Vision

The Graduate Union is renowned as the pre-eminent Australian membership association of graduates of universities from around the world, living, meeting and learning within a vibrant and active collegium which advances education and its application for the good of society.

Mission

Our Graduate House – a residential college and meeting place – and Graduate Union – an association with members across the world – bring together undergraduates and graduates (from first degree through further study, careers, caring roles and retirement) for the socially responsible advancement and application of education.

Purpose

The principal purpose of the Graduate Union is the advancement of education for the benefit of the community by:

  • providing high quality accommodation in Australia for university students, in order to promote and foster: (a) post-graduate study, research and career development; and (b) learning, collegiality and collaboration between undergraduates and postgraduates for the benefit of the education, research, and not-for-profit sectors in Australia
  • providing meeting facilities and services in Australia for the academic, research and not-for-profit sectors
  • promoting and bringing together graduates through membership, so that educational, professional, cultural and social relations and networks are fostered and maintained, including by way of: (a) hosting networking functions, lectures and events in Australia; (b) hosting and promoting lectures from members and guest lecturers; (c) publication of a newsletter, magazine, blog or any other form of publication to support, develop and promote academic achievement; (d) publication of a newsletter, magazine, blog or any other form of publication to support, develop and promote career development for undergraduates and graduates, and to support, develop and promote business achievements, volunteer work and beneficial work in the community by undergraduates and graduates
  • developing a community that otherwise supports and sustains: (a) academic, career and social experiences; (b) lifelong sharing of knowledge and skills; and (c) educational outcomes for the wider public benefit

Values

Values of our Members

  • collegiality
  • universal friendship
  • lifelong learning
  • social consciousness and responsibility
  • intellectual challenge and contribution
  • intercultural and interdisciplinary experiences

Values of our Association

  • responsibility, accountability
  • stewardship
  • contribution, performance
  • professionalism, integrity
  • transparency and ethics
  • welcome, encouragement
  • support, inclusion
  • respect for differences
  • integration with diversity
  • focus on strengths

Rules and Regulations

The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated (The Graduate Union) is an incorporated Association under the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012.

The Rules of The Graduate Union are a written document that guides how our Association works and are a contract between the Association and our Members. This document sets out our purposes as a charity and not-for-profit organisation and outlines the rights and responsibilities of Members and office holders.

To download a copy of our Rules, click here.

As provided by rule 45.3 (b) of the Rules of the Association, the Regulations of The Graduate Union are established by Council for the governance and management of the Association and, if applicable, in accordance with any regulatory authority standards, as determined by Council.

To download a copy of our Regulations, click here.

 

