Alumni Matters October 2006

alumnimatters Faculty of Economics and Commerce October 2006

www.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/

Dean’s update Many of you may have read about the University’s strategy to implement what is now called “The Melbourne Model”. The Melbourne Model is based primarily on the Bologna Model where students undertake a three year undergraduate degree followed by a two year professional masters. The University has rationalized many of its undergraduate degrees into six New Generation degrees, of which the BCom is one.

During the last six months under the leadership of Professor Bill Griffiths, our Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies), academic and professional staff have been developing a framework to ensure that the BCom meets the requirements of the new generation degrees. This includes designing a program of study that will expose students to a broader range of subjects outside the Faculty while at the same time ensuring that students can specialize in any of the Faculty’s core disciplines. The BCom will continue to meet the requirements for accounting and actuarial accreditation for those who choose to complete these as part of their undergraduate degree.

We are examining ways to improve the distinctive experience of BCom students while at the University through a capstone subject that requires students to undertake a project with industry or government. We are also providing increased opportunities for students to incorporate an international experience as part of their degree.

Our Graduate School continues to thrive with its programs in demand from students around the world. Our new building will be the home of the Graduate School. We have now finalized the design of the teaching and learning floors and they are truly outstanding. Coupled with our excellent academic and professional staff our Graduate School is well placed to provide an educational experience in business and economics second to none.

In this issue

Part of the implementation of the University’s new strategic plan, Growing Esteem, has required all faculties to rank the research performance of each of their disciplines.

The Melbourne Institute provided data that enabled all disciplines within the University to be ranked against relevant comparators in Australia. Each of our disciplines was ranked within the top three with several ranked number one or equal number one. This was not entirely surprising and confirms our position within Australia and internationally.

The assessment of our performance has enabled us to implement strategies for improvement and to prepare for the Research Assessment Exercise which will occur Australia wide in 2008.

Our links with industry and alumni continue to strengthen. The Young Alumni event held on May 2 at RSM Bird Cameron was a great success and the presentation by Alistair Lucas from GoldmanSachsJBWere was much appreciated by all. The Alumni Committee also held its Annual General Meeting and Dinner on 18 July. It was a lovely event held at Ormond College with

The Melbourne Model Making the boom pay Student Achievement Prizes and scholarships UMCAS AGM and dinner

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Industrial relations A toast to graduates Accounting at Melbourne Postgraduate outcomes Featured alumnus

the Hon. Jim Short as the dinner speaker.

Jim shared with the group his experiences over a most interesting and varied career.

The Faculty held a cocktail party for students graduating mid-year with a “Black and Silver” theme including a small Faculty keepsake (a silver boomerang) for all students to ensure that they keep in touch with the Faculty. We continue to implement strategies to strengthen the links with our alumni and after much searching we have appointed a new Advancement Director who will be responsible for our Campaign for Commerce and for external relations. It was most pleasing to see the number of gifts that alumni made to the Faculty in the latest University Annual Appeal. By far the largest amount ever raised by the University. This augers well for the major drive that we will be having for scholarships in the very near future.

I hope that you enjoy the Newsletter. It provides you with further details of the Melbourne Model and other activities of the Faculty and the Alumni Committee.

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The Melbourne Model The new generation Bachelor of Commerce degree will be introduced from 2008 under the Melbourne Model.

The Melbourne Model has been described in leading newspapers as ‘a radical break with its 150 year old traditions,’ but the University plans to combine the best elements of Australian and international approaches to undergraduate education and graduate professional training. The Vice-Chancellor, Glyn Davis has said that ‘by most measures that count Melbourne remains the most successful university in the country in terms of its research output, its international ranking and as a place of choice for the top students.

But many of our programs were designed in the 19th century and, although the Australian model has served us well for a long time, we will soon be seen as the odd one out.’

The Bachelor of Commerce degree will continue to provide the opportunity for students to acquire skills and knowledge for a career in commerce and business that is unrivalled in Australia. It will blend a core curriculum that develops foundation skills for a business career and the scope to study in complementary areas from outside the core.

Importantly, the degree will still allow students to meet accreditation requirements specified by accounting and actuarial professional bodies.

