July 25, 2014

Four high achievers honoured at UOW graduations

Honorary awards were bestowed on four individuals acknowledging their significant achievements when UOW conducted its mid-year graduation season from 23-25 July.

Jinghai Li 

UOW first celebrated at its morning ceremony on 23 July the accomplishments of Jinghai Li who has dedicated his life to scientific achievement, research excellence and enduring partnerships. UOW admitted Professor Li to an Honorary Doctor of Science degree.

Graduating in 1982 from the Department of Thermal Engineering at the Harbin Institute of Technology, Professor Li continued to build upon his educational foundations in chemical engineering. He completed his PhD in 1987 through the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Process Engineering. His disciplined approach to consolidating theoretical knowledge with practical experience was complemented by post doctoral research undertaken at the City University of New York and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

Such placements ensured that his education benefited from diverse perspectives and sparked a lasting commitment to international collaboration.

Professor Li returned to China in 1990, serving in a number of senior roles with the Institute of Process Engineering and eventually progressing to the respected position of Director of the Institute. His diligence and endeavours were recognised in February 2004, when he was appointed Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a position he continues to hold.

Mentored by the esteemed late Professor Mooson Kwauk, Professor Li is renowned for his expertise in pioneering the Energy-Minimization Multi-Scale model (EMMS). This is a powerful tool for scaling chemical engineering processes accurately and is widely applied across academia and industry. Professor Li’s academic integrity is recognised by his membership of a number of prestigious academic societies and he also holds positions on editorial committees and advisory boards for several international journals. He is the recipient of several international prizes and honorary awards that demonstrate the importance of his efforts towards global cooperation and reflect the high regard in which he is held by his academic peers.

Professor Li is the Board Chairman of the Baosteel-Australia Joint Research and Development Centre, an outstanding joint venture between one of the world’s largest steel companies and four leading Australian engineering universities, including UOW.

Professor Li has been instrumental in strengthening relationships between the Chinese and Australian steel industries by forging partnerships between research institutes, working collaboratively with the CSIRO and building linkages with industry.

UOW bestowed the honorary doctorate on Professor Li in recognition of his distinguished contribution to engineering, his efforts in strengthening the friendship between China and the University of Wollongong, and his significant service at the international level.

Rob Whelan 

Rob Whelan was admitted as an Emeritus Professor of the University of Wollongong at the University’s afternoon graduation ceremony held on July 24.

Following completion of a BSc (Honours) in Biological Sciences in 1974 at Flinders University and a PhD through the University of Western Australia in 1978, it was clear that Professor Whelan had embarked upon a lifelong journey as an innovative and dedicated researcher.

Professor Whelan pursued his burgeoning appetite for ecology and conservation biology through postdoctoral studies with the University College of North Wales from 1978-1979, which, among other things, included working on slugs, before accepting the first Archie Carr Postdoctoral Fellowship in Zoology at the University of Florida in 1980.

Professor Whelan’s distinguished career with the University of Wollongong began in 1982 when he joined the University as a Lecturer in Biology. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1985 and to Associate Professor in 1989, while also being awarded a Fulbright Senior Award in 1988.

As Head of the School of Biological Sciences from 1993-2002 and then Dean of Science from 2002-2008, he contributed significantly to the University’s growth and success in areas of research, curriculum and governance.

Professor Whelan’s research interests have increased people’s knowledge of the Australian environment, from the sex lives of the Banksia and Waratah to his seminal research on bushfire ecology, resulting in a major research monograph, The Ecology of Fire.

Professor Whelan’s excellent national and international reputation has been cemented by extensive scientific publications, involvement in a multitude of professional societies, numerous research grants and through the supervision of more than 40 Masters and PhD research students.

Professor Whelan has consistently demonstrated the ability to influence policy and law, serving on a range of Australian State and Federal Government committees. More recently, Professor Whelan undertook the challenging role of President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai from 2008-2011, continuing his commitment to academic excellence by introducing research programs and building cohesive organisational structures. Professor Whelan is now providing his leadership skills and creative experience as Deputy Provost at the United Arab Emirates University.

John Borghetti

The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Virgin Australia Group of Airlines, Mr John Borghetti, was admitted an Honorary Doctor of Laws at the Thursday afternoon July 24 ceremony at UOW.

Mr Borghetti has made a significant impact on the Australian aviation industry and on business leadership over a four-decade career.

