Our people

Good universities are all about people and their energy, creativity and commitment.

Buildings, equipment, resources and organisational structures are important, but ultimately a university's success and reputation depend on what people do.

Each month we profile 5 staff here. They are just some of over 1600 individuals who make Flinders the university it is today. Each is a representative of many.

We hope that their stories explain why we're so proud of what Flinders does, and of its place in the community.

Professor Iain Hay

School of Geography, Population and Environmental Management

A human geographer and one of our most inspirational lecturers, Iain has been honoured by the British Academy and Australian Institute of Urban Studies and in 2006 was given the ultimate accolade, receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year. Professor Hay is the author or editor of 8 books and over 75 chapters and papers in professional journals and has held visiting appointments at universities in Auckland, Edinburgh, Kentucky and Manchester. He co-founded the International Network for Learning and Teaching in Geography.

 

 

 

Katie Cavanagh

School of Humanities

Katie’s varied professional training in IT, English and visual arts equips her both to run our new courses in Digital Media and Multimedia and to teach a suite of topics in project management, professional studies and professional presentations that are offered to students across the University. The new media programs combine theory and practical hands-on training, covering the technical, visual and content aspects of modern communications.

 

 

 

 

Paul Worley

Dean, School of Medicine

A former rural doctor, Paul pioneered the idea of students spending a year based in rural practices and associated hospitals. The program has since been widely adopted in Australia and overseas. As Foundation Director of our Rural Clincal School he continued to develop the concept of a symbiotic curriculum whereby universities and health services work together to train doctors for the 21st century. In 2006 he won a Carrick Citation for University Teaching Excellence, the South Australian of the Year Award in Education, and the national B-HERT award for collaboration between business and higher education in the community.

 

 

 

Dr Graham Mair

School of Biological Sciences

Graham is part of the team that brought the $140 million national Seafood Co-operative Research Centre to Adelaide (headquartered in the University-owned Science Park). As leader of the CRC’s largest research program – value chain profitability – he will be involved in charting the future of an important Australian industry. His credentials to do so include 18 years’ experience in applied research in aquaculture with a focus on genetic management in fin fish and the role of aquaculture in development. Dr Mair is also President of the Asian-Pacific Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society.

 

 

 

Stephen Hoare

Gardener, Buildings and Property Division

A gardener at Flinders for 13 years, Stephen leads one of three teams dedicated to maintaining and improving the University's 165 hectares, including ovals, landscaped gardens, courtyards and bushland. The 11 grounds staff also run a program to remove pest plants and reintroduce local native plants to the campus. This program involves volunteers from the local community, students from Flinders' ecotourism course and TAFE, as well as members of the University's ecological groups.