Complementary subjects may be chosen from discipline areas in the arts, the sciences, music, engineering and environments where six out of 24 subjects will be taken. Following completion students have 3 choices – enter the workforce (our students enjoy exceptional employment outcomes); pursue graduate qualifications in areas such as law or an extensive range of business and management studies or pursue studies leading to a PhD. So what do students and employers think about the proposed changes? A recent survey of students found that they value the increased international portability of the degree and flexibility in studying subjects outside the ‘core.’ They also perceived a heightened prestige of an undergraduate commerce combined with a masters under the Melbourne Model as a definite plus.

Employers like the focus on students developing breadth across several disciplines as well as depth, creating graduates with a well rounded experience and increased focus on the soft skills. They also see postgraduate qualification as the mark of a professional.

For more information on the Melbourne Model please visit: http://melbournemodel.unimelb.edu.au/

Queen’s Birthday Honours AM: Member of the Order of Australia Mr Joseph I. GERSH (BCom 1980/1979, BLAWs (Honours) 1980/1979) For service to business, commerce and public sector administration, and to the community, particularly through Jewish organisations.

Mr Graeme L. HERRING (BCom 1955, GradDipEd 1958) For service to business through the Australian Tax Research Foundation, to the accountancy profession, and to the community through Anglican Church organisations.

Mr Dennis R. HOGG (B SCI 1961, BCom 1967, MBA 1970) For service to hospital administration and health care services through a range of organisations, including the Australian Private Hospitals Association.

Mr Jonathan M. HUTCHISON (BCom, 1966/1965) For service to tourism and business through promoting Australia as a travel destination and in leadership and advisory roles with industry organisations.

Mr Ian P. PREDL (BCom, 1963) For service to education and training, particularly through contributions to the establishment of the technical and further education system in Victoria, and to the community.

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Mr Douglas J. RATHBONE (BCom, 1977/1976) For service to the community through executive roles and contributions to a range of children’s cancer support organisations, particularly the Children’s Cancer Centre Foundation, to chemical engineering and to viticulture.

OAM: Medal of the Order of Australia Mr Pat C. HOPE (BCom 1963, MBA 1977/1976) For service to the community of Ballarat through a range of tourism and heritage organisations.

Mr Ken MAWSON (BCom,1946) For service to the quarrying industry, particularly through the establishment of extractive industry training resources and programs, and to the community of Cohuna.

Mr Ben K. PIPER (BCom 1982/1981, BLAWs 1982/1981, MLAWs 1988/1987) For service to the community, particularly as a volunteer adviser to and administrator of local legal service organisations, and as a supporter of the activities of the Friends of Port Melbourne Foreshore.

PSM: Public Service Medal Mr Andrew M. JACKOMAS (BCom 1977/1976) For outstanding public service involving Indigenous issues in the Department of Justice.

Making the boom pay: Securing the next generation of prosperity On November 2 and 3, a conference titled “Making the Boom Pay: Securing the Next Generation of Prosperity” will be held at the University of Melbourne. This is the fourth Economic and Social Outlook Conference jointly organized by the Melbourne Institute and The Australian.

Drawing on the expertise of political leaders, representatives of the business and not-forprofit organizations, senior public servants and academics across a range of disciplines, the focus of the conference will be on the policy challenges and options facing Australia over the next decade.

After two decades of a reform program that has transformed the Australian economy, the Lucky Country currently finds itself blessed by a China-driven resources boom. Previous such booms have ended in tears. At issue is how we can manage the boom properly? What policies and strategies should Australia adopt to set itself up for continued opportunity and prosperity? In the process, how might we best tackle areas of entrenched disadvantage, what are the pros and cons of different options for confronting the longer term challenges associated with increased pressures on natural resources and the ageing of the population, and how can we use the fruits of prosperity to best invest in education and training to provide skills for the future Australian workforce in an evolving global economy and at the same time provide for equality of opportunity?

