The ARCH Magazine | Edition 26 2020

Edition 26, 2020

the art of

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WITH HONOURS We speak with inspirational Perry Cross AM LOCK IN Jennifer Cronin on running hotels at pandemic ground zero STEADY HAND Our longest-serving VC on his toughest year WELCOME HOME The new Alumni Centre

Section TItle

RESILIENCE

IN THE NINE OF DUTY THE UNIVERSITY’S LONGEST-SERVING VICE CHANCELLOR CONFRONTS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF HIS TENURE

On 1 January, 2020 Tim Brailsford began his ninth year as Vice Chancellor and President of Bond University, making the professor the longest-serving leader in its history.

“Make that call early. Be prepared to change and adapt. Don’t get wedded to existing plans and strategies no matter how good they might sound.”

It was also the day authorities in China closed a seafood market following the outbreak of a previously unknown disease.

As COVID-19 cases started to appear in Australia in late January, the University made an early call announcing the postponement of the February graduation ceremony.

Events in Wuhan would morph into a global health pandemic and financial crisis that would present Professor Brailsford with the greatest challenge of his career.

“That decision was really tough as I know how hard our graduates work and those ceremonies are really special moments.”

The University’s 30th anniversary in 2019 was a blur of celebrations: a gala ball attended by alumni from around the world, the unveiling of the iconic sculpture Limitless and the openings of an expanded Health building and the Alumni Centre.

While the country was unaware of the severity of what was yet to unfold, Professor Brailsford said there were “clear community expectations the University act responsibly.”

However the party ended when 2020 started. There was Australia’s deadly summer of bushfires and then COVID-19 hit.

“It has been the toughest year that I can recall, no doubt,” Professor Brailsford says.

“In any organisation you can spend an awful lot of time on planning. The key to having a resilient organisation is being able to recognise early that a plan is not going to work because circumstances have changed.

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Within days COVID-19 cases started to increase significantly and the Gold Coast had a disproportionally high number of the nation’s cases. The University’s newly formed Coronavirus Response Team worked around the clock to update staff and students on rapidly changing government health advice, restrictions and guidelines.

Remarkably, as Australia went into lockdown in March, the University had successfully transitioned to remote teaching for the final weeks of semester one.

University staff worked tirelessly over the Easter break to ensure the quality of Bond’s second semester experience was not going to be compromised irrespective of external circumstances.

“It has been the toughest year that I can recall, no doubt.”

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MI LESTO NE

“The efforts and willingness of our staff and students to embrace continual change while we were dealing with such a fluid and wide-ranging challenge has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Professor Brailsford says.

“We often talk about the attributes of innovation, adaptability and flexibility as core to a Bond education. Never before have we had to put these attributes into more action than in 2020.

“The University remained committed to delivering an exceptional educational experience.

“And full credit has to be given to students who dealt with an endless stream of adverse announcements outside of our control - like the cancellation of international exchanges, internships, travel, social events and sporting competitions - with grace and understanding.”

The University moved quickly to create a hardship fund for students in need, new scholarships and an Innovation Task Force (ITF). Alumni responded to the ITF’s call for new ideas with contributions large in both scale and scope, demonstrating the blue-sky thinking Bondies are famous for.

The University brought forward a planned rollout of micro-credentials – bite-sized chunks of education in specific fields - and invested in new technology in

preparation for yet another teaching model, this one involving live-streamed on-campus teaching for semester three.

While the University is fully prepared for any future scenario including a return to lockdown, Professor Brailsford hopes all students will be able to return to their ‘new normal’ on campus.

“I still think there is something inherent in a set of individuals from diverse backgrounds coming together, learning together, living together, interacting across disciplines and interacting in both an academic and extracurricular environment that just cannot be replicated by an online experience,” he says.

The Australian university sector has been among those industries hardest hit by COVID-19 but Professor Brailsford says Bond entered the crisis in “very good shape” with a “strong balance sheet.”

“The world is in the midst of the greatest health and financial challenge in almost a century but provided organisations are well-managed and have contingency plans, then it’s a matter of battening down the hatches and innovating in preparation for the recovery,” he says.

“The recovery is likely to be slow and painful but you need to remind yourself that these things always have an ending.”

Long before the virus, Bond had been preparing for an unpredictable world.

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“The recovery is likely to be slow and painful but you need to remind yourself that these things always have an ending.”

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The new Transformation CoLab and suite of Transformation degrees, launched last year, are designed to produce graduates who can adapt to multiple roles, including some that may not exist yet.

“We realised the world was becoming an increasingly complex and unsettled place to live and do business,” Professor Brailsford says.

“We talked to a lot of people in business, industry and government and they told us about various scenarios which were coming over the next decade.

“Due to the pandemic, some of those scenarios have arrived a little more quickly than many people expected.”

The world will be a different place postvirus and so will Bond.

Professor Brailsford says he wants “a very clear and coherent set of educational offerings beyond our traditional degrees.”

“The future, particularly at the postgraduate level, is increasingly timepoor professionals who are seeking specialist knowledge within a structured environment and that’s not necessarily a two-year Master’s degree,” he says.

The 30th anniversary celebrations reconnected many alumni to Bond and building on those links is another priority.

“We have some of the most rusted-on alumni in Australia and we should be really proud of that, but in a new world we need to make sure that anyone who comes in contact with us knows they have a touchpoint which is with them for life.

“We want our alumni to use us as a base through which we can facilitate their career advancement.”

Professor Brailsford says it is the triumvirate of alumni, students and staff that will propel the University through adversity and towards its 50th anniversary in 2039.

“As tough as the past six months have been, I have been equally overwhelmed by the unbreakable spirit of our strong and collaborative Bond community,” he says.

“(Bond) has been led by resilient people, it has been supported by a resilient workforce and it has been underpinned by a resilient student body and its alumni.”

“We should never forget the lessons from the early days of our existence, when very soon after opening the campus doors in May 1989, the University fell on very challenging times. We quickly learned the lesson of what it meant to be a private, not-for-profit, independent institution. “(Bond) has been led by resilient people, it has been supported by a resilient workforce and it has been underpinned by a resilient student body and its alumni.”

“It has been incredibly humbling and I am grateful to be surrounded by people who are as passionate about the future of Bond as I am.

“Right from the beginning, Bond has had its fair share of struggles but has always demonstrated its resilience.

“This world of micro-credentials opens up a huge range of possibilities.”

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Extend your Bond journey Apply today for a 35% tuition fee remission for alumni commencing postgraduate studies in September 2020 or January 2021. bond.edu.au/alumni-scholarship

CONTENTS THE ARCH - EDITION 26, 2020

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From the editor For many of our alumni, this year will have been the toughest of their careers as they navigate the dual shocks of pandemic and a deep economic downturn.

Your alma mater has not been immune to the turmoil. Lockdowns have forced students to study from home, while border closures have prevented many of their international compatriots from reaching Australia at all.

Milestone

Resilience

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New entry statement Chancellor re-elected New architecture scholarships Bond climbs rankings New faculty building Mobile devices study Reconciliation Week Business Commons

The Big Question 16

Is globalisation in retreat?

Research 22

Predicting the climate in 100 years

Giving to Bond 38

Student Hardship Fund

The common theme is resilience and we wish you it in abundance.

Brett Walker Director, Alumni and Development Office of Engagement

Bondies on the move 40 41 41 42 42

Sam Coad Kate Vidgen Krish Gosai Queen’s Birthday Honours Bethany Allen

Sports 44 Reviving the season Cover: Mr Perry Cross AM

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Section TItle

Around Campus

Melanie Wright Jennifer Cronin Julian Elderfield Jessica Mellor Perry Cross AM Andrew Day

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Professor Tim Brailsford becomes the University’s longest-serving Vice Chancellor

Yet Bond University and Bondies are well prepared for this upheaval.

In this issue of a freshly redesigned Arch, we profile six inspirational alumni and speak to our longestserving Vice Chancellor about his vision for the University in a postcoronavirus world.

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New entrance way

SANDSTONE AND PINE AROUND CAMPUS

NEW ENTRY MAKES A STATEMENT The University has a new ‘front door’.

