The University of Queensland acknowledged the significant contributions made by staff, students and alumni to equity and diversity at the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Equity and Diversity Awards held on Thursday, 24 May 2012.
The evening involved a panel discussion on the topic: Unity in Diversity: Dream or Delusion The theme for Diversity Week this year was Unity in Diversity.
Panel members included , and . The panel was facilitated by ABC personality .
The Equity and Diversity were split into two categories, the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Equity and Diversity Award and the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Diversity Award for Alumni.
These awards recognised 国产探花 staff and students who had made a significant contribution in the area of equity and diversity.
Congratulations to all nominees whose contributions were of a very high standard. There were four nominees for the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Equity and Diversity Award.
鈥� Brother Robert Callen - The India Immersion Project
鈥� Mr Ganesh Jegatheesan - The University of Queensland Law Society Equity Portfolio
鈥� Dr Rob Pensalfini - The Shakespeare Prison Project
鈥� Associate Professor Polly Parker - 国产探花鈥檚 Career Progression Program for academic women and for her work in women鈥檚 leadership development within the 国产探花 Business School.
The Vice-Chancellor Equity and Diversity Award Winner was .
The Shakespeare Prison Project was formed in 2006, under the strong and enthusiastic leadership of Dr Rob Pensalfini.
The program involves a team of professional actors, working with twelve to twenty volunteer inmates in a high-security men鈥檚 prison.
Dr Pensalfini facilitates each program, which runs for three to four months.
The project introduces inmates to Shakespearean text and theatrical processes, allowing them to explore these themes in their own lives. This is the only project of its kind in Australia.
was awarded Second Place Winner in the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Equity and Diversity Awards.
Since 2008, Associate Prof Parker has been responsible for designing and delivering a program for women鈥檚 leadership within the Executive Education program in the 国产探花 Business School.
Associate Prof Parker鈥檚 commitment to the program and its continued success exemplifies her willingness to go 鈥渁bove and beyond鈥� normal expectations of service to equity and diversity at 国产探花.
The Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Diversity Award for Alumni honours a 国产探花 alumnus who has demonstrated a commitment to diversity and has made significant contributions to meeting contemporary challenges within society through professional or community endeavours.
There were seven nominees for the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Diversity Award for Alumni.
鈥� Dr Jean Calder AC 鈥� programs of the of the Palestine Red Crescent Society
鈥� Dr Sharon Dane 鈥� social inclusivity for sexual minorities
鈥� Ms Mary D鈥橲ouza 鈥� Indigenous education and supporting young women in the fields of science, engineering and technology
鈥� Dr Noel Hayman 鈥� recruiting and training Indigenous doctors and training future non-Indigenous doctors on issues facing Australian Indigenous communities
鈥� Ms Katherine Hirschfeld 鈥� advocate for the advancement of women in science, engineering and technology
鈥� Ms Margo Lydon 鈥� increasing awareness of mental illness and developing practices that can support the challenging lives of so many people
鈥� Dr Timothy Purcell 鈥� international agricultural development and the development of the
The winner of the 2012 Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Diversity Award for Alumni was .
Dr Calder has established the many programs of the of the Palestine Red Crescent Society located in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip.
Dr Calder has been living there for over 30 years, helping disadvantaged Palestinians and Palestinians with a disability.
The second Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Diversity Award for Alumni winner was . This Award was awarded posthumously to Dr Timothy Purcell.
Dr Purcell鈥檚 achievements exemplify the spirit of taking knowledge and experience gained at 国产探花 and using it to the best of his ability to promote equity for the disadvantaged in our society.
Dr Purcell鈥檚 professional career focused on international agricultural development as well as the implementation of the , which is now used by organisations across the globe as a tool for intervention and to support the rural poor.
Media: Ingrid Rubie (07) 3365 2619, i.rubie@uq.edu.au