The opening sessions will provide a review of where the Australian economy is now, then delve into likely developments over the next decade, and suggest policy options for the future. Paul Kelly of The Australian, Chris Richardson of Access Economics, Ross Garnaut of the ANU and Craig Emerson MP will lead the discussion on such topics as commodity booms, likely trends in the global economy, including China and India, technical and workplace changes, demographic change, and the roles for and options of Australian macroeconomic and microeconomic policies as they affect the sustainability of economic growth for different segments of the economy and for the whole economy. Important issues

of equity and redistribution will be considered

by Mark Wooden and Bruce Heady of the Melbourne Institute, Ann Harding of NATSEM, and Michael Raper from the Welfare Rights Centre.

Katie Lahey of the Business Council of Australia and Gary Banks from the Productivity Commission will address the challenging issue of the options for federalstate relations in the future.

Three sets of concurrent sessions will address in more detail and depth specific policy topics.

One of these sets of topics will be education and training, with sessions on Pre-school and School (with the Honourable Lynne Kosky MP, Fiona Stanley of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, and Barry McGaw of the University of Melbourne), and the University Sector in the Next Decade (with Glyn Davis of the University of Melbourne, the Honourable Julie Bishop MP and Jenny Macklin MP).

A second set of topics will consider energy and the environment with specific topics of Powering the Boom (Martin Sevior of the University of Melbourne and Don Henry of the Australian Conservation Foundation), Water Policy Challenges and Options (the Honourable Malcolm Turnbull MP, Neil Byron of the Productivity Commission and Mike Young of CSIRO), and Urban Congestion (Graham Evans of the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission, Harry Clarke of La Trobe University and Kevin O’Connor of the University of Melbourne).

A third set of topics will concentrate on welfare and social policy. Particular sessions will be on Participation, Childcare and Welfare Reform (Guyonne Kalb of the Melbourne Institute, the Honourable Sharman

Stone MP, and Pru Goward, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission), the New Health Reform Agenda (the Honourable Tony Abbott MP, Julia Gillard MP and Tony Scott of the Melbourne Institute), and Social Policy in Action (Warren Hogan of University of Technology Sydney, a representative from ACOSS, and an indigenous Australian representative).

Other special sessions will discuss How the New Workplace System is Faring (Ian Harper of the Australian Fair Pay Commission, Angela Robertson from Holden Ltd, and a representative from the ACTU), and the Next Wave of Tax Reform (Wayne Swan MP, Neil Warren of the UNSW, and John Freebairn, Melbourne Institute).

A feature of the conference will be the speakers at the Gala Dinner on the Thursday evening, Dr Ken Henry, Secretary, Commonwealth Department of the Treasury, an executive from a major mining company on the Thursday Lunch, and the Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable Kim Beazley MP, on the Friday Lunch.

A plenary session on Road Blocks to Prosperity will conclude the conference.

Peter Boxall, Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, will discuss the topic of workplace skills, and Rod Sims of Port Jackson Partners and Brian Fisher, Chair of the Prime Ministers Infrastructure Taskforce, will open discussion on the provision of infrastructure.

In all sessions there will be opportunities for audience participation.

For further details of the conference program and for a copy of the registration form, please see the Melbourne Institute web site at www.melbourneinstitute.com

Invitation for Alumni University House would like to extend an invitation to past Graduates to maintain their contact with the university community by joining the staff club as an affiliated member. Membership includes use of the University House facilities and function rooms along with access to members only functions and events and University House wine deals and delivery. Alumni are also encouraged to visit University House when considering a venue for their graduate reunion. More information on University House and membership benefits is available at www.uniclub.com.au or phone 03 8344 5254.

Alumni News 3

Sarah McArdle receives her award for the top honours student in 2005 studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Management from Bryan Lukas, Head of the Department of Management and Marketing and the Dean, Professor Abernethy.

Inaugural Student Achievement Evening 2006 On Tuesday 15th August, the Faculty held the first-ever Student Achievement Evening, where semester 2, 2006 scholarship recipients and 2005 subject prize winners were recognised for their outstanding achievements by staff, industry sponsors, friends and family. The evening was also an opportunity to thank our industry sponsors for their support and enable them to meet our students.

Held in the Executive Lounge in the Alan Gilbert Building, guests were able to mingle, giving students the opportunity to meet representatives from some of the Faculty’s industry sponsors, whilst enjoying finger food and drinks. Representatives from Bain & Company, CPA Australia, Taxpayers Australia, Booz Allen Hamilton, Citigroup and the University of Melbourne Commerce Alumni Society were able to attend the evening.

