What welcome news it was to hear of Professor Patricia Davidson's appointment as the University of Wollongong's next Vice Chancellor.
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After a tough few months for UOW - and the whole tertiary education sector - this is something hopeful and uplifting for the university's future.
Not only is the appointment of the first woman a right - and overdue - move, Professor Davidson's background is rich with expertise in health science, nursing and medical research - a perfect fit for our city.
Health and care are our biggest employing industries, we have a well-established medical precinct in the heart of the city, and the university is already a leader in the medical research space.
Not only that, there is loads of expertise here in the advanced manufacturing sector, which has huge potential to grow - especially in the medical space - under the right conditions.
To have someone like Professor Davidson here, as a city leader at the helm of one of our biggest employers and economic drivers, could be just the thing to give these industries a boost in tough times.
Aside from her impressive career and academic research, Professor Davidson is also one of our own.
She's the first VC who is also an alumnus, and her appointment has been heralded by academics in Australia and the US as a homecoming.
Also, we can't help but like her immediately, as - speaking on the phone from America - she's already asked our journalists to call her Trish.
While she has her work cut out for her as the sector tries to recover from the shock of COVID-19 and other major government policy shifts which will impact its bottom line for years to come, we're looking forward to seeing where Professor Davidson - who deserves all her honorifics - takes the university when she starts her role in mid-2021.
With her world-leading background in health sciences, care and community outreach, a wealth of experience in leadership and higher education, and as someone who has worked and studied in Wollongong, it's also exciting to think where this appointment could lead our whole city.
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