Visit by the University of Western Australia
The Chancellor of the University of Western Australia (UWA) together with senior members of the academic staff visited London for their annual meetings with London and the wider UK-based alumni. These meetings are a regular event for the University and while the Vice Chancellor couldn’t visit London this year, we were extremely pleased to welcome the Chancellor, the Honourable Robert French AC.
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17 October 2024
The UWA’s annual dinner for alumni was held at the Royal Automobile Club and was attended by around 100 alumni members and guests. The special lecture at the dinner was delivered by the leading Western Australian (now London-based) ophthalmologist, Professor Lyndon Da Cruz on the groundbreaking research he is undertaking with others on cell transportation for macular and retinal dystrophies. A reception was also held the following evening for other alumni members in the Churchill Room, at the House of Commons. Thirdly, an Ambassadorial Council meeting for the UWA Business School was held in the Western Australian Government Offices in Australia House.
This is a busy set of engagements for the University and members of the alumni and one which is of great importance to the University.
One member of the UWA delegation, Professor Mike Tobar, came to the UK as part of the delegation in order to promote the proposed ARC Quantum Centre of Excellence that will be led by UWA; he will direct if the bid is successful. It has just been announced that Mike was awarded the Harrie Massey Medal & Prize by the Australian Institute of Physics, so a new quantum research centre could not be in better hands. Carolyn Gallop, from the London Office, arranged a programme for Mike that included him attending the City Quantum & AI Summit 2024 at Mansion House, and meeting UK and Australian government policy officials and a number of potential industry partners.
The London Office is always ready to assist in these arrangements and to host events. Notre Dame University held a similar event in our Offices earlier this year, as have several Western Australian private schools. All gatherings have seen large numbers of alumni attend, reflective of the number of Western Australians who seek to work, study or visit the UK.