The welcoming address, given by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Commerce, Professor Margaret A. Abernethy, congratulated students on their achievements and thanked sponsors for their support. Professor Abernethy also remarked upon the diversity of students within the Faculty, listing students from countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, India, China, France, Colombia and Mauritius as well as local and interstate Australians.

The evening proved a great success, giving the Faculty the opportunity to thank our many industry sponsors for their support and allowing the sponsors to meet our high achieving students.

After being presented with a certificate of achievement from the Dean, students posed for photographs with Professor Abernethy, friends and parents. Photographs are available from Jacqui Hoare (j.hoare@unimelb.edu.au).

Many thanks to staff who attended the evening – especially to Professor David Dickson, Associate Professor Bryan Lukas, Professor Paul Kofman, Professor Bill Griffiths and Professor Colin Ferguson who agreed to co-present the departmental honours prizes. I look forward to seeing you again next year!

Jacqui Hoare

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Semester 2 scholarship recipients with the Dean, Professor Margaret Abernethy

Prizes and Scholarships Program continues to grow The Faculty of Economics and Commerce offers an ever-increasing number of scholarships and prizes to high achieving students. The Faculty is expanding its Prizes and Scholarship Program in 2007 with additional scholarships available to commencing students, both local and international.

In 2006 the Faculty awarded seventy-five subject prizes to students achieving the top mark in sponsored subjects in 2005. The prizes are funded by thirty-six donors including industry sponsors, trust funds and the Faculty itself, valued at more than $28,000.

Each year the Faculty awards 130 new scholarships and in any given year there are approximately 300 students in the Faculty receiving scholarships, as many scholarships are offered for the duration of a student’s course.

With the introduction of the Melbourne Model in 2008, scholarships will become even more important as a way of providing access and equity to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Faculty.

It is anticipated that industry-funded scholarships will be the best way to do this, providing companies with access to high-achieving students; strengthening the Faculty’s links to industry and most importantly, providing additional pathways for graduates to start

their career in industry. Current sponsors include Horwath, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs JB Were and the University of Melbourne Commerce Alumni Society, totalling more than $31,000 worth of scholarships.

Selection criteria for these scholarships is generally on the basis of academic merit, extra-curricular activities, interpersonal and leadership skills and qualities which offer evidence that applicants may make an important contribution to the industry upon graduation.

In 2007 there will be twenty eight undergraduate, eighteen postgraduate and additional PhD scholarships available for commencing international students.

Local students may be eligible for a number of scholarships including the Melbourne Access Scholarships. The Access Melbourne program allows students from educationally, financially or socially disadvantaged backgrounds to enroll in an undergraduate program at the University of Melbourne. Up to 200 of these students will be awarded a Melbourne Access Scholarship which offers a HECS-exempt place plus $2,000 per annum. Twenty percent of HECS places are allocated to eligible Access Melbourne applicants.

In 2006 the Faculty awarded 33 Access Scholarships.

If you would like to enquire about involvement in the Faculty’s Scholarships and Prizes Program, please contact Clare Harper on 03 8344 2167 or via email: harperc@unimelb.edu.au.

Above: guests at the Young Alumni event Left: Alastair Lucas and Dennis Lee (UMCAS Committee member)

Young Alumni event hosted by RSM Bird Cameron Guest speaker Alastair Lucas, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Goldman Sachs JBWere Around 60 guests attended the Young Alumni event on 2 May 2006. Alastair Lucas’ discussion on the current state and future of Investment banking was informative and entertaining. The function gave young alumni, graduating students and corporate representatives an opportunity to meet and chat over the drinks and great food kindly catered provided by RSM Bird Cameron. Thanks once again to Alastair Lucas and Rob Miano, partner at RSM Bird Cameron for hosting the event.

Alumni News 5

Professor Margaret Abernethy, Dean, and Mr Steven Zigomanis UMCAS President with UMCAS committee members

UMCAS AGM and dinner The UMCAS Annual General Meeting and dinner was held at Ormond College on Tuesday 18 July this year.

