The university sector will be vital in the state’s recovery from COVID-19, according to incoming University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry.
Professor Terry returns to UQ on Monday (3 August) after more than six years serving as Vice-Chancellor and President of Curtin University in Western Australia.
Professor Terry said UQ was an incredibly strong university, and she was delighted to be back at a time when educating graduates, engaging in research and enriching communities were more important than ever.
“Queensland will need new ideas, new skills and new jobs to power its economic and social recovery and UQ will be at the forefront of this,” Professor Terry said.
“At this time of great disruption, I am convinced that universities will be critical to the road to recovery, and this is no more evident than in UQ’s extraordinary progress in developing a COVID-19 vaccine.
“I look forward to working with UQ staff, students and alumni to build on Professor Høj’s legacy to further enhance the University’s already excellent global reputation for learning and research and delivering knowledge leadership for a better world.”
While yet to officially start work, Professor Terry visited the St Lucia campus on Sunday to meet staff and students hosting UQ’s first virtual Open Day.
About 10,000 people registered in advance for Open Day activities, which include 13 virtual tours, ‘On Air’ events and more than 45 hours of on-demand video content for participants.
UQ Chancellor Mr Peter Varghese AO said he was delighted to have secured Professor Terry as Vice-Chancellor of UQ.
“Her deep knowledge of the higher education sector and her proven track-record as a leader gives me great confidence that she will continue to build on UQ’s many achievements under the leadership of Professor Peter Høj,” Mr Varghese said.
“During her time at Curtin, the university’s global reputation and rankings significantly improved. It is now widely considered to be one of Australia’s rapidly rising universities and is ranked number one for graduate employment in Western Australia.
“Debbie is well known to our UQ community having worked here for 24 years and rising to become UQ’s Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, before being appointed Vice-Chancellor at Curtin University in 2014.
“On behalf of the UQ Senate, I am very pleased to welcome Debbie back to UQ.”
Media: UQ Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 1130; +61 429 056139.