What life looks like in the driver’s seat: An evening with the Chancellor
With the turn of the calendar comes the anticipation of our much-loved formal dinners. This month we had the honor of hosting Chancellor David Thodey AO FTSE as our guest speaker. We were also joined by Chairman Paul Baram, Deputy Chair Emeritus Professor Bettina Cass and USYD AUJS president Isaac Wine. The evening was a captivating blend of stories, great food and even better company.
With a career that spans chairing major companies like Xero and Ramsay Healthcare, co-chairing the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Climates Leader Coalition Contributions, shaping public policy, and traversing the globe to do it all, it makes the rest of us wonder if we have been underestimating our daily planners. But despite his wide array of achievements, what truly stood out was his ability to connect with each one of us in the room, patiently answering our eager questions and offering us valuable advice and perspectives. From discussing cutting-edge technology and research, to the importance of celebrating indigenous culture and diversity, he spread his love for innovation with all of us.
The evening began with a touching Acknowledgement of Country, led by our resident Izzy (a proud Budjiti woman) and Ronita (descendent of the Illyrian people). The resonant sound of the clapsticks and didgeridoo, played by Logan (a proud Darkinjung man) and Andres, filled the room, creating a powerful connection to the land and its ancestors. This was followed by an introduction to the poem “Spiritual Song of the Aborigine” by Cassia Melanie, who commended the poem’s depth on Indigenous spirituality and bond with the natural world. Noah (a proud Kamilaroi man) then brought the poem to life with a heartfelt recitation.
In his speech, David Thodey spoke about his new role as chancellor, being a part of a learning community and driving the university towards innovation. He highlighted the importance of immersing oneself in community and celebrating culture. He urged us to say yes to every opportunity and to take this time in university to cultivate curiosity. Mr Thodey emphasized that while ambition can propel us forward, it is our principles that define us at the ending of the day. When he touched on the importance of making friendships, I couldn’t help but smile at my friends around the room, feeling grateful for the bonds we’ve built during our time here at college. The Chancellor concluded his speech with a tribute to the university’s values “Trust, Accountability and Excellence”, encouraging all of us to sit in the driver’s seat, take action and thrive.
With this, I’m now on my way to earning 6 credit points in CIA1824: Curiosity, Innovation, Action.
Article by: Simran Vaswani. Simran is a first year Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Master of Pharmacy Practice student. She was dux of the college in semester one and was awarded the Mandelbaum House Chancellor Academic Achievement Award.
Photographer: Giselle Haber www.gisellehaber.com.au