This month, we celebrate the achievement of winning two United Nations of Australia Association World Environment Day awards: the Szencorp Green Building Award for the 6 Green Star Design Rated Mirvac School of Sustainable Development building and an individual Award for Outstanding Service to the Environment to Emeritus Professor Tor Hundloe. Congratulations to the staff of the School of Sustainable Development for their ongoing commitment to outstanding programs in sustainable design and research.

The Pratt Institute in New York is considered to be the leading architecture school in the world. Dean of the Institute, Professor Tom Hanrahan, visited Bond University this month to participate in a curriculum workshop for our Soheil Abedian School of Architecture, opening in January 2011. This academic friendship is a credit to the Advisory Board as it is the first time the Pratt Institute has worked with any Australian school of architecture. It is with international relationships such as this that we can inspire students and educate them to become internationally recognised ‘work ready’ graduates.

I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Professor Lars McNaughton who joins Bond from the University Of Hull, as the new Head of the School of Health Sciences. I look forward to working with Professor McNaughton as he leads the School of Health Sciences.

Open Day is fast approaching and we should expect to see many great displays from all faculties. It is one of the most important days on the Bond calendar, and I encourage as many members of the Bond community as possible to visit the campus on this day.