Dean, TAFE NSW Higher Education & Director, Higher Education - TAFE NSW Sydney Institute
PhD (UTS)

Jeffrey Crass addressed graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology, Sydney on Wednesday 8 May 2013, 10.30am.

Our speaker today is Dr Jeffrey Crass.

Jeffrey has over 20 years’ experience as a TAFE teacher and TAFE head teacher, particularly in the areas of applied science and the environment. In addition, he has been a successful researcher in the fields of crystallography and environment and sustainability.

In his current role as Foundation Dean, he has overseen the successful registration and external accreditation of eight degree programs for TAFE NSW Higher Education.

Jeffrey was awarded the UTS Alumni Award for Excellence in 2012 – Faculty of Science for his commitment to furthering science, sustainability and education.

Jeffrey has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Chemistry, a Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Earth Sciences, a Graduate Diploma in Technical Education and a Doctor of Philosophy in Science from UTS.

It gives me great pleasure to invite Dr Jeffrey Crass to deliver the occasional address.

Speech

Chancellor, Professor Vicki Sara, Vice Chancellor, Professor Ross Milbourne, Faculty Deans Professor Hung Nguyen and Professor Bruce Milthorpe, members of UTS staff, distinguished guests, graduates, proud families and friends.

Before I start I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land where we meet today, the Gadigal and Gurin-gai people of the Eora nation and pay my respects to their elders past and present.

I would like to congratulate all the graduates tonight. I am thrilled to be here to share in the recognising your achievements. This graduation ceremony is a reward and acknowledgment of all of your diligence, dedication, and commitment.

The UTS values of discover, engage, empower, deliver and sustain will provide you a way forward. It is not only about work or a job but also what you contribute to your community locally, nationally or globally.

This year marks an important milestone in UTS’ history as the university celebrates its 25th anniversary. You are the 25th annual cohort to graduate from UTS which makes this an extra special night.

In the last two weeks, there have also been two enormously significant science and technology anniversaries.

Sixty years ago, on the 25th April 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick unveiled their model for the structure of DNA in the journal Nature. This was one of the key scientific achievements of the twentieth century, and it cemented the double helix's place in science. And Twenty years ago, on April 30 1993, CERN made the World Wide Web technology available leading to the internet and the very first website.

All of these events are profoundly important to me. I undertook my PhD at UTS in crystallography, working with the structure of DNA, and the early internet was crucial for the exchange of scientific data.

Science and technology have subsequently moved very fast. The development of mobile, emerging and converging technologies will provide you with many career and applied research opportunities.

With this in mind, you will need to come back to UTS and gain another qualification in the future. I have 4 qualifications from UTS which played a key part in providing many of my career opportunities.

The other area I have been involved in, well before it was fashionable, is sustainability. The media is focusing on short term economic issues while climate change is being dismissed. Climate change is relentless and imminent. There will be a global trigger event which will change public opinion, climate change will not be eclipsed by any financial or government crisis, and we need to be ready to contribute.

Recently, I undertook a leadership role researching and presenting a comparative study on the key emerging green jobs and skills issues within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in conjunction with its partners in Sydney, London, Spain and Poland. The OECD works to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The report looked at the challenges and opportunities in growing local economic activity, employment and skills in response to climate change.

In Australia, we have great expertise in sustainability, particularly around the areas of water management and materials recycling. There are international opportunities, and by being active, by being early adopters, and positioning ourselves to act on new market opportunities, we can carve a niche area for Australia globally.

This is not just about technology, but also about we as a society and a community.

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com, put this succinctly and I quote from his occasional address in 2010 on reconciling being smart with being kind. “Will inertia be your guide, or will you follow your passions? Will you choose a life of ease, or a life of service and adventure? Will you wilt under criticism, or will you follow your convictions? When it’s tough, will you give up, or will you be relentless?”

The future lies in you. You have the knowledge and power to take us into this future.

So, what messages do I have?

Have adventures. Live life and enjoy it. Take chances, you never know where you may end up.

Make sure you work overseas at some point in your career, it was one of my best experiences.

Don’t just work to earn money, make a difference. Give back to society through your community, social, environmental or research work.

The top ten jobs in ten years’ time have not been invented yet, but your degree in Engineering, IT or Science prepares you well to be in that elite group.

Tonight I honour you, the graduates. This evening marks a milestone in your lives as you celebrate the successful completion of your degree. Through your ability, commitment and hard work you have succeeded in meeting the many challenges encountered with study, completing a very demanding program and achieved a significant internationally recognised qualification.

This would not have been possible without the commitment and contributions of many other people. I would like to thank the family and friends of the graduates for their support and encouragement.

Thanks must also go to the academic staff who continue to inspire students and to you the graduates who continue to inspire UTS.

Congratulations to you all.

Thank you.