Strategic Plan

A.  Innovative Influential Membership
Key Result Areas
  • Graduate House is the place and Graduate Union the network in which graduates want and need to be.
  • Members and their network groups connect readily to satellite groups of influence and innovation around the world.
  • The Association is renowned globally for delivery of activities that advance education for the benefit of the community.
  • Generations from the same families are Members.
Strategies for each KRA
  • Continue reviews and needs analyses across identified member segments and the implementation of recommendations.
  • Capitalise on the multinational resident and non-resident membership to develop collectively collegiate programs for local and international good.
  • Make visible networks of influence for graduates to access for their benefit and for the benefit of others.
  • Develop and provide academic, career and social experiences [rule 2.2(d)i].
  • Implement programs that support lifelong sharing of knowledge and skills [rule 2.2(d)ii] with graduates as both mentees, trainees and mentors/trainers.
  • Design and deliver educational outcomes that are for the wider public benefit [rule 2.2(d)iii] acting as facilitators and enablers for self and community development through multi-disciplined teams.
  • Identify and gain the narratives from families which have (had) more than one generation of membership.
  • Foster generational membership, providing offers to encourage younger generations of one family.
B. Culture of Giving
Key Result Areas
  • Members are driving advancement and the engagement of influential networks with the Association.
  • Major funds have been secured from bequests, donations and other endowment sources.
  • Major projects for Buildings, Facilities (G-House) and the Membership (G-Union) are defined for targeted advancement funding and campaigns.
  • The crowdfunding site is a platform for academic, economic and social good, research, development and sustainability for People, Programs and Places.
Strategies for each KRA
  • Members recruit lead donors and host major and influential network functions at Graduate House and on-line each year.
  • Build operational capacity and budget to cultivate giving programs.
  • Manage bequest and donation reserves prudently for growth, with transparency and accountability (e.g., specific purpose reserves of the Diamond Jubilee Capital Campaign, for endowments and for each annual appeal).
  • Continue construction of the G-House and G-Union Master Plans with ‘ready-to-go’ portfolios.
  • Launch, market and administer the Fund Life Long Learning crowd funding site.
C. Planned and Achieved Major Projects
Key Result Areas
  • A Blueprint for the way forward envisages how Graduate House and The Graduate Union will be vibrant, thriving, relevant and exciting in 50 years’ time.
  • Facilities at Graduate House are at least doubled and meet market demand and expectations.
  • Additional facilities that are Graduate House ‘wings’ and other Graduate Houses are acquired.
  • Plans and policies are innovative, developed with timeliness and implemented to give measurable benefits to the Association.
Strategies for each KRA
  • Analyse segmented graduate markets to inform forecasts for the three-year Strategic Plan, the ten-year Master Plan and the fifty-year Blueprint for the Way Forward.
  • Develop and test ‘value propositions’ for each segment of the graduate market, implementing those which fit the Association’s purposes, have sound business cases and do not put the organisation at risk
  • Determine development requirements and specifications, as well as funding/partnership models, and implement.
  • Reproduce and expand upon the successful Graduate House model by way of offsite acquisitions as well as onsite developments.
  • Develop and use policies and processes to subject major initiatives to robust analysis.
D. Well-Managed Finances and Mitigated Risks
Key Result Areas
  • Sound financial controls, risk mitigation and management and unqualified audit reports.
  • Debt reduction
  • Financial performance that enables both operations and development.
Strategies for each KRA
  • Continue with transparent and accountable financial controls and policy development and reviews.
  • Continue bricked loan arrangement and a staged amortisation schedule.
  • Manage a budget that allows for current operations, capital expenditure and development initiatives to meet current and future graduate markets.
E. Effective Responsive Stewardship
Key Result Areas
  • Sound and productive relationships with other groups working towards education and social good – locally and globally.
  • Groups that convene at Graduate House seek involvement with other Member segments.
  • Council is renowned globally for ethical and sound leadership and governance.
  • Diversity of representation of all segments of the membership on Council and its subcommittees.
  • Currency and relevancy in the purposes, rules, regulations and operations of the organisation.
Strategies for each KRA
  • Identify, develop and implement a communication and engagement strategy with key local, national and international stakeholders.
  • Identify and form alliances with like-minded organisations to provide mutual services to Members of both organisations.
  • Serve the global membership, adhering to the Association’s purposes and to Council’s Code of Conduct.
  • Report to Members the results of Council performance reviews and quality control measures
  • Appoint Council Members with skills, experience and demonstrable outcomes in strategic planning, innovation and the implementation of feasible value propositions.
  • Recruit to Council and its subcommittees Members from different cultures, discipline, sexes and life stages.
  • Provide governance and leadership training opportunities for Members.
  • Apply continuous quality controls to ensure the Association meets the needs of Members.

Council and subcommittees

The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Inc. (the Association) is:

  • an incorporated association in the state of Victoria, Australia under the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (with registration number A0023234B);
  • a charity under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Act 2012; and
  • registered with an Australian Business Number (556 1066 4963).

The business of the Association is under the direction of Council. Council establishes subcommittees and other as-needed working parties consisting of members with terms of reference it considers appropriate.

The following gives a schematic representation of the current governance structure of the Association.

Council Diagram

Our Council

2023-2024

The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC
President

 

Cr Natalie Gray
Chairperson of Council

 

Martin Comte

Cr Martin Comte OAM
Vice-Chairperson of Council and Chairperson of Fundraising and Benefactions subcommittee

Cr Mary R Kelleher
Chairperson of Buildings and Facilities subcommittee

Cr Muan Lim
Chairperson of Finance and Audit subcommittee

Cr Molina Asthana
Chairperson of Governance and Nominations subcommittee

Cr Max Stephens
Chairperson of Membership and Marketing subcommittee

Cr Vincent J Mirabelli

 

Cr Jane Tisdall

Cr Natalie Gray

Cr Lawrence Grima

Cr Fausto Marasco

Cr Kylie O’Connell
Vice-Chancellor Representative from The University of Melbourne

Cr David Israel
Vice-Chancellor Representative  from The University of Melbourne

Our subcommittees

Buildings and Facilities subcommittee

The Buildings and Facilities subcommittee exists to monitor and review policies and practices relating to the development and management of buildings and facilities.