He joined Qantas in 1973 and his distinguished career with the airline saw him rise to Executive General Manager in 2003, responsible for Qantas Domestic, International and QantasLink.

Commencing as Virgin Australia CEO and Managing Director in May 2010, Mr Borghetti’s ability to grow and steer ideas, his conviction, and his ability to reinvent, have been credited as the keys to his success in bringing competition to the industry and in lowering airfares.

Despite a challenging economic, regulatory and competitive environment, Mr Borghetti has overseen significant progress and change to Virgin Australia’s strategic direction, transforming the airline’s branding and positioning while forging important strategic alliances and growing passenger numbers.

Virgin Australia is now a global network with nearly 500 destinations.

Mr Borghetti also provides his business expertise to other organisations. He is a Director of Energy Australia, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Chairman of Tigerair Australia and has previously served as a Director of Jetset Travelworld, Sydney FC, Piper Aircraft (USA), the Australian Ballet and CARE Australia.

It is his leadership attributes that brought Mr Borghetti to the University’s attention. His commitment to collegial leadership, to ongoing staff development and talent recognition is well known and admired.

His vision and ability to successfully guide an organisation mirrors the University of Wollongong’s aim to build professional excellence and enhance responsible business leadership, through its Faculty of Business.

Mr Borghetti has personally participated in initiatives such as the Vinnies CEO Sleepout and has ensured Virgin Australia’s continuing dedication to a number of philanthropic community partnerships supporting youth at risk in Australia.

Mr Borghetti received his award from UOW for his outstanding contribution to business leadership.

Barbara Nicholson

Aunty Barbara Nicholson has received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the Friday morning graduation ceremony held on July 25 at UOW.

The University said it was honouring a leader, a teacher, a poet, an advocate and an inspirational role model - a woman whose thirst for knowledge and learning, and deep commitment to justice, spurred her to great accomplishment.

Born on the Aboriginal reserve at Kemblawarra, Aunty Nicholson was fortunate to have a mother who, denied the opportunity to pursue higher learning herself, rose above great personal adversity to instil in her daughter the importance of education.

Many of Aunty Nicholson’s children and grandchildren were on hand for her ceremony and to share the special day with her. They have been a source of great pride to her and are a key part of her journey of achievement.

Aunty Nicholson’s foray into higher education as a mature age student began with the Open Foundation of the University of Newcastle, where she later went on to complete an Arts degree with a triple major in literature.

Her relationship with the University of Wollongong began nearly two decades ago and over the years has included time spent as a lecturer in Aboriginal studies, history, law and literature, serving as an Honorary Senior Fellow in the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts since 1999 and a member of UOW’s Human Research Ethics Committee since 2006.

It is a relationship the University treasures.

Aunty Nicholson has often ensured that the spiritual wellbeing of UOW staff and students is cared for during their stay on this sacred land on which UOW is built. She has shared with countless UOW staff, students and visitors the significance of Mount Keira in Wadi Wadi culture as a grandmother and has often remarked that it is no accident that this place of learning sits at the feet of grandmother mountain, who watches over and nurtures all that goes on here.

In addition to her achievements as an educator, Aunty Nicholson has excelled in the arts as a poet and as a champion and mentor of Aboriginal writing. Her scholarship and creative writing is widely published and has been presented at numerous national and international conferences.

She serves on the Board of the South Coast Writers’ Centre and is a member of the Black Wallaby Indigenous Writers Group and the First Nations Australia Writers Network.

For decades, Aunty Nicholson has been at the forefront of grass-roots campaign to achieve justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. She was a driving force behind Link-Up, an organisation committed to reuniting and supporting families and individuals affected by Australia’s removal policies. Her commitment to tackling the over-representation of Indigenous Australians in the criminal justice system saw her give many years of service to the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Watch Committee, and bring tertiary education and creative writing opportunities to Koori prison inmates.

Support for Aunty Nicholson’s award has come from a wide variety of friends, colleagues and former students from within UOW, and across the Australian higher education, government and community sectors.

She was awarded the honorary doctorate for her significant and ongoing service to the University of Wollongong and her outstanding contribution to law and social justice in Australia.

Media contact: Bernie Goldie, UOW Media Consultant, +61 412 454 124, bgoldie@uow.edu.au or Elise Pitt, UOW Media & PR Officer, +61 422 959 953, epitt@uow.edu.au.