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Winning ways
This issue, we profile the winners of the 2012 Award for Excellence in Financial Management, and the ResearchMaster Award for Excellence in Research Management.
Last year, Deakin University was awarded the 2012 Financial Management Award. Team leader Mathew McDonough accepted the award along with members of the finance team at Deakin. Murdoch University’ s Erich von Dietze acceted the ResearchMaster Award for his work in research ethics.
The Higher Ed Services Award for Excellence in Financial Management Winner: Mathew McDonough, finance manager of the faculty of arts and education at Deakin University.
Matthew’ s contribution to the faculty of arts and education and to the University is outstanding for the sustained high quality of his work and commitment to achieving the Faculty’ s objectives and shared vision.
He is a terrific example of two major things in the awarding of this award, the way he has delivered not only as a financial expert, but as a tertiary education manager showing that tertiary education management is a profession in its own right and in the evidence that good clever management makes a difference.
His leadership in 2011 was firm, clear and steady. Yet he was also able to use informative management and collaboration and in doing so guided the faculty to a small surplus.
McDonough practices inclusive leadership and is essential in the critical work to build a faculty in which decisions are evidence based, and through collaboration result in the achievement of quality outcomes.
His interpersonal skills and genuine sense of good humour and warmth strengthen his engagement and effectiveness as a leader. He has embraced mentoring of individuals in his team.
What the judges said Matthew has achieved excellence in the character and quality of the provision of services to his faculty that goes beyond the normal requirements for a person in his position.
His activities with Volunteering Geelong have reinforced his achievements and has enhanced his reputation.
The ResearchMaster Award for Excellence in Research Management Winner: Dr Erich von Dietze of Murdoch University Von Dietze is a leader in his area whose application exemplifies a holistic approach to management with extraordinary results, especially in cultural changes to the organisation.
He joined Murdoch with a brief to strengthen research ethics management. He successfully implemented incremental innovative improvements to the management of research ethics, instilling an educative focus within ethics processes that has resulted in higher‘ first time’ approval rates, and fewer contested applications.
He has been responsible for many innovations that have
Top: Matthew McDonough from Deakin University, with ATEM treasurer Rex Jones and Brian Spencer, chair of the sponsor Higher Ed Services Bottom: Dr Erich von Dietze from Murdoch University, Jane Fernandez from Avondale College who won highly commended and Anita Chai, from the sponsor ResearchMaster
streamlined the work of both the Human and Animal Research Ethics Committees. Organisational performance has been improved through the revision and simplification of application forms for both human and animal ethics.
The overall governance of research ethics has been moulded by von Dietze to ensure the smooth flow of approvals and the efficient use of the time of external committee members.
This has led to a changing research culture within the university, where voluntary compliance has increased and where researchers commonly consult him early in the research process concerning ethical issues they encounter. It has also led to a decrease in adverse incidents and complaints.
The result of incremental innovation established by Erich has been a robust process for human and animal ethics approval; he has also developed positive relationships with regulators.
What the judges said Von Dietze’ s achievements have been underpinned by leadership in comunication and cooperation across his institution. His leadership and contribution to research ethics have also been recognised beyond Murdoch University through his involvement in the establishment of the Australasian Ethics Network. n
www. campusreview. com. au April 2013 | 15