Chairperson
Cr Mary Kelleher

Vice-Chairperson
Cr Natalie Gray
Cr Max Stephens

Cr Michael Lynch
Cr Lawry Grima

Finance and Audit subcommittee

The Finance and Audit subcommittee exists to monitor and review policies and practices relating to the sourcing, management, control and auditing of finances as well as monitoring and reviewing the management of financial risk.

Chairperson
Cr Hong Muan Lim

Vice-Chairperson
Cr Jane Tisdall
Cr Lawry Grima

Dr Phillip Cobbin
Cr Vincent Mirabelli
Mr Nicholas Quinn
Cr Keith Ryall
Mr Leo Santalucia
Mr Rhys Watson

Mrs Kay Gulenc (External Accountant)
Mr Wayne Tarrant (External Auditor)

Fundraising and Benefaction subcommittee

The Fundraising and Benefaction subcommittee exists to monitor and review policies and practices relating to advancement, fundraising, benefactions, sponsorship, networking and endowments.

Chairperson
Cr Martin Comte

Vice-Chairperson
Cr Max Stephens
Cr Fausto Marasco​

Ms Janette Hocking
Cr Vincent Mirabelli
Mr Wal Reid
Mr Rhys Watson

Governance and Nominations subcommittee

The Governance and Nominations subcommittee exists to establish excellence in governance practice, formulate and review policies and practices relating to the effectiveness of Council and its subcommittees and ensure adequate Council succession planning.

Chairperson
Cr Molina Asthana

Vice-Chairperson
Cr Kylie O’Connell
Cr Jane Tisdall

Cr Natalie Gray
Mr Vincent Morfuni
Cr David Israel

Membership and Marketing subcommittee

The Membership and Marketing subcommittee exists to oversee the maintenance and growth of membership and to oversee the development of marketing of new or improved programs or services.

Chairperson
Cr Max Stephens

Vice-Chairperson
Cr Martin Comte OAM
Ms Janette Hocking

Cr Molina Asthana
Cr Mary Kelleher
Mr Keith Ryall
Cr David Israel
Cr Fausto Marasco

Remuneration subcommittee

The Remuneration subcommittee exists to monitor and review policies and practices relating to the performance and remuneration of the CEO/Head of College.

Chairperson
Chair of Council
Vice Chair of Council
Chair of Finance and Audit Subcommittee

Elections

Each year, The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne Incorporated (the Association) holds an election of Members to Council, the governing body of the Association.

The call for nominations for election to Council is released early each year, along with January/February newsletter and is on the Association’s website.

If there are more valid nominations than positions to be filled (usually three each year) a poll is held, with voting closing in the last week of May and the results announced at the Association’s annual General Meeting on the last Thursday of May.

Please see previous sections on this page for the composition of Council, and the Rules and Regulations relating to elections.

 
 

Schedule for the 2024 Elections to Council

ProcessDate and Time
Notice of Election / Opening of Nominations31nd January 2024
Close of Nominations7th March 2024 (4.00PM)
(if ballot is necessary)
Election Material is to be submitted
14th March 2024
Close of Voting23th May 2024
Announcement of results at AGM30th May 2024

This downloadable form is to request Non-Inclusion on the Register of Members sent to other Members.

This downloadable form is to request that Notifications and Publications are emailed rather than posted.

Council Governance Standards

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Council and its members are required to adhere to the governance standards prescribed under the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 including regulations made under that Act and by any statutory authority. As such, Council and its members must:

