Senior staff appointments
The start of 2012 has seen the appointment of some key strategic roles at the University of Adelaide, including its first Pro Vice-Chancellor to oversee the student experience and a new Executive Dean to chart Roseworthy's future expansion. Student Experience A new role which oversees the student experience at the University of Adelaide has resulted in the appointment of Professor Denise Kirkpatrick as the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience). Professor Kirkpatrick will be at the forefront of creating and delivering strategies that recognise student needs and provide an environment that encourages them to reach their full potential. Professor Kirkpatrick has worked as an academic, senior leader and manager in open and distance, dual-mode and on-campus universities in Australia and the United Kingdom. Her most recent role has been Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning, Teaching and Quality) at the Open University in the United Kingdom. She takes up her University of Adelaide appointment in May.
Earth and Environmental Sciences Associate Professor Jenny Watling has been appointed the new Head of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Adelaide. A plant physiologist with interests in plant responses to climate change, parasitic plants and heat production in plants, Associate Professor Watling has been a member of the School since 2001. Her PhD research on photosynthetic physiology of rainforest plants was undertaken jointly at James Cook University and the ANU. After completing her PhD, Associate Professor Watling was a post-doctoral researcher and then a lecturer in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield in the UK. Currently she has research collaborations in Japan, the US, the UK and Australia.
Agriculture, Food and Wine Professor Mike Wilkinson is the new Head of the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine at the University of Adelaide. The UK-born research scientist, who joined the University in September 2011, is best known for his work on quantifying the risks associated with GM crops, and has published extensively in this area. Prior to immigrating to Adelaide in 2011, Professor Wilkinson established the world's first Master of Science focused on training regulators of GM crops, a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A specialist in plant genetics, Professor Wilkinson has previously worked at the Scottish Crop Research Institute in crop research and cytogenetics, was Director of the Institute of Biological Sciences at Aberystwyth University and also Trustee of the National Botanic Gardens in Wales. He has a PhD from the University of Leicester in hybridization and evolutionary processes in wild grasses.
Architecture Construction and planning expert Dr George Zillante has been appointed the new Head of the School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Adelaide. He is due to take up his appointment in July. Associate Professor Zillante has more than 20 years' experience in architecture, urban and regional planning, building, surveying, business administration and construction. He also has a strong track record in teaching, research and government advisory roles. His appointment coincides at a key time for the School, which has a new curriculum for its Bachelor of Design Studies and a new Professional Advisory Board, chaired by architectural editor and commentator Justine Clark.
Roseworthy Campus Professor Iain Reid has been appointed Executive Dean for the University of Adelaide's Roseworthy Campus. In his new role, Professor Reid will have responsibility for the overarching strategic direction at Roseworthy, particularly the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, as well as its extensive community engagement activities. Professor Reid has most recently overseen the next stage of the development of the Vet School, including plans for the new $10 million Equine Health Centre. He was also Dean, Postgraduate Coursework and Academic Director of the Ngee Ann-Adelaide Education Centre in Singapore.
Business School Damian Scanlon is the new Director of the University of Adelaide's MBA program. The Adelaide MBA graduate has more than 15 years' experience as a senior executive in Australian publicly-listed companies as well as 10 years in small and medium enterprises. Recently Mr Scanlon has been credited with taking the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) from two to 22 employees and overseeing the conversion of the old Adelaide Stock Exchange building into the RiAus Science Exchange. One of Mr Scanlon's key priorities will be to encourage employers to start re-investing in postgraduate education for their senior staff to take advantage of expanding business opportunities in Asia.
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