Australia’s first private, independent university, Bond University, will commemorate three decades of innovation and entrepreneurship with a week-long program of events to celebrate its 30th Anniversary.
From 13 to 19 May 2019, Bond will celebrate in style with a full calendar of Homecoming activities, bringing together past and present students and staff – and the wider Bond community – to celebrate the major milestone.
Bond University’s Vice Chancellor and President, Tim Brailsford, said the 30th Anniversary celebrations would honour the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that had been the lifeblood of the University since it was founded.
Bond University first opened its doors on May 15, 1989 with a foundation cohort of 322 students. Today it has around 4,500 students who come from all over the globe on its picturesque lakeside campus, featuring buildings designed by 2019 Pritzker Prize winning architect Arata Isozaki.
Today, Bond is among the top-20 small universities in the world, outranks every major Australian university for undergraduate student experience and is No.1 in Australia for graduate employer satisfaction.
Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Tim Brailsford, said the University challenged the status quo from day one, enabling its steady rise to become a global leader in education excellence.
“For 30 years, Bond University has been an outlier amongst our peers – a disrupter, a risk-taker, a change-maker – and these admirable traits can also be seen in our students and alumni,” Professor Brailsford said.
“Over the years, we have faced challenges and many in the education sector believed we would not succeed, but we have thrived in our mission to re-imagine what a university education could be.
“Our more than 27,000 graduates have proven the success of the Bond University formula. They’ve moved into high-flying careers, working in more than 100 countries and in some of the world’s largest corporations and government organisations.”
These alumni include Sky UK and Ireland CEO Stephen van Rooyen, the king of Tonga Tupou VI, Netflix Director of Product Research and Consumer Insights Caroline Morgan, World Champion sailor Mathew Belcher, Paralympian and Legal Counsel to the Annabel Williams AOC and Burleigh Brewing Founder and CEO, Peta Fielding.
Bond’s 30th Anniversary celebrations kicked off in early April when the University unveiled a 6.5-metre stainless steel sculpture, Limitless, which lists the names of all its graduates and enjoys pride of place beneath the iconic Arch building.
While festivities are likely to continue throughout the year, there will be a number of major event highlights during the week of Bond’s official 30th Anniversary Homecoming Celebrations, 13-19 May.
- Marking a significant investment in Health infrastructure, Bond will officially launch the new extension of its cutting-edge and highly anticipated Health Sciences & Medicine building on Monday, May 13. After 12 months of construction, the revolutionary new building will add 4,500 square metres of extra space for the Faculty and its students, including new teaching facilities, innovative learning areas and increased recreational space.
- On Thursday, May 16 Bond will hold its annual Alumni Awards Dinner to celebrate the achievements of ‘Bondies’ that have forged new heights of success in their careers and community.
- With a number of sporting matches being played out across the week, a highlight will be a rugby union clash between Bond’s Bull Sharks and Norths from Brisbane on Saturday, May18 - marking 30 years since the Bond University Rugby Club was founded.
- The diamond in the Homecoming crown will be the 30th Anniversary Gala Ball, which will see 1,000 past and present students celebrate alongside staff and the wider Bond community at The Star Gold Coast on Saturday, May 18.
Professor Brailsford said that while it was only natural to reflect on Bond’s esteemed past during such celebrations, it was in the University’s future-focussed nature to explore what lies ahead.
“Bond University’s success is very much attributed to the vision, drive and passion of a dedicated and energetic group of business and community figures who believed the Gold Coast needed its own university,” he said.
“During our celebrations, we will recognise the entrepreneurial spirit and ‘have a go attitude’ that is synonymous with our city - which laid the foundations for Bond University.
“Perhaps more importantly, these celebrations provide an opportunity to come together and look to the future - to highlight the innovation, emerging technologies and future-thinking programs that will allow Bond to continue to lead the way in education.
“On behalf of the University, I would like to thank everyone who has been part of the Bond story over the past three decades – students, alumni, staff, partners and the many important members of our close-knit community, reaching far and deep around Australia and the world.
“I look forward to what I am sure will be a wonderful week of festivities in May - and throughout the remainder of the year - and am immensely energised and excited about what promises to be a very bright future for Bond in the years ahead.”
For more information on the 30th Anniversary Homecoming celebrations, visit Bond University’s website.
Bond University 30th Anniversary Homecoming event highlights:
- Monday, May 13: Official opening of the Health Sciences & Medicine building extension (private event)
- Wednesday, May 15: Wednesday by the Water – Celebrate Foundation Day with a group photo in the quadrangle for students, alumni and staff, followed by a social barbecue
- Thursday, May 16: Alumni Awards Dinner – Celebrate the achievements of ‘Bondies’ that have forged new heights of success in their careers and community
- Friday, May 17: Alumni Leaders Forum - Alumni leaders from around the world converge on campus to discuss key advocacy matters, strategic priorities and broader opportunities for the University (private event)
- Friday, May 17: Walk the Bond Heritage Trail - Join an immersive and nostalgic campus walking experience that will blur the lines between past, present and future
- Friday, May 17: Family & Friends Festival – Bond staff and students will celebrate under the stars and enjoy food, drinks, live music and a spectacular fireworks display
- Saturday, May 18: A series of engaging public lectures and workshops from various faculties in the new Health Sciences & Medicine Building
- Saturday, May 18: Rugby Union Home Game – Bond University Bull Sharks vs North Brisbane
- Saturday, May 18: AFL Home Game – Bond University Bull Sharks vs Coolangatta-Tweed
- Saturday, May 18: 30th Anniversary Gala Ball at The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach
For further event details, download a copy of the 30th Anniversary program.