  • working towards the charitable Purposes of the Association as provided in the Rules
  • acting in the best interests of the Association and for its proper Purposes
  • working towards instilling confidence in the public that the Association is working towards its charitable Purposes
  • allowing Members adequate opportunities to raise concerns about how the Association is run
  • causing general meetings of Members to be convened
  • causing information to be made available to Members on the Association’s activities and finances
  • establishing clear processes for appointing Officers of the Association
  • acting lawfully to help protect the work, assets, reputation and the people of the Association
  • not acting on behalf of the Association in a way that, under Commonwealth, state or territory law, could be dealt with as an indictable offence, or a breach of law
  • causing reasonable steps to be taken to be satisfied that each of its Officers is disqualified neither from managing a corporation under the Corporations Act nor from being a responsible person by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) or by any other statutory authority
  • before appointing a person as an Officer, searching the ASIC Disqualified Persons Register, the Register of Disqualified Persons held by ACNC or any other statutory authority and undertaking further checks to be satisfied that the Officer is suitable to work towards the Purposes
  • before appointing a person as an Officer, requiring the person to sign a declaration relating to disqualifying offences and an agreement to notify the Association immediately if the person becomes disqualified from being a responsible person in the future
  • not appointing a person as an Officer of the Association, if this person is not suitable to work towards the Purposes and taking reasonable steps to remove a person as an Officer of the Association, if this Officer is determined as no longer suitable to work towards the Purposes of the Association
  • acting with reasonable care and diligence
  • acting honestly in the best interests of the charity and for its charitable purposes
  • not misusing their position as an Officer
  • not misusing information they gain in their role as an Officer
  • disclosing conflicts of interest, and acting appropriately in relation to material personal interests
  • ensuring that the financial affairs of the Association are managed responsibly
  • not allowing the Association to operate while it is insolvent
  • bringing these duties to the attention of each Officer of the Association
  • encouraging Officers to attend, prepare for and participate at Council and General Meetings
  • having processes in place to manage conflicts of interest, including provision for an Officer not to vote on matters where the Officer has a conflict of interest
  • taking reasonable action when an Officer is perceived as not carrying out the duties
  • making available to each Officer appropriate training and educational resources on their duties and responsibilities
  • requiring each Officer to sign a copy of this governance standard on election or appointment to Council
  • the values of the organisation and of the membership
  • the ethics of the Association
  • the communication protocols of the Association

Feedback to Council

Please feel free to give us feedback and suggestions for improvements to our governance, organisational structure, management, financial status or any other area of governance that has come to your attention. For more information, see our Governance page.

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Major Historical Milestones

The Graduate Union boasts a rich history spanning over 100 years. Below are some of our major milestones, esteemed Members and fond memories.

2019


Completion of BF Lounge of our Founding Mother

2019


First female President in The Hon Diana Bryant

2018

Barkly Place
Acquisition of the Barkly Place units

2016


The Graduate Union purchases all 13 apartments of the top floor at 50 Barry Street, Carlton.

2016


Diamond Jubilee Gala Ball

2015


The Graduate Union has its first Donor Thank You Luncheon.

2013


A very generous bequest from Dr Thomas Ron Albert Davey was put towards the repair and maintenance of the roofs of the William Berry Wing. The roofs are now known as the Davey Lofts.

2012


The William Berry Dinner (50th anniversary)

2012


First Influenza Day at Graduate House

2012


A generous bequest from long term member and philanthropist Dr Phillip Law led to the naming of the Phillip Law Members Lounge.

2011


The Graduate Union has its centenary celebrations.

2010


The redeveloped Stella Langford Wing is opened with meeting rooms, residential self-contained apartments and a multi-storey car park.

2005


The central four-storey college wing is opened, comprising 58 en suite rooms, a large ground floor dining room and lounge, an industrial kitchen and the Stillwell and Ian Potter meeting rooms.

1991

Graduate Union status changed from company limited by guarantee to incorporated association.

1988


The Ian Potter Foundation gives a generous donation which is used to improve dining and meeting facilities.

1984


233 Bouverie Street is purchased. This is sold in 2001 to fund redevelopment of the large warehouse site.

1974


Kidd’s Warehouse, from 216 to 220 Leicester Street, is purchased and is later (2005) redeveloped to form the current four-storey middle wing of the residential college.

1972


Graduate House is affiliated as the eleventh residential college of The University of Melbourne. It remains the only graduate-only college.

1971


The third stage of the terraces are opened. The library is named after Sir William Johnston, the 2nd President of The Graduate Union.

1970


The three terraces from 210 to 214 Leicester Street are purchased through benefaction from Stella Mary Langford.

1969

The Graduate Union incorporated as a company limited by guarantee.

1965


The second stage of the terraces are opened by Sir Rohan Delacombe and Chancellor, Sir Arthur Dean.

1962


Barbara Funder begins work as the office secretary at Graduate House.


The first stage of Graduate House as a residential college opens for seven graduate Residents. Brian Alec Parker was the first Resident at Graduate House.

1957


Gladstone Terrace from Grattan Street to 222 Leicester Street is purchased.

1953


The Graduate Union is formed as an independent body.

1948


The first paid Secretary and staff member of the Association, William (Bill) Berry, is appointed.

1950


The first Melbourne Graduates are published.

1938

An affiliation with the University Union from 1938 to 1952 resulting in the MUA being absorbed into the Union and known as the ‘Graduates Section’.