The entrance at the main roundabout on University Drive has been redesigned to provide a covered pick-up and dropoff area, wider pavement and improved lighting, signage and landscaping.

From there, students, staff and visitors are welcomed into the Quadrangle and have direct access to ground-level study spaces in the Library, Bond Business School, Law and Arch buildings.

“Our most important stakeholders are our students,” Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Tim Brailsford says.

“I had this vision that when our students arrive at the Quadrangle they could go into any one of four adjoining buildings and find the absolute highest quality student spaces.

“This new entry statement provides the appropriate gateway to that experience.”

CHANCELLOR RE-ELECTED FOR ANOTHER TERM The Honourable Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC FAA has been reelected for a second term as the University’s eighth Chancellor.

“I am grateful that the members of the Company and my fellow directors have the faith in me to elect me for a further term,” Dr Bennett says.

“I love being at the University, working with the Vice Chancellor and Council. I had been involved in the tertiary sector before, but I was positively surprised at the extent of the collegiality between the staff and Council.

“There’s a very positive feeling on campus and staff are really committed to the University and that makes it very easy to be Chancellor.”

Dr Bennett joined the University in 2016 after retiring as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.

She is currently one of three commissioners appointed to lead the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements following the Black Summer bushfires and earlier this year was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

The Hon Dr Annabelle Bennett AS SC

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ARCHITECTURE SCHOLARSHIPS Five full scholarships are available for the Master of Architecture course at the University’s Abedian School of Architecture.

sign of the evolution of architects and builders collaborating to achieve a built environment of the highest quality,” Professor Knapp says.

Commencing in the September 2020 semester, the scholarships have been made possible by Condev Construction, Homecorp Constructions and another anonymous corporate donor.

“Our program emphasises learning architectural practice through the use of cutting-edge fabrication and robotic technologies, so it is well-placed to help drive construction industry innovation.

Head of the Abedian School of Architecture, Professor Chris Knapp says the scholarships will include mentorship and internship opportunities.

“Our aim is to graduate future architects that are, critically, both masterful designers and intelligent builders.”

“Our aim is to graduate future architects that are, critically, both masterful designers and intelligent builders.”

bond.edu.au/scholarship/masterarchitecture-scholarship.

“The alignment of our school with construction industry partners is a

BOND CLIMBS INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS An influential list of the world’s top 100 young universities has included Bond University for the first time.

The University is placed at No.97 in the 2020 Times Higher Education Young University Rankings.

Institutions 50 years old and younger are considered for the list. The University marked its 30th anniversary last year with celebrations including the unveiling of the sculpture Limitless, dedicated to graduates.

In March, Bond was judged to offer the best undergraduate student experience of any major Australian university in the Federal Government’s Student Experience Survey.

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The 2020 Good Universities Guide awarded the University more five-star ratings in the student experience category than any other university in Australia for the fourteenth year in a row.

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The new Faculty of Society & Design building under construction

NEW BUILDING SET FOR NOVEMBER OPENING The University’s signature construction project for 2020 will accelerate the evolution of the Faculty of Society & Design (FSD).

The new building, due to open in mid-November, will complete the FSD precinct that also contains the Abedian School of Architecture and the existing Sustainable Development Building, Australia’s first six Green star sustainable education building.

around the concept of bringing people together in flexible and inspiring teaching spaces.

“We want to be at the forefront of contemporary approaches to pedagogy and that means we have to think about not just what we teach, but how and where we teach,” Professor Carson says.

“We have to think about not just what we teach, but how and where we teach.”

“In FSD we are challenging ourselves to provide the most active, engaged and authentic learning experience possible.”

Programs from across the Faculty including construction, building information modelling (BIM), project management and project innovation will be taught there.

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Society & Design, Professor Derek Carson says the extension was designed

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RECONCILIATION WEEK GOES ONLINE Two of the University’s best-loved Indigenous figures produced a video to mark National Reconciliation Week this year after COVID-19 and remote studies curtailed the usual on-campus events.

Narelle Urquhart and Jeremy Donovan came together during the celebration from 27 May - 3 June.

National Reconciliation Week had special significance this year, occurring 20 years after the Harbour Bridge Walk when more than 250,000 people crossed the bridge to support recognition and reconciliation for Indigenous Australians.

Ms Urquhart, the Indigenous Engagement Officer at the University’s Nyombil Centre, reflected on the bridge walk.

STUDY FINDS ‘GERM COCKTAIL’ ON PHONES Best to disinfect that phone before scrolling through the latest coronavirus updates.

Research by the University’s Associate Professor Lotti Tajouri has found mobile devices host a staggering cocktail of live germs.

“It was like a spotlight was put on the injustice facing Indigenous people and it was the catalyst for change,” she said.

“When you have an action like that, it’s an opportunity to shine a light on our shared history.”

The video can be found at bond.edu.au/NRW2020.

The biomedical scientist went further, warning the virus responsible for COVID-19 is probably present on the mobile phones and other touch-screen devices of coronavirus sufferers.

“Mobile phones are Trojan horses, we don’t know that we are carrying the enemy,” Dr Tajouri says.

“We talk into them and deposit droplets that can be full of viruses, bacteria, you name it.

“We eat with them, so we give nutrients to micro-organisms.”

Dr Tajouri recommends phones be decontaminated daily with either 70 per cent isopropyl or by sanitising with an ultraviolet device such as PhoneSoap.

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“Mobile phones are Trojan horses - we don’t know that we are carrying the enemy.”

BUSINESS STUDENTS HAVE A LOT IN COMMONS The Business Commons at the Bond Business School is, well, open for business.

The Commons is a modern, comfortable space that can accommodate 120 students in self-study areas, collaborative spaces and informal teaching areas.

It also houses the office of the Business Students’ Association.

Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Tim Brailsford says despite an increasingly online world, students still crave campus experiences.

“In this day and age where you can pretty much do everything through that mobile device in your hand, the biggest demand we have from students is for self-study spaces,” Professor Brailsford says.

“It says something about the community of the University and the quality of our infrastructure that students want to spend time on campus.”

Business Commons, Bond Business School

The Business Commons project was completed ahead of schedule by ADCO Constructions and is open to all students enrolled at the University.

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DROP IN AND SAY HELLO TO THE ALUMNI TEAM The new Alumni Centre should be the first stop for those planning a trip back to campus.

“Alumni come back and they revert to campus life, remembering their days as a student,” says Head of Alumni Relations, Nicole Walker.

“We have couples who met here bringing their kids to show them where they studied.

“It is really lovely, especially now there is a dedicated place where they can be welcomed with open arms.”

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The Centre, at ground level on the eastern side of the Arch building, features an alumni lounge, 14-seat boardroom and four smaller meeting rooms for alumni use.

Director of Alumni and Development, Brett Walker, says the Centre was launched so Bondies will always have a home on campus.

“Our alumni are spread around the country and the world,” Mr Walker says.

“This is a space to relax and catch up on some work or meet clients when they are on the Gold Coast.

“There is also a boardroom for hire if they want to engage in more formal meetings.”

Alumni Centre

Mrs Walker says the University’s alumni relations team is located at the Centre.

“We often have alumni on campus for guest lectures and then they will continue working remotely here for the rest of the day,” she says.

“We are also very handy to the Limitless sculpture under the Arch if you need help finding your name on it.

“We will not tell you exactly where your name is because part of the experience is seeing the names of people you know, then you start to get excited because you are getting close to your own name!”

Mr Walker says the University is committed to fostering stronger bonds with its almost 30,000 alumni and there are currently 30 alumni committees around the world.

“We have been conscious of that relationship from the very outset but it has intensified in the last decade, culminating in the 30th anniversary celebrations last year,” Mr Walker says.

“This is a space to relax and do some work individually or meet clients when they’re on the Gold Coast.”

The Centre is open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Alumni can book the meeting rooms by calling 07 5595 1417.

The Centre also houses the Merchandise Store which has been relocated from the library.

Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Tim Brailsford, Chair of the Bond University Alumni Advisory Board, Mr Derek Cronin (Class of 1989) and Vice President Engagement, Ms Catherine Marks.

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This edition of The Arch includes the launch of a new regular feature, The Big Question.

