2012 Staff Awards

A number of staff were recently acknowledged for excellence in teaching, research, service and engagement at the Faculty Staff Awards 2012.

Staff awards have previously been decided based solely on written application; this year, a number of ‘commendations’ were also added in the four categories, submitted by Heads of School or area. The peak awards in each area were still decided based on the traditional method of application.

It's fantastic to look over the great variety of work our staff are being awarded for – curriculum design, research across a variety of areas, service in administrative and academic areas, and the very varied ways we are approaching engagement, with industry, with partner organisations, with schools. These awards are also a really good snapshot of the very great variety of work being done throughout the Faculty.

Here are the award recipients for 2012:

Teaching Commendations:
Ms Helen Yang, School of Accounting and Finance
For contribution to the scholarship of trans-national teaching and her leadership as site coordinator, Liaoning University.

Ms Elizabeth Porublev, School of International Business
For innovation and creativity in the design and development of assessment form and media in the unit Advertising and Market Communication.

Dr Di Fan and Dr Annie Delaney, School of Management and Information Systems
For leading and implementing the redesign and redevelopment of the Human Resource Management BBus specialisation.

Dr Jennifer O’Reilly and Dr Carolyn Woodley, Victoria Law School
For having the strongest student feedback in the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Student Evaluation of Unit in VLS and SZCC respectively.

Award For Excellence In Teaching:
Dr Naomi Augar, School of Management and Information Systems
For outstanding work leading the development of the new BSPISM Information Systems Management specialisation, resulting in the streamlining of two previous degrees, and achieving a very favourable outcome when the new specialisation was re-accredited with the Australian Computer Society.


Research Commendations:
Dr Maria Prokofieva, School of Accounting and Finance
For proactive efforts to establish a postdoctoral research profile in accounting research, working with international and Australian collaborators and for producing outputs judged by her peers as exemplary.

Dr Torgeir Watne, School of International Business
For proactive efforts to establish a postdoctoral research profile in consumer behaviour research, working with international and Australian collaborators and for producing outputs judged by his peers as exemplary.

Dr Axel Korthaus, School of Management and Information Systems
For proactive efforts to establish a postdoctoral research profile in information systems, working with international and Australian collaborators and for producing outputs judged by his peers as exemplary.

Ms Megan Bowman, Victoria Law School
For initiating debate and discussion on the role of banks in impacting government climate policy to promote corporate responsibility and encourage capital flow to alternative energy markets in the wider community.

Dr Min Jiang, Centre for Tourism and Services Research
For concerted efforts as a postdoctoral research fellow to establish a strong emerging research reputation built on significant publications and grant efforts in the area of Tourism and the Green Economy.

Award For Excellence In Research
Dr Nada Kulen, School of Accounting and Finance For outstanding research leadership and an excellent publication record in the areas of tourism economics and tourism forecasting. Service Commendations



Service Commendations:
Ms Marlene Alvares, School of Accounting and Finance For consistent high level of service provided to both students and staff, noting her contribution to the improvements to the Student Experience Surveys and involvement in the SES Review Working Party.

Ms Tina Jeggo, Faculty Office
For expert and professional support to postgraduate research supervisors and higher degree by research (HDR) students.

Award For Excellence In Service:
The undergraduate selection officer team: Rob Jovanovic, Austin Norman, Nick Billington, George Comodromous, Abdul Rahman, Mohamed Saleh, Francine Brennan, Ray Magid, Lisa West, Despina Whitefield
For undertaking one of the most important tasks within the Faculty, namely evaluating all applications made for admission to undergraduate courses. Many thousands of applications need to be considered, ranked and offered.


Engagement Commendations
Dr Peter Demediuk, School of Accounting and Finance
For outstanding engagement and collaboration through long term relationships and activities with external networks, industry, alumni in the workplace all contributing to knowledge sharing and service to VU, its community and the wider business community.

Mr Scott Murray, Faculty Marketing Team
For outstanding engagement with secondary school students and teachers throughout the western region and beyond, via a rich program of curriculum-focused business and law programs.

