From the Vice-Chancellor

The world faces some strong headwinds at the moment, and it seems we are moving into a whole new era characterised by climate change, biodiversity loss, growing inequality, rapidly rising costs of living and geopolitical conflict.

It is also characterised by people mobilising to address these challenges, and there are many hopeful signs of progress towards creating a zero carbon and circular economy, and a more biodiverse and inclusive world.

Addressing these challenges, and making a real difference to Tasmania – and the lives of Tasmanians – is the core mission of this University.

It is what drives our research, our teaching and our student experience, and we are very grateful to all who support this mission through their generosity. As you will read in this magazine, your philanthropy makes a real difference, here on the island and beyond.

Looking across these stories, I am struck also by the persistent themes of excellence and accessibility. These two go hand-in-hand, as innovation and enduring positive change relies on the contribution of diverse experiences, skills and knowledge. No community can afford to turn away from calling upon and supporting this richness. Likewise, no one should miss out on making a contribution simply because they can’t afford to.

Those who are supporting access scholarships are making a profound difference here. Your generosity enables us to welcome and graduate many students each year who are the first in their families to attend university – and even, in some cases, to finish school.

I have been fortunate in the past 12 months to meet on campus with some of the University’s scholarship recipients. Many have broken an educational ceiling in their communities and even a taboo against higher learning.

I am as proud of each one of these students as I am of our internationally recognised researchers. Your giving changes lives and ensures our world-class research continues to thrive. Gift by gift, your philanthropy is helping to transform our State.

Thank you for your support of our University, our students and our work.

Professor Rufus Black Vice-Chancellor