I have been a member of academic staff within the School of Chemistry since 1999. My belief is that the University can only thrive as an organisation if all members of staff, i.e., academic, professional, technical, and casual staff, are working collegially and harmoniously as an organic whole. Furthermore, I believe that this situation is only achievable if staff at all levels can enjoy a degree of self-determination and the freedom to pursue their own ideas, rather than their tasks being completely externally defined by administrative superiors. Staff have a right, not only of payment, but also of enjoying the work that they do. Out of this enjoyment will spring increased productivity and the future prosperity of the University.

Many of my 20 years of working at the University have been spent as a Teaching Laboratory Director. In this role I have interacted closely with numerous academic, professional, technical, and casual staff (demonstrators), as well as thousands of students. I have found these interactions very rewarding, particularly when all staff members are working together towards achieving the same goal, such as an enhanced student learning experience. I am also actively engaged in research, and fully appreciate a University’s dual commitment to both teaching and research. I believe that the broad experience I’ve gained in University life places me in an excellent position to make further positive contributions to the success of the University of Sydney through the NTEU.