1926


Philanthropist Sidney Myer gives an endowment to secure the future of Monthly Luncheons. These continue today.

1919


Founding Member Robert Gordon Menzies, later the 12th Prime Minister of Australia, acts as honourary Secretary-Treasurer.

1911


Dr (Hannah Mary) Helen Sexton, Professor Georgina Sweet and Mrs Edith Sarah Cherry elected on the 29th April, 1911 to a provisional committee for a Graduates Association at a dinner held at the Grand Hotel (Windsor) and attended by 260 guests.

At the inaugural meeting of the Association at the rooms of Dr J W Barrett at 105 Collins Street, 4th May, 2011 the first formal meeting of the committee was convened. The Melbourne University (Graduates) Association was brought into being at the second meeting on 15th May, 1911.


14th July, 1911, Sir John Monash becomes the Association’s first Chairman.


Meetings are held in the rooms of Dr J W Barrett at 105 Collins St, Melbourne.

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Presidents of The Graduate Union

2019 –

The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC

An Australian Jurist, The Hon Diana Bryant was Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia from 2004 to 2017. Previously, she was the inaugural Chief Federal Magistrate of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia (now the Federal Court of Australia). Justice Bryant chairs a working group for the Hague Permanent Bureau in relation to Article 13(b) of the Child Abduction Convention. From 1977 to 1990, she was a partner with the firm of Phillips Fox in Perth where she practiced as a solicitor and counsel specialising in family law. She was a Director of Australian Airlines from 1984 to 1989. In 2012, Her Hon was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for “distinguished service to the judiciary and to the law, particularly to family law policy reform and practice, through the establishment of the Federal Magistrates Court, and to the advancement of women in the legal profession”. She was inducted into the Western Australian Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 in recognition of her involvement in establishing and supporting Women Lawyers of Western Australia and as a Patron of Australian Women Lawyers since 2009. Bryant holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from The University of Melbourne and a Master of Laws degree from Monash University.

2015 – 2019

Dr Ken V Loughnan AO

Dr Loughnan AO is Chairman of the Biosciences Research Centre (Agribio) and International President of Variety The Children’s Charity. Previously, he had been Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Telecom Australia’s international businesses for 10 years, operating in 52 countries; Chairman of the Skilled Group; and Chairman of the Bureau of Emergency Services in Victoria for almost 20 years. Dr Loughnan served on the Council of Victoria University from 2003 to 2011 and was Chair of the Victoria University Foundation from 2005 to 2011. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), of the Australian Institute of Management and of CPA Australia. Ken was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in 1994 “for outstanding service to international business and the development of global telecommunications”. He was awarded an honorary doctorate (Honoris Causa) by Victoria University in 2014.

2012 – 2015

Major General Professor Jeffrey V Rosenfeld AC, OBE, KStJ

Head, Department of Surgery at Monash University. Director, Department of Neurosurgery, Alfred Hospital. Clinician and prominent researcher with focus on neurotrauma. Major General, Australian Defence Force. Former Surgeon General, Defence Force Reserves. Member of the Order of Australia (2011) and Companion of the Order of Australia (2018). Officer of the Most Excellent Order of The British Empire for services in neurosurgery and to the University of PNG School of Medicine (2013).

2005 – 2011

The Hon John Cain

Former Victorian Premier and Professorial Associate in The University of Melbourne’s Department of Political Science and Centre for Public Policy. Director of the MCG Trust and a member of the Patrons Council of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria.

1999 – 2005

Mr Frank A Lees AM OBE

Mechanical engineer, awarded an Order of Australia and Membership of the Order of the British Empire, who served with the RAAF during World War II, including time in the Japanese occupation force. He has published his own book of haiku, Haiku Four Seasons.

1996 – 1999

The Hon Justice David L Harper AM

Barrister with a distinguished career at the Victorian Bar (1980-1991) and as Queen’s Counsel in Victoria and in New South Wales, who was appointed to the supreme court and is currently Chair, International Humanitarian Law Advisory Committee of the Red Cross (Victorian branch).

1995 – 1996

Dr Ralph W Howard

Politician, medical practitioner and business executive who had held medical directorships in major pharmaceutical and other industry companies; and university council positions. Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

1989 – 1995

Professor Emeritus Kenneth Hunt

World War II veteran and Professor of Engineering and Mechanics who was an instructor at Army College in the Citizen Military forces and Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University (1961-1975).