The Big Question will shed light on a topical issue of global relevance, providing a platform for some of Bond’s best and brightest academics and alumni to share their unique perspective.

In an era of Trumpian nationalism, Brexit, coronavirus and a lack of coordinated action on climate change, is globalisation in retreat?

Bangkok Port, Thailand

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T H E BIG QUESTION

In an era of Trumpian nationalism, Brexit, coronavirus and a

The opportunity globalisation provides is commensurate only with its capacity for disaster.

The temporary quieting of the skies and seas may trick us into thinking that an insular future awaits, but it is a thin mask for our unwitting dependence on foreign lands and our innate human need to venture and explore.

Dr Gary Bowman is an Associate Professor of Global Strategy and MBA Program Director at Bond University.

“Globalisation ... is simultaneously the source of and solution to, many of the world’s problems and inefficiencies.”

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There were over 40 million flights in 2019; nearly 800 million container units worked their way around the globe, part of the AU$11 trillion of seaborne trade that powers the world’s economy.

2020 and 2021 will look vastly different but globalisation is not in retreat ... it is evolving, just as it always has been.

When Bond University first opened its doors, communism was crumbling, India was mired in social unrest and China was wrestling with the meaning and function of socialist market reforms.

Bond had celebrated its fifth birthday before the World Trade Organization (WTO) had even formed. Today, the WTO has 164 members constituting 98 per cent of international trade.

Trade and politics have always been deeply intertwined. The Romans fought over grain and the Silk Road gave China enormous regional power.

Today is no different. High value exports and cheap imports translate to high paying jobs at home and high standards of living. A strong economy and happy electorate are the keys to re-election. If you cannot deliver that, then the next best thing is to tell your constituents who or what is to blame for their lack of prosperity, regardless of how divisive or damaging it is.

Globalisation is an easy (and often appropriate) target.

It is simultaneously the source of and solution to, many of the world’s problems and inefficiencies. Economic benefits in one country accompany human rights failings in another.

Open borders and the free travel of people and goods and services have enriched lives and communities but have damaged traditions and societal stability.

In recent months we have seen globalisation at its best and worst. Our connectedness provided the perfect host for COVID-19 to ravage the world and decimate economies, but it is also providing us with the cross-border platform to coordinate research for the treatments and cures.

While a globalising world was responsible for planting the roots of racial injustice, it is in a globalised world that such injustice may be undone.

lack of coordinated action on climate change, is globalisation in retreat?

I was first asked to consider a response to this question back in early March and nobody could have imagined the dramatic change in world events since then.

Upon reflection and regardless of the situation we’re all experiencing, my fundamental view remains unchanged: mankind is hard-wired with a need for genuine human connection and an innate desire to advance society and for these reasons globalisation will always be something we strive for. I concede however, that what we are facing is a massive blip.

I believe that the wave of populism driving support for Trump and Brexit, is fear-based and similarly, the lack of a coordinated effort regarding action for climate change can be attributed to a lack of education. My view is that this resistance will be dissipated by improved knowledge and a growing ethos that globalisation is a force for good, not evil.

The spread of COVID-19 to pandemic scale is evidence of the extent of globalisation. Our working and social lives have no geographical boundaries and we are all richer for it. Containing the spread of the virus and rapidly

developing a vaccine mandates the need to embrace the combined knowledge and problem-solving power of the planet. Scientists are sharing their findings with colleagues around the world, displaying teamwork in action on a global scale.

There is no doubt that the rate of political and economic globalisation has slowed and the influencing power of participants is changing. Advances in technology have rapidly enhanced access to knowledge and social connectedness and the threads of political and economic policies are now more than ever woven by the views of the general community. I like to believe that the passion with which individuals exert their views comes from a desire for wanting a more connected world where we can experience diverse cultures and benefit from the exchange of goods and services.

However, anti-globalisation views are not going to stop anytime soon and therefore I think we all have a role to play in educating our children, young people and workers to understand how globalisation ultimately makes the world a better place.

Jennine Tax is Head of Partnerships and Trade at Study Gold Coast (Class of 1994).

“I think we all have a role to play in educating our children, young people and workers to understand how globalisation ultimately makes the world a better place.�

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T H E BIG QUESTION

Nationalism is on the rise.

You don’t have to look far to see it — increasing economic protectionism, the breakdown of multilateral systems, rising anti-immigrant sentiment and the renaissance of strongman populist leaders.

So is this retreat of globalisation a temporary blip on the path to even greater global integration or a more permanent shift?

For me, there are two temporary drivers of anti-globalisation.

Dane Moores is Policy Manager at World Vision Australia (Class of 2007).

“The most pressing issues facing governments climate change, global poverty, biodiversity loss, mass displacement and pandemic disease - all require global collective action.”

The first driver is angry public sentiment. This comes from an unequal global economic transition. Not everyone has shared in the benefits of globalisation. In many countries, rising inequality and the restructuring of economies is causing anguish and globalisation is often the scapegoat.

There is also a geo-strategic element to anti-globalisation. The global system of rules and norms that has served the international community since the Second World War is now being challenged. Both the US and China are seeking to reshape the international system (from the WTO to the WHO) to suit their own changing interests.

This is leading to the breakdown — or perhaps the evolution — of the multilateral system.

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So the nature of international cooperation is changing, but I would

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argue that this does not mean that globalisation is in permanent retreat.

The move away from globalisation is, in my mind, a temporary recalibration of the global order. Sooner or later, globalisation will once again bounce back because it must. The most pressing issues facing governments — climate change, global poverty, biodiversity loss, mass displacement and pandemic disease — all require global collective action.

If there was any doubt that we share global challenges that require global solutions, the COVID-19 pandemic has put those doubts to rest. The ongoing crisis has highlighted the deep interconnectedness between the world’s health systems, supply chains and economies. It has also blurred the line between developed and developing nations, as countries have struggled or succeeded in managing the outbreak regardless of their economic status.

We’re all in this together.

Sooner or later, the existential challenge of climate change will also force international cooperation as it becomes clearer that the global interest of combating climate change is in the national interest too.

When push comes to shove, I believe these shared global challenges will drive a renewed push for globalisation.

I just hope our governments come to this realisation sooner rather than later.

Step up to the Board 2021 - 2022 ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD ELECTIONS​

Nominations opening soon.

Voting will take place November 2020. alumni.bond.edu.au/advisoryboard​

RESEARCH

Dr Marcus Randall in canefields on the northern Gold Coast which are in the sights of developers.

RED ALERT RESEARCHERS ARE DEVELOPING A NEW CLIMATE MODEL TO PEER 100 YEARS INTO AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE

by Dr Marcus Randall, Associate Professor of Informatics at the Bond Business School

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If you are a fan of coming home after a long day and treating yourself to an Australian pinot noir, you may wish to sit down – I am afraid I have got some bad news.

Your favourite tipple’s days may be numbered - and it is all down to climate change.

The effects of climate change are well documented. Increasingly hostile temperature fluctuations, rising sea levels and more recently, Australia’s bushfire crisis, have dominated news headlines across the world.

while incorporating much-needed environmental constraints, such as limited use of ground and aquiferbased water.

Our aim is to create a model that tells us what is going to be viable in 100 years’ time and what our planting and harvesting decisions should be, while being sufficiently robust to account for variations caused by climate change and our response to that threat.

But one aspect of climate change that has not been so widely reported is the impact of precipitation and temperature changes on crops, including the grapes that are harvested to make Australian pinot noir.

And make no mistake, our response to that threat is critical. Temperature and precipitation levels directly affect cropping and determine what can be grown, as well as how much can be grown. As temperatures rise and precipitation decreases, the yield for certain crops reduces. So for the same amount of land, you are getting a lot less food.

And it is not just wine. Without making significant and enduring changes to counter climate change, cotton, rice and beef, among others, are all under threat.

What is worse, the amount of land available to grow crops is also reducing due to growing cities and more and more people needing housing.

For the past few years, I have been part of a consortium of academics from several universities, trying to find ways to maximise future output and revenue for farmers and primary producers

Part of the problem is that all the water-hungry crops are the lucrative ones, they are the ones producers want to grow because they make money.

And while it’s easy to say we need to

make changes with an eye on the longterm future, how do these businesses operate without that immediate income?