Our guest speaker was alumnus, The Hon Jim Short, who has had a distinguished career in both the Federal Treasury and Federal Parliament, including the Ministerial portfolio of Assistant Treasurer.

In his address, Mr Short reflected on the changes he has seen evolve over a working life which has spanned almost five decades in a variety of public policy arenas both in Australia and overseas.

He analysed those changes based on his personal experiences. He then offered comments as to whether as a result Australia is a better place in which to live, whether we are better governed and whether we are better off in an overall sense – whilst noting that in many respects ‘better’ is like ‘beauty’: it is very much in the eyes of the beholder.

Mr Short listed some improvements to the Australian way of life as a result of the policy formation and change he was involved with, noting: – The belief that, despite their imperfections, markets – for goods and services, labour, capital – are more effective in determining the efficient and equitable allocation of scarce resources than the decisions of governments, no matter how well meaning those governments might be. And prioritizing the allocation of scarce resources in directions that optimise the wellbeing of all members of our society must surely still remain the basic task of economics.

– The increase in transparency in government decision making.

– The growth of the market for ideas. We are now a much better informed community than ever in the past.

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He also cautioned there remains much to do to ensure that markets do in fact perform to their potential.

Mr Short concluded his thought-provoking speech with the following: “In the end, it is an informed and free market for ideas that will determine our future as individuals and as a society. Vibrant institutions like this university have always had a critical role to play in shaping the way our society develops, in both its economic and wider aspects. We have been fortunate and privileged to have had the opportunity to benefit from its existence. I believe strongly that we all have a responsibility to share that benefit with the members of the wider community in whatever fields of endeavour we are engaged in.”

Mr Short’s speech is available in full on the alumni website: www.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/alumni

Reforming Australian industrial relations?

Australia’s new WorkChoices laws have been established despite a lack of economic evidence supporting the changes, and go against the traditional Australian ethos of a fair society, according to Emeritus Professor Joe Isaac AO, at the annual Foenander lecture on 28 August 2006.

This inspirational public lecture on a hot contemporary topic attracted a large and diverse audience, including senior IR and union representatives, academic staff and students. The University’s Deputy Chancellor, the Honourable Justice Alex Chernov, introduced Professor Joe Isaac.

Professor Isaac is a Professorial Fellow of the Department of Management and Marketing and has been studying industrial relations and economics for over 60 years. He was taught industrial relations

by Orwell de Ruyter Foenander during the 1940s and has held various positions including Deputy President of Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission for 14 years and has more recently been consultant to the ILO in Indonesia and Timor Leste.

According to Professor Isaac, the Australian economy did well under previous IR laws and there are no signs on the economic front in the medium term to warrant radical changes. He questioned the idea that WorkChoices will provide greater productivity, saying that sustained productivity growth depends on investment in technology and skills which could now be threatened by companies being attracted to costcutting rather than being pressured to boost productivity.

Professor Isaac set out the requirements for an economically efficient and socially fair industrial relations system. He then analysed how WorkChoices may unravel that arrangement, to “open up the prospects for a return to the master and servant mentality of the 19th Century”.

From left: Honourable Justice Alex Chernov (Deputy Chancellor), Professor Carol Kulik (Director, Centre for HRM), Professor Margaret Abernethy (Dean), Emeritus Professor Joe Isaac AO, Dr Isabel Metz

The excitement, exchange of information, sharing of views, and questions continued well after the 21st Foenander lecture had been delivered, at the post lecture reception and beyond. For instance, at the reception there was a buzz among the students about the linking of the event to their coursework.

Professor Isaac’s lecture was the perfect example of research, teaching and community engagement culminating to stimulate debate on issues of great importance to our society.

Dr Isabel Metz Centre for Human Resource Management Department of Management & Marketing

An amazing Latin experience During June this year, Associate Professor Neville Norman (Economics) took up a short-term position as Summer School Professor at the University of Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. An intensive 32-hour course on Strategic Planning for and Evaluating Business Operations in Australasia and the Far East was delivered to about 30 students at Master’s level. Among them was Jeronimo Uribe, the younger son of the Colombian President, Mr Alvaro Uribe.

