At the Convocation Alumni Council meeting on 1 October 2025, chaired by Warden Emeritus Professor Jenny Gregory AM, business included the following:

Governance & Presentations

• Presentation from Professor Guy Littlefair and Professor Zach Aman on Experiential Education (WIL), India campuses, and AI impacts on higher education:
  • Two India campuses approved (Chennai – STEM; Mumbai – business), launching August 2026 with Masters programs.
  • Experiential Education model approved for rollout in 2026 with new preparatory and internship units.
  • AI impacts:
    • Rapid adoption compared to earlier technologies.
    • Rising youth mental health hospitalisations linked to social media; AI expected to intensify impacts.
    • Employers prioritise critical thinking and AI literacy.
    • Curriculum must rebalance critical thinking, cognitive load, human interaction.
• Minutes of the 6 August 2025 meeting confirmed.
• Email circular decision (25 August 2025) to fund the UWA Historical Society publication on UWA and WWI was formally ratified.

Guild & PSA Reports

• No written reports submitted for October.

Senate Updates

• Dr Bob Olivier elected Pro-Chancellor.
• Senate focusing on India campus developments, budget, and strategic planning.
• Domestic enrolment growth remains challenging.
• Dental School and Optometry School highlighted for significant community service contributions.

Strategic Planning & Governance

• Council’s Strategic Plan must align with Senate and SAC strategic plans; progress dependent on their timelines.
• 2026 Convocation Elections:
  • Positions: Warden and three Councillors.
  • Nominations open 3–28 November.
  • Promotion scheduled across newsletters, website and West Australian advertisement.
• Statute Transition (2026) will gradually reduce elected members to 14 in 2028 with major implications for committee structure.
  • Emphasis on portfolios, documented processes, KPIs, succession planning.
  • Special meeting scheduled for 5 November to discuss and review structure.

At the Convocation Alumni Council meeting on 6 August 2025, chaired by Warden Emeritus Professor Jenny Gregory AM, business included the following:

Governance & Administration

• Minutes of the 4 June 2025 Council Meeting and 2 July 2025 Special Council Meeting confirmed.
• Council provided feedback on proposed graduation ceremony date changes for the University.

Business Arising & Action Items

• Work continues with the Celebrating Our Graduates Working Party on engagement events and possible Alumni Weekend planning.

Guild & PSA Reports

• Food Pantry Appeal highly successful; improved tracking and recording of results recommended.
• O-Day 2, campus activities, Tavern renovation and period product dispensers noted.
• PSA finalised first round of grants and will attend the national CAPA conference.

Academic & Senate Updates

• Progress on UWA’s India campuses (Chennai & Mumbai) with 2026 enrolments expected.
• Senate priorities include the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, student hardship fund, cybersecurity, branding, and WA university merger discussions.

Key Decisions

• Approval of dual title: “Convocation: UWA Alumni Association”
• Recommendation to Senate to expand Convocation (voting Alumni) eligibility
• Award regulations revised and endorsed for the Postgraduate Research Travel Awards and Matilda Award for Cultural Excellence.

At the Special Convocation Alumni Council meeting on 2 July 2025, chaired by Warden Emeritus Professor Jenny Gregory AM, business included the following:

Finance

• Financial Statements for year ended 31 December 2024 approved.

Facilities & Equipment

• Proposal to fund upgrade of the Convocation Monitor at University Club ($1,408 + GST) withdrawn following committee discussion; referred to IT Committee for review and possible university-led options.

Awards

• 2025 Matilda Award for Cultural Excellence awarded to Limina: A Journal of Historical and Cultural Studies.
• 2025 Convocation Postgraduate Research Travel Awards granted to 14 recipients across multiple categories, with awards recorded in academic transcripts.
• Awards Ceremony for invited guests scheduled for Thursday 21 August 2025.
• Awards Committee to review regulations later in 2025, including updating terminology (e.g., “Convocation Council” to “Alumni Council” as per UWA Statute changes).

Student Support Initiatives

• Council to assist UWA Student Guild by jointly hosting Mid-Winter Food Drive for disadvantaged students and communicating details to members.

Branding & Identity

• Discussion of draft dual title: “Convocation: the UWA Alumni Association” (subject to legal review).
• Suggestion to refresh logo design periodically and develop a naming strategy by collating existing branded collateral.

Other business

• Senate Advancement Committee Planning Day confirmed for Friday 4 July 2025.

Next meeting: 6 August 2025 (documents due 15 July 2025).

At the Convocation Alumni Council meeting on 4 June 2025, chaired by Warden Emeritus Professor Jenny Gregory AM, business included the following:

Membership matters

• Approved the application of a member for non-graduate Convocation membership, to be recommended to Senate.

Guild President’s report

• Cost-of-living initiatives implemented for students (free dinners, discounted breakfasts)
• New EVA Policy with a 2-day waiver then 15% penalty for late assessment.
• $1.50 daily parking cap for postgraduates using parking at Claremont campus.
• Consultation role in proposed Ferry Service to UWA

Postgraduate Students’ Association report

• Restructure to create dedicated welfare portfolio; free library study snacks well received.
• Uptake of parking permits noted but low usage - communication improvements needed.
• Early planning for HDR Festival underway.

Convocation Senators report

• Strategic planning for next five years underway, prioritising student experience.
• Suggestion to invite Chief Marketing Officer to present future brand strategy to Council.

Finance Committee report

• Annual audit progressing

Council Committees forward planning

• Increased Convocation Connecting mailing list engagement from 4,000 to 10,000.
• Planning support for Awards Ceremony (21 Aug), Spring General Meeting (18 Sep), and annual Senate-Council Dinner (20 Oct).
• Website updates for awards, honours, fundraising appeals and potentially memorabilia.
• Exploration of UWA presence at WA Citizen of the Year Awards.

Strategic plan portfolio assignments

• Councillors allocated portfolios aligned with schools, clubs, or societies to strengthen networking and collaboration.

Next meeting: 2 July 2025