Award For Excellence In Engagement
The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre team: The Hon Frank Vincent, Sue Marshall, Heather McLean, Desiree Holland, Melanie Perkins, Tony McCartney, Silvana Scibilia, Elizabeth Rigney, Phil Tang, Dr Carolyn Woodley, Andrew Cope, Pamela Wilson-Endrina, Leanne Glover-Richards, Anastasia Vu, Joan Broughan, Christopher Leach, Yang Zou, Betty Presilska, Nadeepa Goonatillake, Dr Rodger Fernandez, Virginia Trescowthick, Madeleine Bracher, Joel Edwards, Stella West, Ryan Edwards, Katherine Strudwick, Marlowe Wynne-Woodley, Darcy Pannam, Matt Anderson
For the entire team at the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for working to engage with hundreds of partners to enhance the professionalism of workers in legal roles and to empower workers with increased legal literacy.

Faculty Graduation News

1033 students from the Faculty of Business and Law graduated at ceremonies held at Flemington Racecourse in late May. The Faculty was well represented, with two excellent valedictorian speakers in Simon Glage and Chloe Tubbs.

Valedictorian: Simon Glage [BBUS (Banking and Finance / International Trade)]
Simon achieved a perfect record of 24 high distinctions in his course, which was a complete change in direction for the qualified physiotherapist. Simon embodies the opportunities Victoria University provides for those who seek a change in direction to develop new skills and capabilities, as well as the importance of lifelong learning.

Valedictorian: Chloe Tubbs [BBUS (Tourism Management / Event Management)]
While finishing her studies, Chloe worked at Destination Melbourne, where she now has a full time job as Marketing Coordinator. Chloe has won several VU and industry Awards, including WIL Student of the year (2011) and the Melbourne Airport Developing Tourism Leaders. She has been a great ambassador for the industry and Victoria University.

Two of our graduates were also successful in receiving University Medals this round, Arlene Sherren and Eliza Foley.

University Medal Undergraduate: Arlene Sherren [BBUS (Marketing/Event Management)]
Arlene Zelina Sherren received consistently high grades in her units of study, and was a model of attention, participation, good will and conscientiousness in class activity. Both creative and analytical, we look forward to hearing more on her future success. www.arlenezelina.com.au

University Medal Undergraduate HONS: Eliza Foley, Bachelor of Laws (Honours Level 1)]
During her time as a student Eliza was the winner of one of the mooting awards in the International Phillip C Jessup Moot court competitions, as well as being a grand finalist in the Clayton Utz mooting competition the year before. Eliza is currently working as a graduate solicitor to Freehills, a large firm of solicitors in Melbourne. Eliza has volunteered her time over several years to work as a paralegal at the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, where she provided legal support to lawyers advising refugees on their rights, and assisting with applications for permanent residency.

Dr Valerie McGowan: Victoria University Medal for Excellence for Higher Degree Research.
In her PhD, Valerie compared quality management methods in Japan and Australia, and from extensive interviews and case studies, she found that the successful Japanese approach to quality control management placed emphasis on technical aspects of quality control in comparison to the Australian practice, which focussed on people issues and labour management relations rather than formal structures. Valarie was supervised by Professor Peter Sheehan from the Centre for Strategic and Economic Studies.

Congratulations are due to all of our Valedictorians and University Medal winners, and to all of our graduates!

VU Students are Good Sports

A current and a past Faculty of Business and Law student are amongst a group set to represent Australia on the international sporting stage in 2012.

Gregory Farrell, a BBUS (Accounting) graduate,currently studying a Bachelor of Laws, and Ironman Triathlete, has qualified to compete at the Ironman World Championships on Kona, Hawaii in October 2012. The pinnacle race in the sport of triathlon, the Ironman World Championships consists of a 3.8km open water swim, 180km individual time-trial cycle and a full distance 42.2km marathon run.

Bachelor of Business graduate and current Education student Renuga Vithi Veeran is set to represent Australia at the London 2012 Olympic games in the Women’s Badminton doubles; the London 2012 games will be Renuga’s Olympics debut. Gregory and Renuga are pictured above with Vice Chancellor Peter Dawkins, and Executive Dean, Business and Law, Colin Clark.