The President has gained much popularity with Colombians for bringing democratic security to the country and a clear and fair government. Colombia’s economy is fast growing and the political situation is stable.

Neville was fortunate enough to get to know Jeronimo Uribe, well and to dine with him and part of the family at the President’s home/palace.

Neville reports that he was impressed by the quality and dedication of the students, the hosting of Los Andes and the warm reception. Most importantly, he was impressed with the prospect of fuller academic collaboration.

Dr Tatiana Zalan, Department of Management, visited the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Los Andes (Bogota, Colombia) as a Distinguished Visitor – Corona Chair. During 14-18 August Tatiana delivered a series of presentations to undergraduate and Master’s students, Faculty members and Colombian executives. This visit was part of the Faculty’s initiative to strengthen links with Latin American educational institutions.

Rocio Karibian, Executive Officer, Marketing and Development Unit

Alumni News 7

Malaysian Alumni Activities

A toast to graduates 2006 On 10 August undergraduate students who had completed their studies in the first half of 2006 gathered with Faculty staff at University House for a cocktail party hosted by the Dean.

The function gave the Faculty and the Dean a chance to congratulate these students, to wish them well in their careers and encourage them to stay in contact with the faculty. It also gave the students an opportunity to get together and reminisce on good times had at the University.

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A student-driven organising committee arranged spectacular décor, prizes, entertainment and catering for the event, and all who attended had a great evening.

There will be a second event for 2006, held on 15 December.

Although our active group of alumni in Malaysia have not had any specific Commerce Alumni event since the last one in August 2005 at the Royal Lake Club, they have helped to organise and have participated in several Melbourne University alumni events as follows.

1. Dinner hosted by H.E. Mr. James Wise, The Australian High Commissioner at his residence – “The Residency” on 7 April 2006 2. Welcome home at the Australian High Commission on 23rd August 2006 3. 2006 Combined University of Melbourne and MABC Careers Networking Event at the Australian High Commission on 28th September 2006.

Our Malaysian alumni chapter are keen to hear from alumni in the region, so please contact the Faculty Advancement office via our website at www.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/ alumni/ in order to reconnect and stay in touch.

Dynamic contribution: Associate Professor Geoff Burrows (second from right) and (from left) ABIS tutor Priyanka Gosain, ABIS PhD students Munther Al-Busaidi and Hassan Al-Nasser, and Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) student Emmanuel De George celebrate the recent launch of Promise Fulfilled.

Accounting at Melbourne:

how a rich discipline grew The story of Accounting at the University of Melbourne, from its inception as an academic discipline in 1925 to its 80th birthday in 2004, is told in a new book, Promise Fulfilled, by Associate Professor Geoff Burrows, Principal Fellow in Accounting and Business Information Systems (ABIS).

Published by Melbourne University Publishing, Promise Fulfilled depicts a discipline that has always possessed a powerful undergraduate presence, however has only in recent years gained international recognition for its research and postgraduate programs.

Associate Professor Burrows, who headed the Department of Accounting 1987–1990, says Accounting had to counter the image that it was not a ‘true’ academic discipline.

Other challenges included changes in information technology, new research paradigms, burgeoning enrolments, and the development of attractive postgraduate programs.

The author rebuts the uptight image of academic accounting, depicting a rich collection of staff and student personalities, and not a few pranks perpetrated by the latter.

Chapter highlights include: the struggle to establish the discipline in the pre-World War Two period and maintain it during the War, using only part-time staff; inauguration of the University-CPA Australia Annual Research Lecture in 1940, now the most enduring annual research lecture series at the University; and the feminisation of the student body, demonstrated by the proportion of female students increasing from 5 per cent in 1946 to 57 per cent in 2004.

Promise Fulfilled chronicles the response of accounting staff to these challenges and their success in transforming accounting into a dynamic contributor to the university’s modern presence.

Alumni News 9

Student profile: Commerce/Law student ranked number 1 professional tennis player in Victoria We are proud to announce that current Commerce/Law student, Lauren Breadmore, has reached a career high ranking this year of No.4 in Australia, No.1 in Victoria and No. 221 WTA in the world!

Lauren has managed to juggle an outstanding career as a professional tennis player with her part time study, this being her fifth year playing on the WTA professional tennis tour.

