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Vice-Chancellor hosts political alumni event

Wednesday, 18 March 2009

ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor will address some of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s most senior politicians this evening when he hosts an alumni function at Parliament House, Canberra.

Deputy Opposition Leader, the , and former Democrats leader will be among those present at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s first Federal Parliamentary Alumni Network gathering for 2009.

All three are graduates of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide who have made their mark in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n politics, along with fellow alumni Labor frontbencher , ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Ambassador to the , and ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Ambassador to Italy, Ms .

Professor McWha will outline the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s recent developments and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the higher education sector when he addresses some of the country's most influential people.

Earlier in the day Professor McWha will host a lunch for about 80 ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide alumni currently living and working in the nation's capital.

Among those present at the luncheon will be one of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s most acclaimed scientists, , who is credited with overseeing the global eradication of smallpox and controlling ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s rabbit plague through the introduction of myxomatosis. Professor Fenner graduated from the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide in 1938 with a medical degree.

The Director of the , , who holds a Doctor of Letters from the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide, will also attend the luncheon, along with award-winning young scientist Dr Ines Atmosukarto, who last month won the 2009 ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Alumni Award for Research and Innovation in Jakarta.

The Federal Parliamentary Alumni Network, instigated by arts graduate Natasha Stott Despoja, is believed to be the first established by an ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n university. It provides an opportunity for federal Members of Parliament and key parliamentary staff to re-engage with fellow ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide graduates on a semi-regular basis.

Ms Stott Despoja is a Visiting Research Fellow at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide in the , along with former Foreign Affairs Minister in the Howard Government, .

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