• Malaysian business symposium

  An international symposium on Malaysian business in the new era will be held at Monash Malaysia from 22 to 24 February. Workshop abstracts, the Public Policy Forum program and registration details are now available at http://www.monash.edu.au/mai/malaysia/symposium

• Epidemiologist in EastTimor

Dr Jim Black from the Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine has taken up a six-month position with the World Health Organisation in East Timor.

He is working as the senior epidemiologist in a small team to set up and run an epidemic preparedness unit and infectious disease surveillance system.

Dr Black said that while he was sad to be leaving his family for so long, he felt it was a privilege to be involved in the birth of a new nation, and to be in a position to make a practical contribution. He will return to Australia in May.

• And 30 years later

Facilities and Conference manager Miss Caroline Piesse is leaving Monash on Friday after 30 years at the university.

Miss Piesse commenced at the university in July 1970, taking up a position as assistant to the warden in what was then known as the University Union. Some 10 years ago, she was asked to set up an office which became the Facilities and Conference Office.

She will commence long service leave on 11 February prior to her retirement in August.

• Farewell

Ms Maureen Hah, who has been registrar in the Faculty of Art and Design since 1995 and has worked at Monash since 1989, left the university last week to return to Malaysia.

She said her time at Monash had been a very positive experience and that she had never stopped learning during her 11 years here.

On her return to Malaysia, Maureen has plans to marry and to take time off to settle into her new life.