University of Queensland 2023 End of Year Senate Dinner

Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing, the Honourable Grace Grace MP; Member for Southern Downs, Mr James Lister MP; University of Queensland Chancellor, Mr Peter Varghese AO; Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Deborah Terry AO; Senate Members, Executive and staff; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here tonight.

Graeme and I are delighted to join you all this evening—and in my capacity as the University’s Official Visitor and as Governor of this State, I am honoured to have the opportunity to celebrate another outstanding year for the Institution.

Unlike my early predecessor, the first Chancellor of the University of Queensland—Sir William MacGregor—I will not begin proceedings by reading a prayer in Latin, as he did at 1911’s inauguration ceremony, when it was reported that the audience was “evidently unused to this, and carefully followed the printed translation”.

But I will quote the words of another former Governor—Sir John Goodwin—when in 1928 he addressed a dinner for the UQ Senate at the Bellevue Hotel. At that event, he said: “I hope that the whole strength, energy and thought of this University may be devoted, not only to personal and individual success, but to the wellbeing of that greater community of which we are all units”.

I am sure that if Sir John could be with us now, he would be equally astounded and proud of how much the University of Queensland, and the Senate Members who govern it, have fulfilled his hope…

…Because, over its long history, the University has not only produced countless graduates of the highest calibre—individuals who have achieved incredible outcomes in their fields—but perhaps even more significantly, it has built a vast, influential network of local and international partnerships that are driving positive change in almost every aspect of life on this planet.

Globally, UQ’s reach extends far across the seas—fostering multiple research collaborations with brilliant minds in other Universities and organisations worldwide, and sharing expertise, insight and experiences to develop initiatives and solutions that tackle the biggest problems we face.

At home, the exceptional outcomes being produced by the University’s research Institutes and Centres, and through the myriad projects active within the public and private sectors, have cemented its position as a force that drives “knowledge leadership” in this State and beyond.

On that note, Graeme and I were fortunate to recently attend the UQ/Queensland Brain Institute’s 20th Anniversary Dinner—celebrating a tremendous milestone for an Institute that continues to blaze the trail towards curing brain disorders and diseases.

And of course, these deep connections are reflected in the University’s amazing relationships with its students—through its scholarship offerings, internship and graduate employment programs, its over 200 clubs and societies, and by the enthusiasm and activities of its loyal alumni.

This is just a brief snapshot of the way this University is driving beneficial, groundbreaking collaborations, so I think there can be no doubt that—as Sir John hoped so long ago—the University of Queensland is indeed “devoted to the wellbeing of the greater community”—whether it be in our backyard, or in a country on the other side of the world.

So, I thank each of you, with immense gratitude, for contributing your unique knowledge, skills and perspectives to the Senate, because it is your wise direction, and unwavering dedication, that are reinforcing all of these incredibly important bonds, upholding the University’s foundational charter, and guiding its success into the future.

Congratulations on another excellent year.