After 19 years as executive dean of the University of Wollongong business faculty Professor John Glynn is retiring.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At the Illawarra Connection dinner on Tuesday he reflected on the faculty’s many achievements. And how he was involved in introducing many initiatives such as the creation of the Sydney Business School at Circular Quay.
‘’Not only is it part of the faculty but it is also the university’s front door right in the heart of the CBD,” he said.
Prof Glynn said having such a presence in Sydney had many benefits for the faculty and university.
The Leadership Development Program is another example of what the faculty has tried to do under his leadership. As is a new Women into MBA program.
“We have tried to work really hard with the community and address needs in the community. We all know the big issue is being able to hold and retain talent in the Illawarra. The MBA Scholarship with TIC, the Leadership Development Program and Women into MBA are all about that.”
Prof Glynn said in the last two decades the size of the student population had doubled, there had been a total regeneration of the CBD and the number of apartments in Wollongong had dramatically increased.
But he would like to see the number of people who have to commute to Sydney each day reduce. He said iAccelerate and the Australian Institute of Innovative Materials were examples of initiatives generating prospects.
“They are tangible and we really are on the cusp of some really exciting things,” he said.
Prof Glynn can possibly come back as a Professorial Fellow or a Professor Emeritus.
But after 19 years running a large faculty he initially wants to travel, write and do more pro bono and charity work.
He has enjoyed representing the university as a director of the Connection and being able to network with the business community.
“We now place a couple of hundred students into the community for work experience every year..and we are doing pro bono work with charity groups such as Lifeline,” he said.