Generational change is playing a part too – a lot of younger people are choosing not to inherit the family farm.

Many of these farms are then sold to multi-national corporations for their water rights and cease to even be used as productive land.

It is not just about crops either.

Water also has to be set aside for environmental and industrial purposes and while water-hungry crops like rice and stone fruit all require vast amounts of water, the biggest user of water is the livestock industry.

It is for this reason many scientists are advocating a move towards a plant-based diet and limiting traditional sources of protein, instead turning to alternative sources like insects – but in Australia, meat is part of our culture, so we do not tend to take that idea seriously.

Another related issue is food miles or the distance from where a food item is grown to where it is sold and consumed.

That can of tinned tomatoes from Italy may be a little cheaper, but by buying it, you are not only disadvantaging local growers, you are doing the planet a disservice, as transportation costs have a huge impact on emissions.

So what can we do?

Part of the solution could involve multi-storey greenhousing, allowing water use and temperature to be controlled. If you have a five storey building, you can grow five times as many crops as elsewhere.

But possibly more important than technological solutions is a change in political priorities.

As emissions continue to rise, governments around the world still are not taking the issue seriously, while industry interests and lobby groups retain their traditional influence.

There is no quick fix - a large part of the challenge is finding a way to get all the countries from across the world, with different governments and different forms of governance, to cooperate in a coordinated effort to address this crisis.

“It’s more important than ever that people talk to their government representatives about climate change and advocate for them to drive change in the party room.”

And even things like the Paris Agreement have not moved the needle much and the targets that have been set are relatively weak compared to what we actually need.

Unsurprisingly, it is the people who will face the most severe effects of climate change that are raising the alarm.

The younger generation is much more climate-aware and they are the ones that will eventually move into positions of power. The only problem is, the decisions we are making now are irreversible and they will radically change conditions to the point that when these people do come into power, there will be very little they can do to actually change things.

It is more important than ever that people talk to their local government representatives about climate change and advocate for them to drive change in the party room. Only when we all do that, will we be able to affect policy, to ensure that in 50 years’ time we are still able to clothe and feed ourselves.

BOND UNIVERSITY IS THE FIRST PRIVATE, INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY IN THE PACIFIC REGION TO BE ACCEPTED AS A SIGNATORY TO THE UNITED NATIONS’ SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS).

BOND.EDU.AU/UNSDG FOR THE FULL 17 SDGS.

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the art of

RESILIENCE One operates a hotel in Wuhan. Another could not leave home for months while life-changing fundraising dollars dried up. Six Bondies navigate the once-in-a-lifetime upheaval of pandemic and recession – and emerge stronger.

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Paris France-June 15, 2020: Coronavirus: Violence mars Paris protest for health workers

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S P ECIAL FEATURE

the art of

RESILIENCE

IN THE DEEP END OLYMPIC CHAMPION MELANIE WRIGHT PLUNGES INTO A PANDEMIC AND EMERGES A DOCTOR

She has two Olympic gold medals, an MBA, a Bachelor of Science and is on track to graduate from Bond University as a medical doctor in December.

“That builds resilience and you look at failure in a different light because you’re able to reframe your thoughts and move on from it quite quickly.”

Yet Melanie Wright (Class of 2013) owes much of her success to her 14-year-old self’s willingness to embrace failure.

Mrs Wright had to dive back into her experience as a teenage swimmer when her glittering sporting career ended.

“I started the sport so late. Most 14-year-olds had been swimming for years and I was a lot slower than everyone,” says Mrs Wright, who went on to collect a bronze, two silver and two gold medals at the Beijing and London Games.

“What a lot of athletes find challenging is you get to the very top of your sport and then all of a sudden you have to go right back to the beginning of something,” she says.

“I’m extremely grateful to Bond and the medical faculty,” she says.

“I’ve had two babies and the Faculty supported me to study full-time through that, which was quite the juggle.

Another challenge emerged in the form of COVID-19, just as the University’s final-year Medicine students - including Mrs Wright - were embarking on placements in hospitals and clinics.

“I don’t think that would have happened at many other universities, if any.

Graduating this year is very significant and it’s thanks to the faculty.”

That approach took Mrs Wright to the top of the sporting world and through three challenging degrees. She says anyone can follow her template.

“When the pandemic first kicked off I was on ED (Emergency Department) and it was an unknown; we weren’t sure how serious it was or what it would turn into,” she says.

“I think some resilience comes from innate personality but that’s only a very small part of it.

“It became a bit more concerning as I went through my ED placement and then onto general practice.

“I think some resilience comes from innate personality but that’s only a very small part of it.”

“A lot of it is learned over time and I think failure is essential for success.

“That was when the cases in Australia started to rise.”

“Every time I failed - which was many times, despite what people may think I tried not to make that same mistake again.

Ultimately, Mrs Wright’s placements during the crisis cemented her belief that she had chosen the right career.

“It’s about formulating a plan and working with goals - small steps along the way.”

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Now she is on the cusp of becoming Dr Wright, the mother of two has been reflecting on her journey from champion athlete to medical professional.

“You feel like you’re starting from scratch except you’re 30 years old and that’s a big mental challenge.”

“My coach taught me: you’re not going to win tomorrow, you’re not going to win even maybe next year, but you can win in perhaps five years from now.

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“Seeing the medical workforce make the contingencies and respond in the way they did … it was really awesome to be a part of and to witness firsthand,” she says.

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Mrs Melanie Wright

S P ECIAL FEATURE

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RESILIENCE

NO RESERVATIONS JENNIFER CRONIN LED HER HOTEL GROUP THROUGH THE HONG KONG RIOTS – THEN WUHAN CALLED

When COVID-19 broke out in Asia, the General Manager of Wharf Hotels’ Wuhan operation gave up his seat on an evacuation flight to Malaysia to be with his staff. Jennifer Cronin (Class of 1989) wishes she could have traded places with him.

Dr Cronin is President of Wharf Hotels, which operates 17 hotels across China, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Based in Hong Kong, she graduated from Bond with her MBA in 1990, returning in 2011 to complete her PhD in crisis management leadership in 2014. It is a qualification that has proven more than useful as she steers her company through the latest global health crisis.

As COVID-19 spread, no industry was more heavily hit than tourism and hospitality. Flights emptied, hotels became ghost towns and restaurant bookings were cancelled as the full scale of the crisis became apparent.

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Led by Dr Cronin, Wharf Hotels responded quickly, mothballing one of their four Hong Kong hotels and bringing forward a major renovation, while prioritising staff retention through redeployment, internal projects and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Six months on, Dr Cronin is quick to reiterate that Hong Kong remains the financial capital of Asia and business is still being done – but she is also acutely aware of the gravity of the situation.

“We are taking a much longer-term view. It’s going to be a while before we get back to the business levels of the past, so we have to recalibrate.

“Business levels will not return this year and when we’re starting to plan for 21/22, it’s not a V-shaped or U-shaped recovery, it’s really a very skewed L-shaped recovery.

“It’s very much like 9/11. We all learnt to deal with the fact we had to go to airports and go through the security check. I feel COVID-19 will have a similar impact on the way we travel in the future.”

Wharf Hotels’ resilience had already been tested, even before COVID-19.

“I think crisis leadership now is about being much more empathetic than in the past.”

Hong Kong was gripped by political unrest last year when millions protested a proposed government bill allowing extradition from the city to China.

If that was not enough, Dr Cronin said when COVID-19 hit, many of her staff were still affected by memories of the

“Resilience is also being a Bondy and I think we should celebrate that as well.”

Dr Jennifer Cronin

SARS outbreak almost 20 years ago.

“They have the knowledge of what they went through during SARS, so that heightens the anxiety and fearfulness of what could happen.”

Dr Cronin’s staff are always at the forefront of her crisis response thinking.

“I think crisis leadership now is about being much more empathetic than in the past. It’s really about taking into consideration not only the economic impacts but if you don’t have your human capital on your side and working with you, it would become an even more exacerbated crisis.

“Our general manager cohort has been truly inspirational in the leadership practices and made many wise and insightful decisions.”

