the Rohingya community. 

October is the University's Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Month, promoting wellness during ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Safe Work Month and on World Mental Health Day. ANU has various events and weekly expos throughout the month that offer activities and resources to support your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing Expo Day - Research School of Biology (RSB) 

Join the Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Expo on Thursday 10 October, 10am-3pm at RSB, featuring stalls from internal and external vendors, plus a raffle with fantastic prizes.

Move Well this October - Free Activities 

Get active with free pickleball, badminton, and zumba classes by registering via the , thanks to and .  

Andrew Hopkins Award for Excellence in Health and Safety 

As part of the ANU Vice-Chancellor's Annual Awards, the encourages and recognises significant and/or sustained contributions to improve and promote health, safety and wellbeing best practices in the workplace. This award celebrates an individual or team that has demonstrated excellence in health, safety and wellbeing beyond the scope of their expected business as usual work. Please complete the and email it to awards@anu.edu.au by Friday 11 October, 5pm.

The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Awards are a celebration of the depth and diversity of talent of ANU staff. The awards are an opportunity to recognise staff achievements and contributions to the University. 

In 2023, the Digital Solutions team and the College of Science were jointly awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Service, Innovation and Transformation at ANU for creating innovative student admin solutions that streamlined traditional workflow problems. 

Recipient Andrew Gibson says: “It was wonderful for our Digital Solutions team to collaborate with the College of Science. I’m very proud of how far we’ve come as a team and am excited for what our automation journey brings for the future.” 

Send your nomination to awards@anu.edu.au. Find the under the relevant award category. 

Nominations close Friday 11 October, 5pm.  

New Director of School of Engineering 

Following an extensive global search process, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Ivan Cole as the next Director of the School of Engineering, commencing in February 2025. 

Professor Cole brings a breadth of academic leadership experience and success to ANU. He joins us from RMIT where he currently holds the position of Professor of Engineering, with previous positions including research Director, RMIT Europe and Director of Enhanced Capability Platform in Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication.  

Through his career Professor Cole has successfully led numerous initiatives to enhance the quality of education and foster industry partnerships. He is also committed to mentoring young engineers and promoting diversity in STEM fields, and currently serves as the Victorian branch President of Materials Australia. 

With his extensive experience, collegial values, and vision for engineering at ANU, we are confident that Professor Cole will bring fresh perspectives and leverage the existing strengths and capabilities of the School in both research and education. 

Please join us in welcoming Professor Cole to our University community.  
 
We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Professor Nick Barnes for his exceptional work and leadership as interim Director, ensuring continuity for the School during this search process. 

Interim University Registrar 

Applications for the role of will close next Tuesday, 8 October 2024. This competitive recruitment process seeks to fill a pivotal senior leadership position. The University Registrar plays a central role in driving transformative service delivery and shaping key student services and academic governance, directly contributing to the University’s commitment to providing an outstanding educational experience for students and staff.

Interim Chief Information Officer

The University is pleased to announce that Paul Hargreaves has been appointed as Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO). Paul has been serving in this capacity since the end of August and is known to many in our community for his role as Stream Lead for Learning and Teaching & Student Experience. 

With over 20 years of experience leading teams, including more than 10 years in the Higher Education sector, Paul led key initiatives at a Group of Eight (GO8) university before joining us at ANU in April 2023. As Stream Lead, he has managed two critical areas within Information Technology Services (ITS) that are an essential part of the ANU Digital Plan. Notably, Paul has led the implementation of our new Learning Management System and the Plan, Track, Check initiative. 

Paul’s proven track record of delivering large system implementations, including comprehensive student management and Learning and Teaching projects, and his focus on enhancing the university experience through transformational systems makes him well-suited to lead ITS during this period. 

Interim Chief Marketing and Communications Officer 

The University is pleased to announce that Steven Fanner has been appointed as Interim Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO).  

The establishment of the CMCO role was announced in September as part of the strategic changes that are taking place to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the University's professional services. The CMCO will lead the combined marketing, communications and engagement teams working on external affairs to enable collaboration, unified strategic direction and coordinated delivery in matters relating to marketing, brand, communications and strategic engagement. It is a role that is crucial to enhancing the University's profile on both national and global stages. 

Steven has been the Interim Director, ANU Communications and Engagement (ACE) since June 2024 and will be known to many in the community for his role as Head of Government Relations, leading the University’s Office of the Commonwealth and Government Relations (OCGR) since 2020. He has played a pivotal role in managing the University’s response to the challenges it has faced this year along with overseeing the University’s interactions with government and political stakeholders and successfully forging closer and more strategic partnerships between the University and Commonwealth Government agencies.  

With over 20 years of experience in senior corporate affairs roles spanning public affairs, media, communications, events management and regulatory and policy affairs, Steven is an outstanding choice to take the lead on establishing this critical new role and I have no doubt that he will continue to foster critical relationships with our key stakeholders including government, and will ensure responsiveness to our community, championing our institutional values and showcasing our dedication to our students, staff and community. 

To stay connected to our community and leadership team, keep reading every Tuesday for updates on key new appointments and movements. 

Have you ever struggled to get a good idea across? Learn how to become a master communicator in this LinkedIn Learning path, which will equip you with the skills to influence and negotiate in the workplace. Understand how to effectively gain consensus and achieve outcomes that align with your goals and those of your colleagues. Discover how to successfully leverage your ideas to make real change, with confidence and the power of persuasion.    

LinkedIn Learning paths allow you to target your professional development to key areas of growth, aligning with the feedback received from the . LinkedIn Learning is free for ANU staff, see for access and more. For additional requests or feedback, get in touch with HRD.Development@anu.edu.au.