October 19, 2023

Lord Ian Botham tours UOW’s cutting-edge Innovation Campus facilities

Cricket legend and UK’s trade envoy to Australia toured the campus and met with local businesses

The University of Wollongong (UOW) welcomed cricket legend and the United Kingdom's Trade Envoy to Australia to its Innovation Campus on Wednesday 18 October.

Lord Botham has embarked on a strategic tour in Australia aimed at strengthening trade partnerships and exploring opportunities between the UK and Australia as part of the free trade agreements signed in December 2021.

_{Lord Botham in conversation with Professor Tim McCarthy, Director of Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC).}

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph Lord Botham said: “Both countries have the opportunity now to expand.”

“Look at the advantages for the 18 to 25-year-olds, they can travel freely as of January 2024.

“These kids have been locked up for two years because of Covid and now they have a chance to travel and I think they’re all itching to go so I think we might see a bit of a race to the aircraft come January.”

_{Lord Botham with Cr Gordon Bradbery AM, Wollongong City Lord Mayor and Illawarra-based business executives.}

UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Patricia M. Davidson also told the Daily Telegraph that the links between the University and the UK were growing stronger.

“Anything that facilitates the exchange of knowledge and creates opportunities for our students is something we are very interested in,” she said.

“One thing I am really excited about as part of this free trade agreement is facilitating the mobility of young people between Australia and the UK.

“At the University of Wollongong we have about 350 students from the UK … so it’s really exciting to have this dialogue, it makes a lot of sense.”

_{Business executives interacting with Lord Botham at iAccelerate.}