Bond University has appointed one of Australia’s leading clinical researchers, Professor Helen Chenery, to head its Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine in the role of Executive Dean.
Professor Chenery has extensive strategic and operational experience in executive leadership roles within the higher education sector, most recently as Professor and Director of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Neuromodulation (APCN) at The University of Queensland (UQ).
Prior to this, she was the Deputy Executive Dean (Academic) in the Faculty of Health Sciences at UQ, which included the medical school, for four years.
Bond University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Tim Brailsford said Professor Chenery’s appointment was significant both within the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine and for the University.
“As Executive Dean of Health Sciences and Medicine, Professor Chenery will be accountable for the growth and performance of the medicine program and the suite of health degrees on offer, and will also be pivotal in driving external engagement with key stakeholders in the health professions,” Professor Brailsford said.
“Professor Chenery brings with her numerous strengths and attributes; she is a strong scholar and researcher in her own right, with a substantial track record of publications and grant income.
“More importantly, she is skilled and experienced in creating, and leading, interdisciplinary teams and she understands the significance of teaching and learning excellence which is pivotal to the student experience at Bond.”
Professor Chenery said she looks forward to driving a strong partnership agenda at Bond in education, research and service. Collaboration and engagement with the community and the University’s stakeholders will be key areas of focus in her new role.
“In addition to the quality of Bond’s educational programs and the calibre of its students, I am impressed by the University’s strong niche areas of research, its excellent researchers and the fact it is outward facing and community oriented,” Professor Chenery said.
“Whilst acknowledging the importance of fundamental scientific research and its dissemination through peer-reviewed publications, I also want to ensure our research is accessible and is translated for maximum benefit to the community and the society in which we live.”
Professor Chenery said she would look for opportunities to grow the educational offerings of Health Sciences and Medicine, and for interdisciplinary educational and research opportunities across campus.
“By drawing on the collective strengths, expertise, dedication and enthusiasm of the entire Bond community – our academic staff, our talented students and our external stakeholders including the end-users of our research and the employers of our graduates – we will be able to give back to the community, to help solve society’s significant and enduring health problems and ultimately build a brighter, and healthier, future for Australia,” she said.
Professor Chenery has more than 30 years’ experience as a clinician and researcher, assisting people who have lost the ability to communicate as the result of a sudden neurological injury, such as stroke or head injury, or who have a slowly progressive neurological condition such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s Disease.
She will commence as Executive Dean, Health Sciences and Medicine Faculty at Bond University in September 2014.