Hong Kong

For Dr Cronin, that sort of empathetic leadership is exemplified by the actions of Lee Weng Wai, General Manager of Marco Polo Wuhan, who gave up seats for him and his wife on an evacuation flight to Malaysia to instead stay in Wuhan and lead his staff.

The hotel was subsequently commandeered by the government and Mr Lee and his wife entered lockdown through to mid-April. While lockdown has since lifted, travel restrictions have ensured the pair remain in Wuhan.

“I wish I could change places with him,” Dr Cronin says.

But before looking after their staff, any leader needs to prioritise their own resilience and for Dr Cronin, that begins as soon as the alarm goes off at 4.45am.

She is in the gym by 5am, but as well as keeping physically active, her mental approach is also critical.

“I have a very positive nature anyway.

It’s got to be in your DNA, being able to see that there’s going to be light at the end of the tunnel.”

Dr Cronin maintains strong links with Bond University. There is a network of Bondies in Hong Kong, which in the recent trying times has worked to ensure everyone is safe and well.

“There’s still that amazing Bond spirit we all have. And I guess I go back to resilience. As a Bondy in the first graduating class, Bond itself was in precarious situations over the years.

“Resilience is also being a Bondy and I think we should celebrate that as well.”

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S P ECIAL FEATURE

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RESILIENCE

THE CASE FOR THE OPPRESSED JULIAN ELDERFIELD BRINGS JUSTICE TO SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES

Waterboarding. Cold torture. Sleep deprivation.

Mr Ongwen continues to await the court’s verdict on 70 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

They are ugly words that evoke ugly memories for Julian Elderfield when he considers his six-year-career as an Assistant Trial Lawyer with the International Criminal Court.

And yet, the 33-year-old has an easy smile and is quick to laugh. It is surprising when you consider what his job has exposed him to.

The horrific details of some of the allegations Mr Elderfield was forced to confront presented an obvious challenge.

But the physical environment, dealing with victims, also proved difficult.

His demeanour changes when he ponders allegations of torture by CIA operatives against Al Qaeda suspects at covert sites in Afghanistan and around the world, stemming from the intervention of allied forces in the early 2000s.

“Every time I went to a new country, I really appreciated the new environment, the opportunity to explore the different aspects of the culture, but it was also a bit challenging because we were talking with victims of conflict, people who’ve been traumatised, who may be suffering from PTSD, who maybe have never told their story.”

His brow furrows and he chooses his words carefully.

“Evidence of that alleged torture was some of the most shocking and I’m not sure why … maybe reading about gruesome inter-ethnic machete-style conflict is more removed from waterboarding, cold torture or enforced standing or sleep deprivation, but that kind of evidence struck me as the most personal and the most gripping.”

Brisbane-born Mr Elderfield’s road to The Hague began after he graduated from Bond in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts and Laws.

A series of internships was broken up by a short stint at the London School of Economics before a final internship at the International Criminal Court ended with a permanent role.

The ICC investigates and prosecutes potential perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, across the world.

In his time with the ICC, Mr Elderfield has worked on situations spanning the Central African Republic, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Kenya. But the bulk of his work came from Uganda, where he was involved in the prosecution of Dominic Ongwen, former military commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebel group.

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His time with the ICC only increased Mr Elderfield’s respect for the rule of law.

“I wasn’t the guy when he was six-years-old who was policing his friends as they were playing on the street. As I’ve grown into the role, I’ve become more and more comfortable with the idea of justice being a foundational block of my professional life.”

Despite having moved on from the ICC, Mr Elderfield is concerned by recent sanctions imposed on the ICC and its staff by US President Donald Trump.

“The measures are contrary to fundamental tenets of the rule of law, which is particularly disappointing coming from the United States, which has a long history of supporting international legal initiatives, right back to the Nuremberg trials of senior Nazi officials following WWII,” he says.

“The two investigations that were the catalyst for the measures - Israel/Palestine and Afghanistan - are highly sensitive for the United States, so they’re doing what they can to bully the court into line.

“I hope and I believe that it won’t work. The prosecutor of the ICC goes where the evidence takes them and in this case the evidence is strong.”

Mr Julian Elderfield

Mr Elderfield’s current challenge is his role as Legal Advisor to the Special Prosecutor of the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic capital of Bangui.

Living and working in Bangui does not come without risk.

The Central African Republic sits near the very bottom of the United Nations’ Human Development Index, ahead of only Niger.

“It’s a cause for concern, mostly with my parents actually,” he says.

“It’s still a conflict zone, there’s a curfew at 10pm, I’m living in a protected area with support and there’s UN police and a military presence. Outside the capital can still be a pretty dangerous place.”

When COVID-19 struck, Mr Elderfield and his partner took an evacuation flight to Beirut, organised by the Lebanese government. He’s currently working from his partner’s parents’ house and is unsure when he’ll return to Bangui, which has already recorded more than 4000 cases of the virus.

In the future, he’s keen to spend a few years working in developing countries, to experience environments well removed from the comfortable surrounds of The Hague.

After that, career opportunities with the UN in Geneva or New York beckon.

Meanwhile, he is hopeful of the ICC continuing to play its part on the world stage, to give a voice to victims.

“To have the ICC as a powerful active player to fill in these gaps when countries for various reasons don’t want to do this work themselves is really important to the people who are the victims of these crimes, because they’re always going to suffer first.

“It’s the powerful people who can get out of the country or can control the money who won’t suffer the effects of conflict and the commission of large-scale crimes, so I think it’s important for victims that we do this work.”

“Every time I went to a new country ... we were talking with victims of conflict, people who’ve been traumatised, who may be suffering from PTSD, who maybe have never told their story.”

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RESILIENCE

STAR PERFORMER CASINO EXECUTIVE JESSICA MELLOR STEPS UP WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN

Ms Jessica Mellor

The Star Gold Coast’s gaming floor fell silent and dark on March 23, a kaleidoscope of colour and life now a monochrome monument to a world before COVID-19.

And as the lights finally went out, Jessica Mellor (Class of 2007) wondered when the organisation she led would return to business.

Fast forward a few months and the lights are back on at The Star, customers are returning and the property is once again a hive of activity.

As Chief Operating Officer, Ms Mellor is at the forefront of The Star’s resurgence and she is well-placed to lead the business and its 2500 staff through the uncharted waters ahead.

The 35 year old, who completed a Bachelor of Property and Sustainable Development at Bond University in 2009, was recently named one of six

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AFR BOSS Young Executives of the Year for 2020.

“Coronavirus has been, like for many others, the biggest challenge of my career,” she says.

“It’s the speed at which things have changed; the shock and the uncertainty that has been hard to navigate.”

When the pandemic hit, Ms Mellor moved quickly. The Star, formerly Jupiter’s Casino, stood down 95 per cent of its staff and paid out two weeks of pandemic leave to ease the initial shock, while setting up a hardship grant program for those worst affected by the sudden lockdown.

Ms Mellor’s thoughts turned immediately to the people around her and supporting them through the worry and uncertainty, but she admits to taking a moment to reflect as The Star closed its doors.

“I remember the last day when everyone had left and we had turned all the lights out and it was just … silent. We didn’t know how long it would be before we were back.

“Now I understand some of the systemic challenges for women in business and the corporate world, I see it as my responsibility to make sure women are getting those opportunities.”

“That was a very emotional moment and very confronting.”

She freely admits to not being totally comfortable with the ‘command and control’ style of leadership she had to adopt during the crisis.

“I have an adaptive leadership style but spending so much time outside my comfort zone has led me to question and challenge myself many times over the past few months,” she says.

As restrictions lift, life is slowly returning to normal at The Star, which last year hosted Bond University’s 30th Anniversary Gala Ball.

“I remember the last day when everyone had left and we had turned all the lights out and it was just ... silent. We didn’t know how long it would be before we were back. That was a very emotional moment and very confronting.”

“I really encourage leaders to make their own decisions and find their own way, but in a time of uncertainty, that requires a lot of support and confidence building and sometimes there’s just no time.”

Ms Mellor has also had to find her own way, blazing a trail both as a female leader and the youngest executive at The Star.

“I think I became aware of the challenges for female leaders a bit later in my career. I was lucky to be a little oblivious to it initially,” she says.

