Page 44 - Tropic Magazine Issue 11

Industry
Profile

Trajectory of growth order to see those projects funded, and
in turn become a reality,” he said.
CQUniversity’s commitment to Mr Abbott said Professor Bowman would
Cairns will continue long after remain on as Vice-Chancellor of
Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman CQUniversity until the end of this year.
departs. “CQUniversity has emerged as one of
Australia’s great universities in recent
The recent announcement of years and we owe a lot of that to Scott’s
CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor Professor leadership,” Mr Abbott said.
Scott Bowman’s departure from the uni at “We have started to embark on the Scott’s next chapter
the end of 2018 has sparked more than a recruitment process for our new VC and Professor Bowman and his wife Anita
fair amount of interest among the Cairns will be looking for someone who can will embark on a trip of a lifetime upon
business community. Many are continue to drive the development of the finishing at CQUni.
wondering what this could mean for the University in Cairns and across its “Anita and I met on the back of a truck in
future growth of the CQUni Cairns footprint. the middle of the Sahara Desert about 35
campus given Professor Bowman’s “CQUniversity needs a leader who has a years ago and I remember that trip like it
passion for growth in a city he loves. strong vision for doing things differently was yesterday,” Professor Bowman
CQUniversity’s Chancellor Mr John and someone who fits in with our explained of his reason for leaving the
Abbott says that while Professor university values, especially our values of University.
Bowman’s announcement came as a engagement, openness and “We spent hour after hour on the trip
surprise to many, local leaders and the inclusiveness,” he said. discussing how we would travel around
wider community should not take the the world but as is the case for many
Vice-Chancellor’s departure as a negative while also placing their own unique people, it never happened as we
sign for the University’s future growth in stamp on the future of the University,” Mr expected. We had children when we were
Cairns. Abbott said. young and got into buying a house and
Growth to continue “CQUniversity is committed to growth in developing our careers.
“While we are sad to see Scott leave, his Cairns and we will continue to make our “So, while reflecting on our lives together
departure does not mean our plan for mark on the region by working with and enjoying the company of our
growth in Cairns will cease,” Mr Abbott community and industry to deliver new grandchildren over the Christmas break,
said. courses, conduct research and identify we both made the decision to move into
“Scott has had a large influence in new opportunities to benefit the Far the next phase of our life together – one
assisting with CQUni Cairns campus’ North.” we have been dreaming of since we met
continued growth, but I can assure the Impact plan update on that truck.
Cairns community that we also have a Mr Abbott said the Cairns Community “To that end we have actually bought a
very strong and committed team in Impact plan – a $54.7 million funding truck and plan to drive it around the
Cairns, led by Associate Vice-Chancellor CQUniversity’s Chancellor proposal which CQUni unveiled in July world.”
Jodie Duignan-George and with the Mr John Abbott last year – also continued to make For now though, Professor Bowman said
support of chairman of the CQUni headway. the University would continue on as
Council’s Strategic Planning Committee, and the continued growth of our “Many of the Projects related to the ‘business as usual’ with its plans for
and Cairns businessman, Mr Mark campuses outside of Central Queensland Cairns Impact Plan are progressing and growth, strengthening partnerships with
Peters,” he said. is a major part of that. Scott, Jodie and the incoming our communities – including in Cairns.
“CQUniversity has in place a strong “Whoever is appointed to the role of VC Vice-Chancellor will continue to work MORE: cqu.edu.au
strategic direction for the next decade will need to continue to lead this strategy with, and lobby, relevant Governments in

CQUniversity’s report card PROJECT 2: PROJECT 3:
$16M ASIA-PACIFIC AVIATION HUB $1.2M FIRST PEOPLES' THINK TANK
Cairns Community Impact Plan CQUniversity will develop a AND RESEARCH CENTRE
UPDATE state-of-the-art Aviation and CQUniversity will establish an
Engineering Centre of Excellence with Indigenous Research Centre and
a facility constructed at Cairns associated Think Tank, providing an
PROJECT 1: International Airport. avenue for First Peoples to promote
$30M CBD CAMPUS UPDATE: The uni is launched a new timely, evidence-based and
CQUniversity will establish a degree in Aviation - Flight Operations coordinated delivery of education,
permanent purpose-built CBD campus from Term 1 2018, delivered in research and development activities
capable of accommodating 2500-plus partnership with Hinterland Aviation. that respond to the needs of their
students. This partnership will not only deliver communities, particularly in Northern
UPDATE: CQUniversity has been the first medium sized, airline Australia.
approached by a number of developers operated, flight school to the region, it UPDATE: A dedicated research officer
keen to acquire CQUni as a tenant. We will also enable students in the region has been appointed to drive the First
have explored multiple proposals and to become bachelor level qualified Peoples Think Tank establishment.
are in current discussions with 3 pilots with no significant up-front cost. Research progress has been made in
proponents. Two of these terms of a number of international
opportunities are greenfield sites. research funding and collaborations.