Bond University Council and Senior Management held a joint strategic planning day on 10 March to consider a ten-year vision for the university.

The Business Council of Australia this week released a report entitled "New focus needed on business innovation", that questioned the 'workplace-readiness' of Australian University Graduates. To read our Chancellor's response to the issues raised in the report, click here.

The Chancellor also recently addressed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), sharing his insights into 2006 in a speech titled "Bull or Bear?". To read the speech, click here.

Chancellor Trevor Rowe AM hosted a lunch in Sydney yesterday, where Adjunct Professor The Honourable Richard Alston was the guest of honour. There were many high profile leaders from the worlds of finance and business in attendance.

The Essendon Bombers have given the recent upgrades to the Bond University Sports Centre a big thumbs-up during a recent weights training session.

The AFL team were on the Gold Coast for a trial match against the Brisbane Lions at Carrara Stadium.

Essendon’s Strength and Conditioning Coach John Quinn said he was impressed with the quality of Bond’s training facility.

“The facilities here are really terrific, and I was surprised to see there was also an Olympic-size pool we could make use of.

“Plus, the proximity of Bond to both our hotel and Cararra stadium was very handy,” Mr Quinn said.

Mr Quinn said the team enjoyed the Gold Coast sunshine, though it was “certainly a lot warmer here than what we’re used to in Victoria ”.

“Training here a week prior to the game certainly helped us to adjust,” he said.

“It was great being on the Gold Coast, and we were able to make use of the beach during our recovery sessions. The only problem is sometimes the players can go into holiday mode and need to be reminded to focus,” Mr Quinn said.

Essendon joins a long list of elite sporting teams who have previously chosen Bond’s Sports Centre as their Gold Coast training base, including the Brisbane Lions, Andre Agassi and the Australian Swim and Surf Lifesaving teams.

Bond Sports Centre Manager, Russell Ramsay said; “It’s wonderful to have hosted Essendon training sessions here at Bond. It’s always a great buzz for our students to have elite athletes training on campus and hosting high profile teams such as the Bombers helps make people more aware of the quality facilities at Bond,” he said.

Pictured left with Bomber's player James Hird, Mr Ramsay said the recent expansion of the Bond Sports Centre was in response to growing demand both from Bond students and the community at large.

“We attract a lot of members from the community because we are actually one of the more affordable gyms on the coast, with annual memberships for $620; (Alumni are entitled to a discounted member rate of only $88 per semester).

“Our recent upgrades include the installation of new equipment in the gymnasium, a new personal training studio, aerobics room and yoga and Pilates studio, and a common recreation area that can be reserved for special events,” he said.

To contact the Bond University Sports Centre, phone +61 7 5595 4100.

After successfully turning his hand to careers in graphic design, hydroponic farming, stockbroking and jewellery design, Austrian-born Peter Heitzinger is now taking the hospitality world by storm, thanks to his innovative Spoon Deli Café chain.