Some of Lauren’s career highlights include: – Lauren was one of six duces at Wesley College in 2001 and named the Alexander Wawn Scholar – a breakthrough this year in January playing in her first Maindraw Grand Slam singles match at the Australian Open against current top 10 player Svetlana Kuznetsova from Russia.

Lauren also played in the maindraw of the doubles at the Australian Open 2006.

– playing in the Maindraw Australian Open doubles in 2004 against current US Open Champion and former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova – winning 3 professional ITF tennis tournaments – representing Melbourne University and Australia at the World University Games in Daegu, Korea 2003 and in Izmir, Turkey 2005 Lauren is currently playing in Bulgaria and next moves onto Spain and then Mexico, she has a website at www.laurenbreadmore.com if you would like to track her progress.

We wish Lauren the best of luck in all matches and in obtaining her current goal to make it into the world top 100!

New appointment – Department of Management and Marketing Associate Professor Bryan Lukas is the newly appointed Head of Department of Management and Marketing. He holds several academic awards, including three Best Paper awards from the American Marketing Association. Bryan has published two books in the areas of marketing research (McGraw-Hill) and marketing management (John Wiley & Sons) and many peer-reviewed research papers in leading international journals and conference proceedings, such as the Journal of Management, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Business Research, and AMA Conference Proceedings. Bryan is an editorial board member of the Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Business Research, and Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics. He is also a member of the Australian and New Zealand Marketing Association, American Marketing Association, Academy of Management, Academy of Marketing Science, and Society for Marketing Advances.

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In addition to his academic activities, Bryan has carried out consulting and executive teaching assignments in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the USA. He has also provided expert evidence and made statutory declarations in a number of legal matters and trade mark applications, most recently for Pipers Lawyers and Advisors, Middletons Lawyers, and Houlihan Patent Attorneys.

Associate Professor Lukas sees the aim of the Department as to be the best in the areas of management and marketing teaching, research and knowledge transfer in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

Postgraduate employment outcomes It’s exciting times ahead for a number of our postgraduate students who have already been successful in securing a wide range of positions in the marketing, finance, accounting, banking and IT fields.

While high academic achievement provided a head start, participating in the Postgraduate Careers Program may well have made the difference for many of these students.

Two Master of International Business students, who both attended the fortnightly Career Hours workshops and had individual consultations with the Faculty’s Careers Management Consultant, recently began working for Biokaiser Petronis.

While one graduate is currently overseeing business development in the South East Asian and Middle Eastern regions, the other is now responsible for Latin America, and said of the Careers Program: “Being an international student requires lots of work to prepare effectively to look for a job.

The advice received, and the help and counselling, have been very important for me in my job hunt.”

Choosing to study the Master of Business and IT because of its flexibility and broad scope of career options, another recent graduate spoke of the Faculty’s personalised careers service.

“This service is truly customised to my needs as a student and I have received positive feedback upon applying for work”.

She recently began work as a Procurement and Logistics Planner for Synnex Australia and says that the most enjoyable aspect of her new role is building and maintaining relationships with vendors.

“I get to build a network with other experienced people in the industry and exchange ideas, gain invaluable skills and experiences.”

Other students have found the Career Mentoring Program to be particularly helpful in preparing them for the job market with 2006 mentees accepting graduate positions in ANZ, NAB, KPMG and PwC. Students can choose from a number of career development activities as part of the Faculty’s Careers Program including: attending workshops and individual consultations, participating in the Mentoring Program, as well as creating an electronic CV using the new Online CV Book.

For more information on any of the above activities, please contact Careers Management Consultant Agnes Banyasz on 03 8344 7681 or abanyasz@unimelb.edu.au.

