Sir Richard Branson, head of international brand Virgin, flew into the centre of the Bond campus for an hour-long question and answer session on Sunday 30 March.
Arriving in appropriately spectacular style via helicopter, the English entrepreneur packed the University’s Cerum theatre with more than 600 students, Alumni and staff, all vying for a chance to hear the words of wisdom direct from the mouth of the self-made billionaire.
Bond student and mastermind behind the impromptu visit, Brandon Sowers, used his personal contacts to invite Sir Richard to Bond on behalf on the Bond Investment Group - a student-run association that engages with industry leaders to run seminars and educational workshops on investing for its members.
Filling the role of MC for the event, Brandon was most nervous about getting the event off the ground in two days.
"It was a fantastic event - pretty amazing what we were able to achieve with just two days notice." Brandon said.
"The support from the University, the Business School and the Bond Investment Group was phenomenal.
"Feedback from other students has been great. They’ve told me it was so inspirational seeing a fellow student in such a big arena (interviewing Sir Richard).
"The feedback from the Faculty has been great too. They’re planning on showing the pod cast to students in class and looking at a case study of what goes into pulling together such a large-scale event in just two days.
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| Chris Farrington, Sir Richard Branson, Brandon Sowers and Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Stable |
"For me, interviewing Sir Richard and helping to bring the event together was the biggest feeling of accomplishment I could ever imagine.
"I think it showed every student there that you can think big, even while at uni, and accomplish something great," Brandon said.
The surprises continued for the proactive student who was invited by Sir Richard to fly with him by helicopter to the V-Festival at Avica Resort.
During the evening, CEO of Virgin Management Asia Pacific and Bond Alumnus, Mr David Baxby and Sir Richard quizzed Brandon on his career aspirations.
"Throughout the time I spent with them, their questions began getting more directed at my career and then they asked if I would be interested in joining the Virgin Group in their Sydney ‘incubator’ and working with David," Brandon said.
Not surprisingly, the soon-to-be graduate jumped at the opportunity, accepting their offer to join the Virgin’s Sydney office when he completes his Business degree in September this year.
Although reluctant to place expectations on his future endeavours with Virgin, Brandon hopes that he might have the opportunity to be mentored by David Baxby.
Plans for his time with Virgin are equally undetermined but Brandon says; "Ultimately, I hope to fill some management shoes at Virgin and set up a future company for them – one that is environmentally friendly and has the same business ethics practice that Sir Richard has".
The seminar was the third organised by The Bond Investment Group this year, and Brandon says their latest high-profile coup is just the beginning of what the group hopes to achieve.
"The Bond Investment Group consists of more than 150 members and has continued to grow, and we now have some great support from the Alumni community and from the Faculty as well," he said.
"With the support of Alumni and sponsors we have $50,000 in our investment fund already, and hope to start trading with it at the beginning of next semester."
For now, Brandon is focusing on exams but looks back at the whirl wind week-that-was as a strange dream.
"I don’t think I’ll believe it until I’m sitting at my desk at Virgin with my Virgin staff card!"
The Honourable Justice Michael Kirby AC of the High Court officiated the April 11 launch of Bond University's new Centre for Forensic Excellence - the first forensics research centre in Australia that draws together the inter-disciplinary fields of science, law and criminology.
Bond University now offers the broadest range of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Accredited programs in Australia, after being welcomed as a Partner University by the internationally respected professional body. 
Bond University and the Asian Development Bank have partnered with the Commonwealth Secretariat to deliver a Public-Private Partnerships Leadership Program (from April 7 – 12) to senior government officials from developing Pacific nations, designed to improve cost savings and efficiency in public service delivery in the region. 
Family businesses are fast becoming a powerhouse to be reckoned with, according to Bond University Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Family Business, Dr Justin Craig.
A team of outstanding Bond University students has taken out fourth place in the Global Management Challenge international final in Bucharest, Romania, held April 15 – 16.
The Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland branch), with the support of Bond University, is offering half a million dollars worth of grants to Queensland high school students for excellence in academic work, sporting and community contribution. 
Our achievements and accolades this month range from MBA students representing Australia on the world-stage in global business planning competitions to Law staff and students contributing to the successful petition for a re-hearing of Graham Stafford's case to try and overturn his 16-year-old murder conviction. We also recognise the efforts of Mrs Dee Leadbetter, Professor Patrick Keyzer and students Bridie Jabour, Sarah Flomersfeld and Jessica Golding. 
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