The Real YouQ
Meet Vice-Chancellor and President
Professor Deborah Terry AC
"The trait I think all good leaders have in common is the ability to really listen. To me, listening is such an important part of the job."
Welcome to The Real YouQ, the latest Contact Q&A series offering a glimpse into the real lives of members of the UQ community – from alumni to students and staff.
In this edition, we catch up with UQ's very own Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Deborah Terry AC, who was named as a Companion of the Order of Australia in this year's Australia Day Honours list and whose tenure as UQ's Vice-Chancellor has been extended for 5 years.
But who is the real Professor Terry? Keep scrolling to find out.
Q: Is there a place you feel most connected to on campus and why?
A: Having spent my early years at UQ in the School of Psychology, I have a special fondness for the McElwain Psychology building at St Lucia. The building was designed by the highly regarded Queensland architect Robin Gibson, and it looks like an upside-down wedding cake. I’ve got particularly happy memories of spending time with colleagues in the central courtyard between the McElwain building and the Social Sciences building.
Q: Looking back to the day you first set foot on campus, is there anything you wish to tell that person now?
A: I started working at UQ in 1990. I remember being extraordinarily impressed by the campus – and the size and complexity of the University. I realised, fairly quickly, that UQ offered amazing opportunities to work across disciplines with brilliant colleagues from right across the University. So, my advice to anyone who is new to UQ is to be open to the opportunities that are on offer here. It’s enormously rewarding to build a big network of colleagues from all different areas of the University.
Q: Is there a skill you wish you had learnt, or one that you’re currently trying to master?
A: I have a very full daily schedule and I’m always juggling a lot of different tasks, so I’m constantly looking for ways to improve my time management and prioritisation. But I guess that’s not a skill that you ever truly master. It’s a never-ending quest to understand how you work most effectively. I also regret that I never learnt to touch-type. I’m fairly fast with two fingers, but I would undoubtedly be more efficient if I had invested the time in learning to type properly!
Q: What are 3 things you can’t live without?
A: Family (including Mr Darcy, the Burmese cat!), books, and coffee.
Professor Deborah Terry could not live without her Burmese cat, Mr Darcy.
Professor Deborah Terry could not live without her Burmese cat, Mr Darcy.
Q: What are you currently reading?
A: I’m always reading a mix of entertaining fiction for relaxation, and non-fiction books on topics that interest me. I’ve just finished the latest book in the Cormoran Strike series, written by JK Rowling, but published under her pseudonym, Robert Galbraith. And I’m also reading a book about the impact of Artificial Intelligence that was recommended by a former UQ Executive Dean, Mick McManus, called The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman.
Q: What's the best piece of advice you've ever received on leadership, and which leader/s do you most admire?
A: I’ve had the privilege of dealing with a wide range of really impressive, inspirational leaders from across politics, government, business, academia, and the not-for-profit sector. So, it’s hard to single out just one person or just one piece of advice, but the trait I think all good leaders have in common is the ability to really listen. To me, listening is such an important part of the job and it’s reflected in one of my favourite quotes about leadership: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Don’t get me wrong, strategy is important, but ensuring those around you feel heard and appreciated – that is critical.
Q: How do you manage your time in such a demanding job?
A: I tend to rise early and, for me, that early morning period is precious, focussed time to respond to emails and keep on top of my workload. On a day-to-day basis, I try to prioritise events that give me a chance to meet with UQ’s staff, students, alumni, and partners – so I can better understand the range of activities that are underway across UQ and the impact that we’re having.
Q: When you think about UQ's plans in the coming years, what are you most excited about?
A: There are 2 major themes that really excite me about our plans for the future. The first is ensuring that UQ is seen as a highly-valued partner – working alongside government, industry, and the non-profit sector – in helping to shape and deliver the solutions to the challenges facing Queensland, Australia, and the wider world. And the second is The Queensland Commitment initiative and the immense potential it has to expand access to tertiary education in our state. For me, this commitment speaks directly to our social responsibility to ensure that no parts of our community are left behind.
Built with Shorthand