Page 12 - Tropic Magazine Issue 22

TROPIC • UPFRONT
Jodie Duignan-George
Associate Vice-Chancellor
CQUniversity
Balancing a healthy lifestyle
with the demands of leading
CQUniversity in Cairns is
all in a day’s work for Jodie
Duignan-George.
12 • Tropic • Issue 22
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Tropic delves into the daily routines and habits of a local identity.
05:30 Sunlight peeps through the 12:45 I touch base with Leah, the most
crack in my curtains signalling it’s amazing Executive Assistant ever. We
time to get up. work through outstanding items and I’m
feeling glad that I love diversity because
05:45 Adopting the motto ‘don’t think I’m making decisions on a broad range
just do’, I go downstairs to do an hour of of issues.
exercise on my indoor bike. It’s my rare
opportunity to watch Netflix as I cycle. 14:00 Back to meetings!
06:45 I turn on the kettle in preparation 15:00 Finally some more time to do
for my first coffee of the day – yes, I’m some emails. I receive an invitation, but
an addict! I also prepare lunch for my I’m already booked. I pop down the hall
husband Tony and myself. We try to eat to see JJ who’s my go-to when I can’t
keto so it’s hard to eat out. be in two places at once. She accepts
immediately and I feel blessed to work
07:00 The cat and I wake Tony with a with such an amazing team.
coffee and we chat before I start getting
ready for work. As an entertainer, Tony 16:00 - 18:00 Finance and Resource
works nights so sometimes we are Committee meeting for my national
like two ships passing in the night. Our board via video conference. Being on five
morning catch-up keeps us connected. boards can make life hectic at times but
it’s my way of giving back. Besides, I learn
08:00 I hop in the car and drive to work. as much as I contribute.
On the way I return the calls I missed the
day before - hands free of course! 18:30 It’s time to host the CQU corporate
box for the Taipans home game. Besides
08:30 Arrive at work and head straight AFL, basketball is my favourite sport.
to the staff kitchen to make my second Over the past five years that CQU
coffee of the morning. has been naming rights sponsor, the
Taipans team and staff have endeared
9:00 The start of a jam-packed meeting themselves to me. I won’t say I’ve
schedule. Four morning meetings in all. become a fanatic but it’s close!
12:00 I catch up with Tony for a quick 21:15 Arrive home pretty tired but I check
coffee. He’s working the next few nights, my diary for tomorrow to make sure I’m
so I won’t see him. prepared. My brain won’t let me clock off
until I’ve done the necessary preparation.
12:30 Return to campus and quickly
eat my lunch at my desk while I work 22:30 Satisfied I’m set for the morning,
on emails. I turn the light off.