Other competitors with VU connections are Exercise Science & Human Movement student Ross Smith, who will be competing in the Men’s Badminton doubles. Ross has competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Also making his Olympic debut is VU Alumni Ivo Dos Santos. After placing first in the 2012 Oceania Judo Championships in Cairns earlier this year, Ivo’s ambitions were realised when he made the Olympics team. Ivo also teaches adult and children’s judo classes, and endeavours to nurture the next crop of Australian judo stars.

Current Education student Stephanie Cumming is shooting goals with the Australian Emerging Opals Basketball team, and will be competing in the 4 nations Tournament in China later this month. Stephanie was also 2011’s VU Sportswoman of the Year.

VU Connects with Local Community

Bill Forrest, Director of Advocacy,
Wyndham City Council

VU is committed to fostering connections with the local community, including local councils. An example of this was a recent visit to the School of Accounting and Finance by Mr. Bill Forrest, Director of Advocacy at Wyndham City Council. Dr. Nick Sciulli, Head of the School of Accounting & Finance’s Research Discipline group on Governance and Accountability, hosted the visit. He said its aim was to explore the potential for collaborative, mutually beneficial research projects between the council and interested academics in the School.

Mr. Forrest's position is a new one at the council, and reports directly to the CEO. A core strategic goal of the role is to influence public policy and resource allocation decisions by State and Federal Governments and other key stakeholders. Given that Wyndham City is located in one of the highest growth regions in Australia, several submissions have already been made to State and Federal Governments on issues such as a sustainable population strategy, environmental design, public health and transport challenges.

Several possible research proposals were explored in the meeting with Mr Forrest. The School has agreed to commence an exploratory project investigating the motivations for, and drivers of, advocacy strategies in local councils. As well as resulting in original published academic research, Dr Sciulli said the project would provide local councils with useful data that they could use to benchmark and evaluate their own advocacy strategies.

Former student shares current knowledge

James addresses the class

James Thackray, a former student of Planning for Long Term Wealth Creation unit (BEO3347), who is now a Private Client Adviser with RBS Morgans, returns to his former class as a guest speaker on the 25th of May, 2012.

James was able to convey to the class the reality of working in this area, the joy of stock market investing, and technical details on the operation of the stock market. He also provided a summary of micro and mac ro factors affecting markets around the world.

The students found James’ hour-long talk useful and informative. Thank you James!

Meet our People - Brianna Newland

Brianna Newland

Brianna Newland is a lecturer in Event Management in the School of International Business. She started with VU in July 2011. Prior to starting at VU, Brianna was a lecturer in Sport Management in the Department of Kinesiology and Health at the University of Texas in Austin. Brianna has a doctorate in Sport Management, and a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and Nutritional Sciences.

Brianna’s research interests focus on the study of sport development in various capacities. From a broad perspective, these areas include: how sport organisations sustain their future by attracting and nurturing participation –both elite and mass participation; what fosters/hinders adult participation in sport and how our sport delivery systems might be modified to foster growth; how key stakeholders impact the development and delivery of sport’; and how sport events can be leveraged to develop sport and community, especially at the grassroots level. My work explores the overlap between sport policy, the future patterns of sport delivery, and development of sport.Brianna and a group of her students recently volunteered for the inaugural Ironman Melbourne, and says of the event, 'It was a great opportunity to work with them in the field and to expose them to an event they had yet to experience'

Brianna is proud of finally following her heart and taken a job abroad. 'Melbourne provides an excellent environment for my research interests. I’m excited to work with industry and explore my many unasked questions!'

Currently, Brianna is exploring the meaning of sport in the lives of adult sport participants, and how that fosters and/or hinders involvement in sport throughout the lifespan. She is also examining what drives athletes to partake in destination races; what is driving intentions to race and travel great distances – is it the event features or the destination attributes?

Lastly, Brianna is exploring the impact of key stakeholders on the development and delivery of triathlon in the US and Australia.

In her ‘spare’ time, Brianna trains for triathlon. She completed her first Ironman distance triathlon in November 2010, but she enjoys all the distances. ‘I’m looking forward to my next Ironman next year. I also love to travel and look forward to exploring this side of the hemisphere!’