1986 – 1989

Dr Robin L Sharwood AM

Professor of Law, Warden of Trinity College, and canon law reformist with key leadership of the Victorian Law Foundation, discrimination in employment and occupation (1976-1977), Victoria’s criminal justice system (1979-1982) and the Anglican Church of Australia.

1983 – 1986

The Hon Sir John P Minogue

Criminal law barrister and World War I veteran who became Queen’s Counsel in 1957, a member of the Victorian Bar Council (1958-1962), Judge of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea, and Chief Justice (1970-1974) and the Victorian Law Reform Commissioner (1977-1982).

1980 – 1983

Rev Dr J Davis McCaughey AC

A bible scholar, church and university administrator who was Governor of Victoria from 1986–1992, Master of Ormond College at The University of Melbourne and inaugural President of the Uniting Church in Australia.

1977 – 1980

Mr Maurice Brown

Administrative staff college head, public service commissioner and university registrar, with key contributions to the Australian Universities’ Commission’s Committee on the Open University, Victoria’s child care system and the Victorian Public Service Board.

1971 – 1977

Dr Phillip G Law

Known as ‘Mr Antarctica’, the leader of Australia’s Antarctic exploration for nearly twenty years, establishing a permanent presence in Antarctica; mapping the Australian Antarctic coastline and focusing on scientific research.

1965 – 1971

Sir James B. Tait

Barrister, company director and 34 years with Equity Trustees (the last 12 as Chairman). Longstanding member of the Victorian Bar Council and chairman of Barristers Chambers.

1961 – 1965

Sir Alexander Fitzgerald

Accountant, educator and local government councillor who contributed to economic reform for Victoria’s water supply, railways, electricity and farming; and for federal and state governments.

1958 – 1961

Sir William W.S. Johnston

Medical practitioner who served in World Wars I and II and as a significant leader in the St. John’s Ambulance, the Australian Red Cross Society, the Melbourne Medical Postgraduate Committee and the Royal Australian College of Physicians.

1957 – 1958

The Hon Sir John S Latham CMG GCMG

Politician and jurist. Retired on appointment as 5th Chief Justice High Court of Australia. In 1925 became Federal Attorney General; and in 1932 was the Australian representative at the Geneva Disarmament Conference.

Patrons

The Patrons of our Association are appointed by Council in recognition of high standing in the community and for their demonstrated support and promotion of the objectives of the Association (see rule 9 of the Rules of the Association).

We are proud and honoured to announce the appointment in 2017 of our Inaugural Patrons, Ms Heather Kudeviita and Mr Neil Taylor, the profiles for whom are shown below.

2017

Ms Heather Kudeviita

Ms Heather Kudeviita was awarded Honorary Life Membership and appointed one of our Inaugural Patrons in 2017. Ms Kudeviita is well-known and much loved by GU Members and staff, and has contributed consistently to the Association since joining in 1962 (56 years ago). Ms Kudeviita was co-trustee of the William Berry (and [now named] Barbara Funder) Postgraduate College Trust with Barbara Funder from 1999 to 2016. She is a regular at GU Collegiate functions, particularly the monthly luncheons, and has hosted a French-speaking monthly lunch for several decades.

Mr Neil Taylor

Mr Neil Taylor joined the Graduate Union in 1975 and served as Chair of Council from 2004 to 2007, retiring in 2009 after ten years on Council. In 2009, Mr Taylor was presented with Honorary Life Membership for being ‘tireless in his support of the Graduate Union. Evidence of his generosity is apparent throughout Graduate House and most lately with him having named the ‘Taylor Room’ in the new Stella Langford Wing.’ Mr Taylor is a regular attendee at the Association’s functions, particularly the Monthly Luncheon and the annual events. He is passionate about the Association, has offered longstanding support and has strong and enduring cross-generational networks.

Mr Taylor was appointed one of our Inaugural Patrons in 2017.

Honorary College Fellows

2021

Professor Rachel Fensham

Professor Rachel Fensham

Professor Rachel Fensham, Director of the Digital Studio, Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne.

Professor Rachel Fensham was the Academic Mentor for United Board Fellow Dr Rafael Cabredo in 2019. She is a dance and theatre scholar, and Inaugural Director of the Digital Studio, Faculty of Arts.

Her 2021 Australian Research Council (ARC) LIEF project will establish an Australian Cultural Data Engine to aggregate and interpret data from a range of arts and cultural institutions. She also established the Theatre and Dance Platform in the Baillieu for housing digitized collections for the University and has managed a Linkage project investigating the impact of theatre for young people in regional Victoria.