And as she looks to the future, Ms Mellor is keen for The Star to learn from the past.

“I like to look for the positives in these situations and I think one of the positives is that we banded together to get through it,” she says.

“The resilience that we’ve been able to build through this challenging time - and the way we’ve been able to look at the business, make changes and really challenge some of the assumptions around the way we operate – will be a long term benefit.”

The Star

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S P ECIAL FEATURE

the art of

RESILIENCE

HONOURABLE INTENTIONS AN AWARD LIFTS PERRY CROSS AM, AN INSPIRATIONAL MEMBER OF THE BOND FAMILY

After spending months in self-imposed isolation to protect his health, Perry Cross AM (Class of 1997) was due a pick-me-up.

It arrived in June: a Member of the Order of Australia award, the latest honour for one of the University’s most inspirational alumni.

“It was a buzz to get the honour - very unexpected and a total surprise,” Mr Cross says.

“I can’t overstate how important my carers, family and people at the foundation have been in this. They have all been tremendous supporters of me over the years.”

COVID-19 has restricted Mr Cross’s ability to fundraise for his Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation, but it has not slowed him down.

He has thrown himself into a new company - Accessible Homes Australia - to invest in and build specialist disability apartments.

“We launched the company because there was a demand in the community for accessible housing for people in my situation who have high physical support needs,” Mr Cross says.

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Mr Perry Cross AM

“We have a development happening in Palm Beach (on the Gold Coast) at the moment and that has been keeping me busy.

“The demand is so high for this type of housing, but if we could house 50 or 100 people with disability needs in the coming years, I’d be over the moon.

“It has given me a new lease of life as well.”

Mr Cross retreated to his Gold Coast home early in the COVID-19 outbreak because of the risk to him as a ventilated quadriplegic.

Among the carers who isolated themselves alongside Mr Cross was Bond Rugby Union captain, Daniel Boardman.

That is no coincidence. Mr Boardman met Mr Cross through former Bond Rugby player and Sevens Coach, Josh Fuimaono who is also a carer.

Mr Boardman says living and working with Mr Cross had put a troubled year in perspective.

“Perry saw the risk was too high if he got the virus,” Mr Boardman says.

“He has compromised respiratory function, so we’ve been super careful.

“He’s taught me that no matter the situation, you have to have a smile on your face and have fun.

“You come to work and see these guys and even though they don’t show it, I’m sure they get down, but they get on with it.”

Mr Cross remains an avid follower of the game that changed his life forever in 1994 when, at the age of 19, an onfield accident left him a C2 ventilated quadriplegic.

The injury would not define his life, rather inspire it.

From accessible houses that are completely voice activated, to new stem cell research hopefully leading to a world-first clinical trial next year, Mr Cross has become an international ambassador for people living with spinal cord injuries.

“What we are working on at the moment is a sustained, functional therapy trial and our big fundraising push is to raise $1.6 million for that,” he says.

“It’s basically a rehabilitation trial for people with spinal cord injuries.

“The more people understand the logic behind what we are doing, the more advocates we create. It is really important that we have strong community understanding.”

“If we could house 50 or 100 people with disability needs in the coming years, I’d be over the moon.”

“I only had a voice, I couldn’t move my physical body. So I had to use my voice and my communication skills to get where I was going.”

Mr Cross says his time at Bond represented “some of the best days of my life.”

“I met some great people and had so many positive experiences and learned a lot along the way.

“Bond gave me my confidence back.

To be able to go into the community and feel like an active member of that community, that was a tremendous boost to my confidence and my career.”

Mr Cross says two moments in 1997 had a profound effect on his life’s journey: a decision to fly to the US to meet the late actor and spinal cord injury activist Christopher Reeve and enrolling at Bond University for a Bachelor of Communications (Business).

“The meeting with Christopher changed the course of my life,” Mr Cross says.

“Sometimes you set out on a journey and you think you know where you are going, but things happen. You have to be able to adjust and make the most of what you have.

“Often it leads to bigger and better things than you expected.

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DAY IN, DAY OUT ANDREW DAY RISKS HIS JOB STAYING TRUE TO A LIFETIME OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

Andrew Day’s MBA giveth and soon it could taketh away – and he is perfectly fine with that.

The degree from Bond University set Councillor Day (Class of 1991) on a path to becoming one of the world’s leading fundraising consultants as Director of Gifted Philanthropy in the UK. Now, almost 30 years after leaving campus, that same MBA has inspired him to fundamentally remake the Warwickshire council he also heads, potentially doing himself out a job.

Councillor Andrew Day

council, but he says he is acting in the best interests of his constituents.

“It’s a bit radical, but an opportunity has come out of the (coronavirus) emergency to look at our services and ways we can be more efficient,” Councillor Day says.

In the wake of COVID-19, the Leader of Warwick District Council in the leafy West Midlands is pursuing a merger with the neighbouring council of Stratford-upon-Avon.

“That’s part of the revolution that started at Bond. The MBA encouraged us to look at things differently and focus on what the point is.

There is no guarantee he will retain his leadership position in any merged

“We’re here to serve our residents.

They don’t care what the brand is.”

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Councillor Day has deep links to the University. His father Dr John Day - a former Headmaster of The Southport School - was an early Bond staff member, while his brother Matthew (Class of 1990), earned a Bachelor of Commerce.

“I loved the pool and the gym, just getting my coffee and sitting there in a phenomenally pretty campus,” he says.

“I had some brilliant professors in really small classes. It was a very personal, quite intense education that was extraordinarily good value.

“I borrowed money to do it and it was the best money I ever spent.”

After graduation, Councillor Day and his English wife Julie took their fundraising consultancy to the UK where it grew to become the leader in the field, supporting Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, the University of St Andrews and Peterborough Cathedral, among others.

He joined Gifted Philanthropy in 2016 and says like many sectors, fundraising has had to recalibrate amid a global pandemic and recession. Yet philanthropy remains strong.

“Money hasn’t gone away, in fact quite the opposite because so much money has been pumped into our economies,” he says.

“Levels of unsecured personal debt have dropped dramatically as people pay off their credit cards.

“If you’ve got a job, then chances are you’re actually feeling much better off.”

for Gloucester Cathedral, one of 30 cathedrals he has worked with around the world.

But he says his time is increasingly consumed by council matters.

“I got really cranky when my first child arrived and the play area in our village was filled with broken bottles and rubbish,” he says.

“From there I got involved in the next level of government and somehow accidentally got myself elected as the Leader of the local council.”

“When there was an election I stood and got elected.

“From there I got involved in the next level of government and somehow accidentally got myself elected as the Leader of the local council.”

The Conservative Party member prides himself on forging unanimous decisions on his finely balanced council, including a recent motion in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Good fundraising and good politics are all about people, aren’t they?” Mr Day says.

One of Councillor Day’s current projects is to raise £1 million by Christmas

Shakespeare’s Globe

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GI V ING TO BOND

STUDENT HARDSHIP FUND

THANK YOU THE CHANCELLOR’S CIRCLE RECOGNISES A PRESTIGIOUS GROUP OF BOND UNIVERSITY’S MOST GENEROUS DONORS WHO CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN $5000 TO THE CHANCELLOR’S CIRCLE APPEAL OR OTHER PROJECTS. In 2020, our Chancellor’s Circle appeal is directed at those among our student community who need assistance to meet the living and educational expenses associated with continuing their studies during these challenging times of COVID-19, bushfires and other natural disasters. Our sincere gratitude goes to the 2020 Chancellor’s Circle donors.

