One of the region’s most influential leaders is leaving their post after 15 years at the helm.
James Cook University’s Professor Sandra Harding AO has begun her final year as Vice Chancellor after an instrumental decade and a half that saw her showcase the tropics on a global scale.
The lengthy stint means Professor Harding is Australia’s longest-serving vice chancellor at a single university, a role which she says is a substantial but wonderful job.
“Vice chancellors are the CEOs of the university world,” she says. “It’s a weighty job.”
“I knew that from the day I took on the responsibility of being the vice chancellor of James Cook University, I would never not have that responsibility until I left the role.”
Despite the immense responsibility the job demands, Professor Harding says it has been the honour of her life to serve the community as Vice Chancellor.
“I’ve been privileged to be here as part of this outstanding community.
“I was really keen on JCU because of its unique position. It’s a very interesting university, and it’s one that is unique in its focus on the north of our country, and also in its focus on the tropics worldwide.”
It’s this tropical focus that has seen Professor Harding achieve her greatest success, with her noteworthy contribution to the State of the Tropics project that saw 11 research institutions across the tropics come together.
As convenor of the project, Professor Harding shared the stage with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi at the landmark launch in 2014. The project was later recognised by the UN with its own International Day of the Tropics, marking the day of the report’s launch on June 29.
I’ve been privileged to be here as part of this outstanding community.
JCU Chancellor Bill Tweddell says Professor Harding has played a central role in the university’s success.
“Under Sandra’s leadership, the University has flourished: revenue has doubled to over $550 million per year, she has overseen an ambitious and essential capital development and renewal program, and JCU has achieved significant growth in student numbers.
“JCU’s teaching and research excellence has also been globally recognised.
“To all that she undertakes, Sandra brings not just professional skills of the very highest order but also outstanding personal attributes: exemplary ethical standards and integrity, and leadership,” Mr Tweddell says.
“Her ability to engage government and industry on the importance of northern Queensland and the Tropics has been a clear feature of her time as Vice Chancellor.”
Professor Harding says the goal for her final year is simple.
“I want to make sure that the university is in the strongest possible position for the incoming vice chancellor.
“We need to work hard to ensure that our students are receiving the sort of quality education that they deserve, so really it is about positioning the university for the incoming vice chancellor and working our way through the challenges that we face.”
While leaving what is essentially a 24/7 job will take some getting used to, she says she is confident that it is the right time to do so.
“We need the next generation to come in and to express the wonder of this place in a new and fresh way, and I’ll be very please to sit back and see the university go from strength to strength.”
With a number of organisations still benefitting from her contributions, Professor Harding says she most likely won’t have much time to put her feet up even in retirement, but is looking forward to spending more time with her husband, daughters and two grandchildren.
Connect Cairns wishes Professor Harding all the best for her final year at JCU, and looks forward to welcoming in the new vice chancellor in the coming year.