Dr Ross McMullin

Dr Ross McMullin is an award-winning historian and biographer. His most recent book is Pompey Elliott at War: In His Own Words, his second book about Australia’s most famous fighting general in World War I. Ross’s previous biography, Pompey Elliott, was awarded the Christina Stead Award for biography and the Melbourne University Press Award for literature. His multi-biography Farewell, Dear People: Biographies of Australia’s Lost Generation was awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for Australian History and the National Cultural Award. His biography of Australia’s first official war artist, Will Dyson: Australia’s Radical Genius, was highly commended by the judges of the National Biography Award.

Ross also wrote the official ALP centenary history, The Light on the Hill, together with another political history, So Monstrous a Travesty: Chris Watson and The World’s First National Labour Government. He has been a prolific contributor of articles to newspapers; and, as an acclaimed speaker, he has delivered hundreds of talks to a wide variety of audiences.

Ross has been delivering the Remembrance Day address at Graduate House each November for the past three years and specialises in unearthing unfamiliar stories that underline the Great War’s severe consequences for Australia.

2020

Associate Professor Kate MacNeill

Associate Professor MacNeill is Director of the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) in the Faculty of Arts.

She continues to teach in the Master of Arts and Cultural Management program, in the School of Culture and Communication.

With a background in law and economics she had extensive experience in policy work in the government and non-government sector prior to returning to study art history, and obtaining a PhD in Art History (Identity and contemporary Australian art).

Her research interests include the intersection between law and artistic practice (in particular cultures of intellectual property and censorship), leadership in the arts and cultural sector, and ethics and creative practices.

Associate Professor MacNeill was one of the academic mentors for the two 2018 United Board Fellows.

Emeritus Professor John Polesel
Melbourne Graduate School of Education

Professor Polesel is Co-Director of the Centre for Vocational and Educational Policy and Director of International Centre for Classroom Research, Melbourne Graduate School of Education. His research interests include the relationship between schools and vocational training, models of education and training, VET in schools and youth transitions from upper secondary schooling in Australia and internationally. He has played leading roles in winning and conducting >70 major educational research grants and consultancies, focusing on young people, education and VET, including: the ACACA national longitudinal VET in Schools study tracking Year 12 students’ development of career and life skills across time (2018-2020), the Careers Guidance: defining and measuring quality project for NSW DEC (2014), the NSW BVET Destinations and Expectations Survey for the Office of BoS and NSW BVET (2013), and the Evaluation of the Senior Secondary School Pilots (DEECD Victoria 2012).
 
He has written journal articles, book chapters and commissioned reports, including in some of the most prestigious international journals such as Oxford Review of Education, Comparative Education, British Journal of Sociology of Education, Journal of Education Policy, Australian Journal of Education, and European Journal of Vocational Training. And chapters in major publishers, including Springer and Oxford University Press.
Professor Polesel was one of the academic mentors for the two 2018 United Board Fellows.

2019

Professor Dara S. Manoach PhD 

Professor Dara S. Manoach PhD is a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Professor Manoach received her doctoral degree in psychology from Harvard University. She then completed a clinical psychology internship at McLean Hospital and a Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at the Behavioral Neurology Unit of Beth Israel Hospital.

Professor Manoach is based at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital where she is the Director of the Sleep, Cognition and Psychopathology Laboratory (SCAN Lab).

Professor Manoach resides at Graduate House when visiting Australia (the last visit was in the latter half of 2018) to work with scientists at The University of Melbourne. These research collaborations focus on understanding the role of sleep in cognitive dysfunction and psychopathology in young people at risk for severe mental illness. This work will identify sleep biomarkers that can be treated to prevent psychosis and improve outcomes.

Professor Colin Norman

Professor Colin Norman is Professor of Astrophysics at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.

Professor Norman’s research focus is on both astronomy and astrophysics. He investigates traditional detailed mathematical physics- based descriptions of astronomical phenomena and undertakes large space projects where frontier technology meets the rigors of space based projects.

Gaining an undergraduate degree from The University of Melbourne, Colin then gained his doctoral degree (DPhil) from Oxford University. He has held appointments at Oxford, Cambridge, Leiden, Munich, Johns Hopkins University and the Space Telescope Science Institute, as well as many fellowships and visiting appointments at global centres in astrophysics.