Dr Soheil Abedian DUniv & Mrs Anne Jamieson-Abedian Mr Sahba Abedian (Class of 1994) Mr Daniel Abrahams & Mrs Kim Abrahams Mr David Baxby (Class of 1992) & Mrs Selina Baxby (Class of 1991) Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC FAA & Dr David Bennett AC QC Professor Tim Brailsford & Mrs Kerrie Brailsford Ms Judith Brinsmead Dr Betty Byrne Henderson Professor Derek Carson & Mrs Paula Ribeiro Dr Patrick Corrigan AM DUniv Mr Jack Cowin Mr Derek Cronin (Class of 1989) Mr Michael Dean Mr Angus Douglas Professor Keitha Dunstan Mr Damian Fewster OAM & Mrs Jody Fewster Mr Bob Fox Dr Darryl Gregor OAM & Dr Joan Gregor Ms Kathryn Greiner AO Dr Fay Haisley (Class of 2003) Mr Heath Hill Mr Mark Hohnen & Mrs Cate Hohnen

Mr Victor Hoog Antink Mr Terry Jackman AO Professor Nick James Mr John Le Lievre Dr Mei Pheng Lee Mr Ken MacDonald AM Ms Catherine Marks Dr Ken McGregor DUniv Mr Derek Murphy Dr Kenichi Ohmae Professor Terry O’Neill & Professor Helen O’Neill Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM Dr Manny Pohl AM & Mrs Gail Pohl Mr Ken Richardson & Ms Alice Steiner Dr Gina Rinehart DUniv Dr Imelda Roche AO & Mr Bill Roche AM Mr Bevan Slattery & Mrs Jodie Slattery Emeritus Professor Robert Stable AM & Mrs Vicki Stable Ms Kate Vidgen (Class of 1991) Mr Brett Walker & Mrs Hoang Walker (Class of 2001) Professor Nick Zwar

For more information and to join, visit bond.edu.au/chancellors-circle

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“It’s good knowing that I’m going to be able to pay for food and bills that were stacking up. It’s given me peace of mind.”

DONORS HELP DECLAN THRIVE UNDER PRESSURE Facing the toughest semester of his Law and International Relations degrees, Declan Roe turned pressure into results.

“The coronavirus meant that I had to support myself for a few weeks and I didn’t have much left in my account. All my savings had been drained.

COVID-19 restrictions were closing in on him and thousands of other students in early 2020 and while Bond was one of a few universities to deliver a full semester of education, the future held many unknowns.

“It’s good knowing that I’m going to be able to pay for food and bills that were stacking up. It’s given me peace of mind.”

Adding to Mr Roe’s stress were personal financial pressures linked to the pandemic.

The Transformer Scholarship student responded with some of his best grades so far, topping one of his classes. Mr Roe is aiming even higher this semester, thanks to a grant from the University’s COVID-19 Student Hardship Fund which was launched amid the financial downturn caused by the pandemic.

“It certainly has helped,” Mr Roe says.

Mr Roe is into his eighth semester and expects to graduate next year. He hopes to work in politics.

“I’ve always been into politics although I don’t think I’d actually want to be an MP,” says the former Corporate Relations Director of the Bond University Student Association.

“Working behind the scenes is where I’d like to be.”

Bond University Vice President of Engagement, Catherine Marks, says the Student Hardship Fund was established by the University at the start of the pandemic and has been topped up by

generous gifts from alumni, University supporters and the government.

During this semester students were able to apply for cash grants ranging from $500 to $2000.

“Going through all the applications was a sobering experience for the committee, driving home the tough times that many of our students and families are encountering,” Ms Marks says.

“I think most people accept the economic recovery isn’t going to happen anytime soon and more students are going to need support into next year.

“The University is doing everything it can to make sure students stay connected with the University and their studies and the Student Hardship Fund plays a critical role in that.”

Contributions to the Student Hardship Fund can be made online at alumni.bond.edu.au

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Larissa Rose Larissa Rose (Class of 2010) has taken out the Mentors category of the 2020 Harvey Norman Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year awards.

Ms Rose is the Director and Senior Environmental Manager of Glowing Green Australia, an environmental consultancy company she launched 11 years ago.

She is a specialist in renewable fuels who has led environmental education programs and mentored 16 interns in the past three years.

Sam Coad Sam Coad (Class of 2009) has been hired as Performance Manager at NFL team the New York Giants.

He had stints at the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Titans before moving to the US in 2014 to take up roles with the University of Michigan and University of Oklahoma college football teams.

The former resident of Katherine in the Northern Territory was lured to the Giants by fellow Bondy Aaron Wellman (Class of 2014) who until recently was Strength and Conditioning Coach at the New York team.

“The crowd at the very first game I went to in Michigan was 110,000 people, so you’re talking an AFL grand final every weekend.” | 40 |

Mr Coad’s first challenge in the NFL was to prepare elite athletes in lockdown for the start of the season later this year.

He remains in awe of the scale of American sport.

“The crowd at the very first game I went to in Michigan was 110,000 people, so you’re talking an AFL grand final every weekend,” he says.

Kate Vidgen Alumna and Macquarie Group Executive Kate Vidgen has been elected to the Bond University Council.

Ms Vidgen (Class of 1991) is a former valedictorian and winner of the University’s 2019 Robert Stable Medal.

She has been with Macquarie Group since 1998 and is Executive Director Global Head of Oil and Gas - Principal at Macquarie Capital.

A strong supporter of diversity, she is the Victorian chapter Chair of Chief Executive Women and a director on the national board.

The Council is empowered under the Bond University Act to oversee the operational performance and to set the strategic direction of the University.

Ms Vidgen is also a Non-Executive Director of Aurizon Holdings Ltd, Australia’s largest rail freight operator and a top 100 ASX company.

Krish Gosai Krish Gosai, the co-founder of Australia’s first ‘product-disruptive’ bank Infinity, is lending his talents to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Mr Gosai (Class of 2014) is offering free consultations with students taking the University’s Transformer entrepreneurship program.

A solicitor by trade, Mr Gosai has been involved in the start-up phase of several companies and sits on multiple boards, providing strategy, corporate governance and risk guidance. His current focus is Infinity.

“There are a lot of things I’ve seen when businesses fail or when they’re trying to get off the ground and hopefully my experiences can assist in some capacity,” he says.

Mr Gosai says while the COVID-19 environment is challenging for startups, Airbnb, Square and Uber all emerged from the Global Financial Crisis of 2008.

“There are a lot of things I’ve seen when businesses fail or when they’re trying to get off the ground and hopefully my experiences can assist in some capacity. ”

Mr Gosai says he looks forward to helping current students who are developing their own business ideas.

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BONDIES O N THE MOV E

Bethany’s a picture of success Congratulations are in order for Bond alumna Bethany Allen (Class of 2015), recently announced as the winner of the Queensland Law Society’s LawLink 2020 Art Competition.

Her winning artwork above depicts the journeys of Indigenous legal professionals.

Ms Allen received $500, which she nominated to be donated to the Aboriginal Health Justice Project.

Queen’s Birthday treat for three Bondies Three alumni were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List.

outstanding contribution to the military and civil response and ensuring superior coordination that saved lives.

Captain Lachlan Joseph CSM (Class of 2007) received a Conspicuous Service Medal for meritorious achievement as the Current Operations Officer at Headquarters 3rd Brigade.

Peter Costantini OAM (Class of 1995) received a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to business, particularly to education and training.

He was recognised for his leadership, skill and judgment during the Townsville floods, making an

He has extensive experience in executive leadership in the private and not-for-profit sectors and has

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worked with many industry groups and enterprises undertaking strategic business review, research and planning for effective engagement, campaigning and advocacy.

Perry Cross AM (Class of 1997) was made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his significant service to people living with a spinal cord injury and as a role model.

Seven Bondies, six time zones and 72 ideas

Pandemic does not stop Bondies connecting

In June, the University invited the Alumni Advisory Board to contribute to a discussion paper around the new Bond advantage as part of work being undertaken through the Innovation Task Force.

By March, the coronavirus pandemic was well and truly gripping the world and the University had to make the difficult decision to cancel Homecoming 2020 and another 12 alumni committee events being promoted to alumni around the world.

The Alumni Advisory Board seized on the opportunity and conducted a virtual brainstorm over two weeks to eventually collaborate on a report submitted back to the University with 72 ideas for consideration.

The Alumni Advisory Board is the peak alumni body of the University and plays a central role in building a life-long partnership between the University and its alumni.

Members serve a two-year term and nominations will open later this year with elections to follow.

Working together, the alumni committee leaders went virtual holding a series of online events, not just for alumni, but also to connect and engage with new international Bond students who were unable to travel to Australia. Over 30 alumni leaders have hosted and spoken at 15 different online virtual events.

