Endorsement for Ross Coppel, election to University Council

Prof Ross Coppel

Professor Ross Coppel is standing for re-election as staff representative on University Council. Professor Eric Morand and Faculty General Manager Tim Stephens are urging staff to support his election (all staff were emailed a voting link today). 

Ross has over 24 years experience as a researcher and academic leader and will be an informed voice, for the Faculty and the University. He is a strong advocate for investment in our core businesses of teaching and research and our most important asset – our people. His mission on the Council is to ensure the University sustains its ranking as a top 100 university worldwide. 

Council members play a crucial role in determining the direction of the University. It is essential that the staff member elected will make decisions that are in the best interest of the staff of the University, and understand the complex environment in which we operate. 

Ross Coppel's Candidate Statement

Monash academic and professional staff across all parts of the university have worked incredibly hard in recent years to place the university among the top 100 universities worldwide. Our continued academic success relies on investment in our core businesses of teaching and research as well as continued improvement of our infrastructure. As we do this however, we must also continue to support and invest in our most important asset: - our people. The policies we introduce should be ones that most effectively advance our goals and encourage the innovative thinking, fairness, openness and flexibility that is characteristic of Monash University. 

The last few years have seen major changes in senior management with the loss of a vast amount of corporate memory. I believe it is important that Council has a staff representative who understands the workings of the business and has a strong commitment to excellence. Over 24 years, I have worked in a variety of roles within the University, both as a T&R and as a research only academic, as head of the Department of Microbiology and in a senior management role in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences with the portfolio of research. I will contribute this experience, knowledge and understanding of the University’s activities and mission to Council’s deliberations about the University’s strategic direction and to Council’s important oversight roles. I will continue to advocate strongly for academic excellence in research and education, and for support of our academic and professional staff.