For Monash University the past 12 months have been a time of change and celebration, growth and success.
At the beginning of August, we farewelled Professor Margaret Gardner AC, former President and Vice-Chancellor, following her appointment as the 30th Governor of Victoria. In the months following, the University continued to move forward, expertly steered by our Provost, Professor Susan Elliott AM who served as our Interim Vice-Chancellor and President until my appointment in January. I wish to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Professor Elliott for her assured leadership during that crucial period.
Since arriving at Monash in 2003, I’ve been passionate about the University’s philanthropic endeavours, and it’s always a highlight for me to meet with our donors and supporters at acknowledgement events, including the annual Matheson Society Lunch. It was wonderful to see many of you there at last year’s occasion when as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) I was able to join a panel of our students to discuss the Global Immersion Guarantee, Monash’s flagship international study initiative. GIG makes available for every student, regardless of means, transformative international educational experiences. A fully-funded program of this scale and quality is made possible by the generous philanthropic support we receive.
Throughout 2023, we celebrated many achievements from across the University, including the continued improvement in our international rankings, with Monash placing 42nd in the 2024 QS World University Rankings and 21st in the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
In February the Victorian Heart Hospital, the new home of the Monash Victorian Heart Institute, officially opened within the Monash Technology Precinct at our Clayton campus.
We celebrated the 25th and 10th anniversaries of our campuses in Malaysia and China, marking the growing maturity of our global presence.
Monash staff were awarded prestigious fellowships and elected to national and international academies; we received numerous national and international funding grants and awards in recognition of our education and research; and we continued to forge new university, industry and government partnerships.
Much of our success is made possible thanks to the many bequestors who have generously left a gift in their will to Monash – for this, I thank you. Such bequests are a contribution to future impact, supporting future students and future research.
I would also like to warmly welcome the new bequestors to our community, and give my appreciation for your support and generosity. By leaving a bequest to Monash, you are playing a significant role in shaping the future of education and research, and joining like-minded people who value life-long learning.
Allow me to take this opportunity to acknowledge two former members of Monash University Council who sadly died earlier this year – the Honourable Simon Crean and Dr June Hearn.
Mr Crean was a proud Monash alum from our earliest years, graduating in 1970, and a dedicated member of Council for the past nine years, serving as Deputy Chancellor since 2020. Among his most significant contributions, he led the development of the University’s two ESG Statements, Chaired the Estates Committee and served on the Resources and Finance Committee, and was a tireless advocate for the Monash Technology Precinct.
Dr Hearn was a member of Council from 1985-2006, and the first woman appointed to the role of Deputy Chancellor at Monash. In 2009 she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws, and in 2020 the University named a room in the new Chancellery Building in her honour.
As we look to the future, we remain strongly committed to delivering educational excellence and innovative research in all that we do for the benefit of communities across Australia and the world.
My sincere thanks, once again, for your continued support and friendship. We look forward to another positive and exciting year at Monash University in 2024.
Professor Sharon Pickering
Vice-Chancellor and President