Meeting 3/2001 of the Administrative Heads Group was held on Thursday 28 June 2001 in the Council Room, 1^st Floor, University Offices Building 3a, Clayton campus, commencing 8:30 am.

Apologies were received from Professors Alan Lindsay, Brian Mackenzie and Graham Webb, Mr Peter Marshall, Mr Greg Connell, Mr Joe Curtis and Mr Phillip Siggins.

In attendance at the meeting were Mr Tony Calder, Ms Katherine Lock, Ms Gael Hayes, Ms Kerri Wilson-Reid (Secretary) and Ms Kelly Drayton.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Robinson, farewelled Mr Phillip Siggins, Manager, University Secretariat and Ms Eileen Wilson, previously Faculty Manager, Faculty of Law, and recorded thanks for their significant and long standing contributions to the university’s administration and the business of the Administrative Heads Group.

Professor Robinson welcomed new members Mr Stephen Davey, Divisional Director, Facilities and Services, Mr Andrew Patterson, Faculty Manager, Faculty of Law, Mr Roger Newham, Acting Executive Director, Public Affairs and Mr Tony Calder, Director, Secretariat and Executive Services (commencing August 2001).

The minutes of meeting 1/2001 (circulated previously) were confirmed.

The Chair referred to the previous minutes and invited members to give brief updates on those matters.

With regard to the IT Strategic Plan, Mr Alan McMeekin, Executive Director, ITS, informed members that a range of projects had been identified to be carried out during the next few years. Prioritisation of projects would be negotiated during the coming budget process.

The Vice-Chancellor advised that relevant plans and activities were progressing in relation to the Strategic Cost Management project.

Please refer to minute 4.2.2 for information about building developments on campuses.

Members noted that the date for the opening of Monash University Prato had originally been set for 10 May 2001. However, the Vice-Chancellor advised that due to the holding of Italian national elections during May, the date of the opening had been re-scheduled for 17 September 2001.

Ms Katherine Lock, Director, Corporate Marketing Project, office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), provided a presentation about Marketing Monash: A Discussion Paper. Members noted detail about the key sections of the paper and its recommendations for the promotion and protection of Monash’s reputation, name and image. It was noted that in the changing local and global environments, Monash’s marketing and promotional activities would need to reflect a consistent approach and would aim to differentiate the University from its competitors. Ms Lock and Mr Anthony Pollock, Executive Director, Office of International Affairs, also advised about current and future initiatives.

Members commented about important aspects of the paper including Monash’s physical presence ‘worldwide’ as a point of difference from other institutions, the need for broad transmission of marketing and promotional principles to all levels of the university’s operations, the type of message and image that is taken to the public and the significance of word of mouth regarding all aspects of the Monash experience.

The Chair thanked Ms Lock for the presentation and invited members to forward further comments about the paper to Ms Lock by the end of the following week.

Information about this item was emailed following agenda distribution. Members received an article from The Age, 22 June 2001, by Mr G Barker.

Professor Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), informed members that Monash had been successful as the preferred Victorian site for the national synchrotron scientific research facility, that had been under consideration by the Australian Government and scientific community for several years. The Victorian Government had demonstrated considerable commitment to science infrastructure with its announcement that the synchrotron would be built in Victoria, at the Monash Clayton campus. Members noted that discussions would take place in the following week with the Victorian Government in relation to project management and construction. Members were invited to view the project submission at the meeting or following the meeting in the office of the DVC(R&D).

Professor Darvall responded to a member’s query noting that the maintenance of adequate parking facilities would be taken into account in planning conducted by the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources).

The Vice-Chancellor highlighted that the construction of the synchrotron facility and the ‘Monash STRIP’ would significantly contribute to the enhancement of the Clayton campus over the coming years.

Ms Alison Crook, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources), informed the Group that a steering committee would conduct an analysis of the university’s space, its ownership and usage, during the second half of 2001. Information about the space management project would be available on line at the end of the year. Members noted detail about the introduction of ‘Syllabus Plus’. Ms Crook advised that space management would also be taken into account in the context of the cost management project. Members noted that queries about the project could be directed to the office of the DVC (Resources).

The next scheduled meeting of the Administrative Heads Group will be held at 8.30am on Thursday, 16 August 2001 in the Council Room.