Additionally, the Alumni Centre has been working with several groups of alumni to establish new committees which will be launching soon.

These include Medicine; Film and Television; Indigenous; and China. To join any of these committees or connect with your existing local group, contact the Alumni Centre via email alumni@bond.edu.au

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BOND SPO RT

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THE GAME ISN’T OVER YET

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THE SPORTING CALENDAR WAS IN TATTERS AND HIGHLY-TUNED OLYMPIC HOPEFULS WERE IN LIMBO AFTER THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE TOKYO OLYMPICS. BUT BOND SPORT AND ITS ATHLETES RESPONDED WITH INGENUITY AND OPTIMISM

BOND SPO RT

As the AFL season tilted on the brink of collapse, the University’s elite sporting facilities became a refuge for some of the nation’s top sports stars.

Bond’s AFL field has similar dimensions to the MCG – something that came in handy when Adelaide, North Melbourne and Carlton needed a training ground.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan ordered all Victorian AFL teams to Queensland for up to 10 weeks in a desperate bid to save the 2020 season from COVID-19 shutdowns.

Bond Sport’s response to coronavirus and its reputation for excellence was a template for other sporting bodies navigating the crisis.

The High Performance Training Centre at the Bond Institute of Health & Sport (BIHS) is recognised as one of the world’s top training hubs and Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, Adelaide, Fremantle, North Melbourne, Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Western Bulldogs all made use of the state-ofthe-art gym, pool, hypoxic chamber, recovery pools and testing facilities.

“At a time when the rest of the sporting world had been sidelined it was affirmation that the best athletes in the country want to train at Bond.”

“We are a highly regarded entity,” Executive Director of Sport Garry Nucifora says.

“Our directors have been integral to state bodies in terms of shaping policy during this pandemic.

“We’ve been helping rugby and netball in particular at a state level.”

The BIHS recently received the Strength of America Award handed out to top training facilities around the world.

While on-field action came to a screeching halt, sport administrators were busier than ever. At Bond, it was a chance to reflect and refocus.

“We’ve had the All Blacks, Wallabies and Commonwealth Games athletes through here, so we’re well equipped to handle elite sportspeople,” Centre Manager Glenn Corcoran says.

“The reality is that although this pandemic provided an enormous amount of challenges, it really has opened up other opportunities,” Mr Nucifora says.

“At a time when the rest of the sporting world had been sidelined it was affirmation that the best athletes in the country want to train at Bond.”

“It has allowed us time with the athletes and they’ve been doing a leadership program in line with what we’ve been doing with our directors.

“The timing of the pandemic has been interesting because this sport program has taken five years to get where it is.

“We are at the second stage now looking at the next five years - to build on what we have achieved.

“Now it’s time to plot the path forward into the future.”

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Mr Garry Nucifora

AFL Bond’s own AFL teams made it to the MCG – virtually.

The men’s and women’s sides ran a combined 1697km – the distance from the University to the spiritual home of their sport in Melbourne. Each player ran the equivalent of a marathon.

The teams are in a good position for the shortened 2020 season. The women won the QAFL Development League last year, while the men took out the QFA Division 2 championship.

SWIMMING The University’s swimmers regrouped after the disappointment of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics being postponed for a year.

World-record backstroker Minna Atherton resorted to swimming on a tether in her family pool.

The 20-year-old was forced to lock her dog Ralph inside so he wouldn’t jump on her while she trained.

“Last year was really exciting for me and I was looking forward to heading into Tokyo,” she says.

“It has given me more time to prepare for next year.”

The Georgina Hope Rinehart Swimming Excellence Scholarship student became the first woman in history to break the 55-second barrier in the 100m backstroke short-course event at the International Swimming League in Budapest last year.

The squad is in good hands - head swimming coach Richard Scarce has been awarded the prestigious platinum status by the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association.

RUGBY The University’s rugby union club has been also sidelined but refocussed on the welfare of its players and community.

Bull Sharks Director of Rugby Luca Liussi sourced care packages of meat for those struggling amid the financial downturn caused by the pandemic.

TRIATHLON Triathlete Maighan Brown transitioned from the real to the virtual world by taking on her sport’s best from her Ashmore home.

It was the sport’s first ever foray into online competition.

“The hardest thing about racing virtually is mentally, because it’s like a massive time trial,” Ms Brown says.

“There is really no-one to match-race against; you have to be able to push yourself.”

While Ms Brown ventured into the online space, her triathlon teammates continued to train strongly together, waiting for new race dates to be announced.

“It quickly became a lot less about the rugby and more about our community,” Mr Liussi says.

“There are people who are really bad right now, with lack of income, food ... they are really struggling.

“It’s a big community of people and so many people have been hit differently; we are trying to help where we can.”

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ALEX’S OLYMPIC DREAM NOT SUNK YET Make the team, make the final, push for a medal. The timing of the Tokyo Olympics has changed but the goal remains the same for Bond University freestyle swimmer Alex Graham (Class of 2015).

It is what has driven the 25 year old to maintain a training regimen, even during strict isolation at his family’s home in Victoria.

Like the rest of the University’s Olympic hopefuls, Mr Graham’s carefully calibrated preparation for Tokyo was thrown into disarray when COVID-19 forced the Games to be rescheduled from July and August this year to 2021.

Instead of basking in the afterglow of a successful Tokyo campaign, he is resetting his mind and body at the oneyear-to-go mark.

“I had eight weeks out of the water and six of those I was back in Melbourne, pretty much in full lockdown,” Mr Graham says.

“The days were short. I was getting up at midday because I purely had nothing to do – but I was fortunate to have a little home gym and I was doing a lot of time on the exercise bike.

“I was training three to four hours a day. I had some free weights to keep the strength up and there was a lot of core work.”

Mr Graham - who took gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju - has refocused after his coronavirus-enforced break.

He is now back on the Gold Coast and back in the University’s pools.

“I want to get on the Australian team and I’m really pushing for an individual spot for the 200m freestyle,” Mr Graham says.

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“I’d love to get that spot and make a final and then push for a medal. That is certainly on my mind all of the time.

“The most exciting race at the Olympics will be the 4x200m freestyle relay.

“It was fantastic at the 2019 World Championships and that is something we are really working on as well.”

Mr Graham says the camaraderie of being back in the pools with his Bond teammates had helped ease the disappointment of the cancelled 2020 Games.

“We are talking as a group a lot and keeping the motivation and it is super exciting,” he says.

“I was getting good results before lockdown and I know what I need to do to get those results, so that is going to be the benchmark for me now.

“We’ve been back in the pool for five weeks now and I’m starting to feel good. It’s slowly getting back.”

Mr Alex Graham

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Bond Timepiece You can now carry a Bond timepiece with you always in the form of these men’s and women’s watches, handcrafted in Queensland by father-andson jewellers Adina.

Each watch features a distinctive Bond blue bezel and is water resistant to 200m.

The men’s watch has luminous numbers, while the women’s watch is embedded with jewels.

The women’s timepiece also has gold highlights and both bear the page leaflets from the Bond shield. The automatic Swiss mechanism can be seen through a glass cover on the underside.

The watches are presented in pine boxes representing the pine forest on campus, completing this meaningful gift.

The Bond University watches are available exclusively from the University’s Merchandise Store. bond.edu.au/merchandise

Stay Connected ONCE A BONDY, ALWAYS A BONDY With almost 30,000 graduates across 140 countries and 30 active alumni committees, the global Bond alumni network is a thriving community.

The Alumni Centre is committed to helping Bondies everywhere (future, current and former students) connect in big and small ways. Keep your details current so we can share relevant news.

Please get in touch if we can help or you have your own news to share. We would love to hear from you.

Stop by and visit us if you’re on campus. We’re open weekdays 9am5pm with the Bond Merchandise Store open 10am-2pm weekdays. Find us on Level 1 of the Arch Building (1A), near Founders’ Corner.

Alumni Centre - Office of Engagement Nicole Walker (Class of 2001), Head of Alumni Relations Paige Booth, Coordinator Communications Emma Hamalainen, Coordinator Committees Teah McIntosh, Database Manager Mikayla Lawrie, Database Officer Drew Hopkins, Database Officer

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