Page 45 - Tropic Magazine Issue 11

order to see those projects funded, and
in turn become a reality,” he said.
Mr Abbott said Professor Bowman would
remain on as Vice-Chancellor of
CQUniversity until the end of this year.
“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 Scott and Anita Bowman
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 CQUniversity’s Cairns CBD campus “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 proposal which CQUni unveiled in July world.”
Jodie Duignan-George and with the 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

PROJECT 4: PROJECT 5: PROJECT 6:
$2.5M CREATIVE AND PERFORMING $2.5M RESEARCH CAPABILITY $2.5M PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
ARTS PRECINCT EXTENSION CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE
CQUniversity will deliver a CQUniversity will extend its suite of This teaching, training and research
contemporary Creative and existing, high-impact research facility will be embedded within
Performing Arts Precinct, capabilities that are already delivering Cairns' only national professional
encompassing a 150-seat rehearsal genuine results in the fields of sports team, the CQUniversity Cairns
and performance facility and Indigenous health and education, NBL Taipans, and based within the
state-of-the-art digital media labs and regional tourism and economic Cairns Basketball Stadium complex,
production studios. development. enjoying full utilization of existing
UPDATE: A suite of purpose built UPDATE: Since the release of this community facilities.
music recording studios have been plan, CQUniversity has launched the UPDATE: CQUniversity announced the
built on the ground floor of Centre for Indigenous Health Equity establishment of a new sports science
CQUniversity Cairns Square. A new Research. This high performance degree in collaboration with the Cairns
150-seat performance facility is research centre has attracted signifi- Taipans. The degree will be co-located
however still being pursued. cant grant funding and is expected to in the new facilities at the Cairns
continue to do so. A funded economics basketball precinct. The degree
fellow is still being sought to enhance commenced in Term 1, 2018.
the current capability of the Centre for
Tourism and Regional Opportunity.