Alumni News 11

Upcoming

events

Featured Alumnus Edmond Lee

Making the Boom Pay: Securing the Next Generation of Prosperity 2006 Economics and Social Outlook Conference Thursday and Friday 2 and 3 November For further details, registration forms etc, please visit the Melbourne Institute website at www.melbourneinstitute.com

Annual Reunion Luncheon For Alumni who graduated 45 years ago or more Thursday 16 November, 12.30pm Venue: Private Dining Room, Student Union Building Cost: $45 per person for 2 course meal and drinks Invitations will be mailed in October for this event Enquiries: Amanda Stanger on (03) 8344 2128 or email astanger@unimelb.edu.au

Downing Lecture Tuesday, 21 November, 6pm Presented by Professor David Card, University of California Ten Big Questions on Immigration Professor Card will discuss ten of the most important questions facing policy makers and analysts regarding the effects of immigration on the host country, and what is known about the answers. He will also try to provide some insights about the areas of disagreement among different researchers in the field.

Venue: Copland Theatre, Economics and Commerce Building Enquiries: Phyllis Vellu on (03) 8344 5311 or email ppv@unimelb.edu.au

Contact details: Faculty of Economics and Commerce, Level 7, Alan Gilbert Building, 161 Barry Street The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010 Tel: 03 8344 2128 Fax: 03 9349 4291 Email: commerce-alumni@unimelb.edu.au Web: www.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/ Alumni Matters edited by Amanda Stanger, designed by Sophie Campbell, published by the Faculty of Economics and Commerce with authorisation from the General Manager.

Disclaimer: The information in this publication was correct at the time of printing. The University reserves the right to make changes as appropriate.

Senior Vice President, SG Equity Derivatives BCom 1989, Completion of MFin Hong Kong University 2006 Edmond Lee is Senior Vice President at Societe Generale Equity Derivatives, responsible for derivatives products analysis, sales and marketing. Prior to joining SG in 2004, Edmond worked with ANZ Bank (in Australia) and Sun Hung Kai Securities Ltd (in Hong Kong) and has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. Edmond is a well-known investment strategist and equity market commentator in Hong Kong, specializing in derivatives products including warrants.

Edmond has regular columns in Hong Kong Economic Times and Apple Daily and makes frequent appearances on television and radio programs to give comments and analysis. He was elected as one of the top three stock commentators by Hong Kong Economic Times in 2003. Edmond also appears regularly as a speaker at Equity Derivatives seminars. He has published two books on investment, Alternative Investment (2001) and Investment Strategy (2003), with this second book being recorded for its 7th print. Edmond has also co-authored a book, School of Warrant, with a colleague which has had a 3rd print. A version in simplified Chinese and English of this book will be published in late 2006.

Edmond graduated from the University of Melbourne, Australia with majors in Economics and Commercial Law, and he has completed a Master of Finance course at Hong Kong University recently.

Edmond would particularly like to thank Mr Bob Speechley (The Australian Centre) who assisted him greatly in his University life and with whom he has become good friends since graduating.

Mr Lee is married with two sons, he enjoys outdoor activities and travelling.

We wish to congratulate Mr Lee on his outstanding career and publishing success to date, and wish him further success for the future.

Mentoring: Mr Lee is interested in improving contact with current students from Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia with a view to establishing a mentoring program which will help guide them through the transition from study to worklife. If you are interested in this project, please contact us through the Alumni website, www.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/ The faculty currently runs a Mentor Program for postgraduate students. If you would like to know more about this program, please visit http://www.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/faculty/ business/mentoring.html or contact: Ms Agnes Banyasz, Careers Management Consultant, Faculty of Economics and Commerce 7th Floor, Alan Gilbert Building, 161 Barry Street, The University of Melbourne Victoria 3010 Tel: (03) 8344-1856 Email: careers-ecompg@unimelb.edu.au Supporting the Faculty of Economics and Commerce: Mr Lee understands the great value and importance of financial support from corporations and alumni. He has been a long time generous supporter of the Faculty of Economics and Commerce, donating to the Faculty regularly over since graduating. We thank him for his longstanding generosity.

We are committed to staying in touch with you: We would be pleased to hear about your life’s milestones and successes. To update your information, stay connected, or to learn more about how you can support the Faculty of Economics and Commerce, please:

Stay in Touch!

Amanda Stanger, Advancement, Faculty of Economics and Commerce 7th Floor, Alan Gilbert Building, 161 Barry Street The University of Melbourne Victoria 3010 astanger@unimelb.edu.au, www.ecom.unimelb.edu.au/alumni/ Tel: 03 8344-2128