As Griffith University prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, the institution is looking ahead with an ambitious plan to bolster its ranks with 100 new academics.
Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans said the plan will see the best and brightest new early and mid-career researchers take up ongoing positions across Griffith’s campuses in South East Queensland.
“We have the maturity, the comprehensiveness and the deep roots that allow us to do first-rate research, but we’re still young enough to be agile, ambitious and an exciting place to work,” Professor Evans said.
“This is a serious investment in our future, and I invite Level C and B academics from across many of the disciplines at the university to make their career here at Griffith.
“Our university has great momentum at the moment, making it an exciting time to be here on campus.
“We’re beginning to see enormous achievements in research to match our already outstanding reputation in teaching and learning, and the student experience.
“We’re engaging with communities across Queensland, and I believe the next 10 years are going to be very exciting leading up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane.”
Professor Evans extols the virtues of working at Griffith, describing it as a warm, caring and inclusive environment.
“It’s one of the loveliest workplaces I’ve ever had the opportunity to work in and it lives and breathes its values,” she said.
“Griffith really believes it is important to make a difference in the world, to reach out to people that education has sometimes left behind, and to do research that will impact and benefit communities that often are not a top priority for others.”
Dr Johanna Nalau from Griffith’s School of Environment and Science teaches the university’s world-first master’s degree in climate change adaptation, and just this week was announced as the winner of the Australian Financial Review Higher Education Emerging Leader award.
“The university has a uniquely inclusive and diverse culture with a lot of focus on support, and I also think there’s a culture of innovation,” Dr Nalau said.
“There’s a lot of focus on how to support emerging leaders and get ideas off the ground while at the same time supporting staff so they can excel.
“I have amazing mentors who understand what it means to be a woman in a demanding career with significant childcare responsibilities.
“Griffith Sciences has a fund for people who are sole carers, which helps us go to conferences.
“Having that financial support is important, it enables us to have those informal discussions and expand our networks with colleagues at other universities.”
Professor Evans said ultimately, this plan for 100 new ongoing recruits will benefit every aspect of Griffith’s culture.
“Students will gain more opportunities to engage with permanent staff and our university’s research performance will reap the benefits,” she said.
“Even in these financially constrained times, the very best place to put money is into people.”
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