Professor Colin Norman has been a Member of our Association since 1980 and is the son of Life Member Jean Downing who joined in 1949. He gave the 2018 Science Graduation Speech for The University of Melbourne and was awarded an Honoris Causa by The University of Melbourne in 2018.

Colin visits Melbourne annually and stays at Graduate House contributing to intellectual and spirited discussions about life and, literally, the universe.

2018

Dr Irma Mooi-Reci

Dr Irma Mooi-Reci is Senior Lecturer and Director of the Master of Social Policy at the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

Previously she worked as Assistant Professor and Programme Director of the Graduate School of Social Sciences (GSSS) at Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam.

Irma researches employment instability and its implications for individual careers, wage opportunities and public policy. Her research agenda encompasses three main areas: (1) the socioeconomic consequences of disruptive events such as unemployment, joblessness and casual employment; (2) the intergenerational consequences of joblessness; (3) application and innovation of quantitative methods for panel data. She has been a visiting scholar at the University of Madison Wisconsin in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and she is currently a visiting professor at Nuffield College, Oxford University. Irma has published in various journals including Social Science Research, European Sociological Review, British Journal of Industrial Relations and Social Forces.

Dr David Wilson

Dr David Wilson is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Engineering and Infrastructure at The University of Melbourne.

Dr Wilson is also a transport planner in Chicago and Los Angeles and a consultant to Port of Melbourne developing computer simulation model of land-sea interface. He has provided consultancy advice in logistics and transport to Australia Post, Australian Air Express, Kmart, Bunge Metals and Engineering, Ratio Planners.

Previously Director of Transport in Victoria, Dr Wilson has also been a Senior Research Fellow with the (then) Transport Research Centre (University of Melbourne and then RMIT) and an Invited Lecturer to the Department of Industrial Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Purdue University.

Dr Wilson has undertaken a number of research projects on project governance for the Victorian Government Department of Treasury and Finance and is well-published (and lectures) in transport planning and transport economics, and logistics. He has supervised Masters and PhD students at RMIT University, Monash University and The University of Melbourne.

2017

Professor Anne Steinemann

Professor Anne Steinemann is a Professor of Civil Engineering, and Chair of Sustainable Cities, at The University of Melbourne. She is internationally recognized for her research in areas of engineering and sustainability.

Professor Steinemann serves as adviser to governments and industries around the world, and has directed more than $24 million in competitive research funding. Her work has resulted in new federal and state legislation, agency policies, and industry practices.

Professor Steinemann has received the highest teaching awards at the college, university, and national levels. She has published over 55 peer-reviewed journal articles and two textbooks: Microeconomics for Public Decisions and Exposure Analysis. In addition to academic recognition, Professor Steinemann's research and journal articles have received significant international media coverage, spanning more than 1,000 major newspapers, magazines, and broadcast stations across six continents.

Professor Steinemann was made an Honorary College Fellow of The Graduate Union in 2017.

Professor Stephen Peterson

Professor Peterson developed and directed Harvard’s University Executive Education Program in Public Financial Management from 1986 to 2010. The Executive Education Program trained over one thousand five hundred senior government officials from forty seven countries, as well as officials from both international development agencies and non-government organisations.

During his time at Harvard University, Professor Peterson also taught public financial management in the Graduate program of the Kennedy School of Government.

Equipped with more than thirty years of experience in public financial management, financial management information systems, financial and administration decentralization, institutional development and project design and management, Professor Peterson has delivered public financial management training to the Polish and Philippines governments and additionally, designed a public financial management training program for the Zimbabwean Ministry of Finance.

He was a resident advisor for Kenya and Ethiopia for eight and twelve years respectively. In Ethiopia, he directed the reform of budgeting, accounting, disbursements, multi-year planning and financial information systems.

He is the author of the book, Administration not Management: How Ethiopia Reformed Public Expenditure – A Model for Developing Countries, and has drafted numerous peer-reviewed articles on public financial management and public sector reform.

Professor Peterson was made an Honorary College Fellow of The Graduate Union in 2017.

2016

Professor Depei Wang

Professor Wang is the Chief Economist at Forecast Thinktank, Shanghai and Vice President of the China Society of Economic Reform. He is a Senior Consultant for local governments, large enterprises and over one thousand industry and government projects. His major works include: China Economy 2016, The Future of RMB, The 4th “Finance Big Bang” and Rebalance – the Chinese Ascendancy and the American Power.

Professor Wang was made an Honorary College Fellow of The Graduate Union in 2016 during his visit to Australia.