Craig Roy

Thank you. I too, like the Chancellor, would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians on the land where we’re holding this ceremony today, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. I’d also like to acknowledge the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, the deans of the graduating classes today, the Secretary of the university, other distinguished guests and academics, ladies and gentlemen, family and friends. Congratulations. Congratulations to the students, congratulations to the families for helping them get there as well, too. 

Let me start with an observation: when I walked onto the university campus today, I couldn’t be struck more by the level of excitement. It’s a bit windy out there, it’s a bit cool out there, but that didn’t stop many of you being out there, throwing your hats in the way, seeing the wind blow them away, having your tops being blown away too, but you were in the moment 100 per cent. It didn’t matter what else was happening in the world today, you and your families, inside, taking photos, whatever it was, you were just absorbing the moment. And as someone who was an observer to see that, let me tell you, it was a great treat and an honour for me to see you just being so engrossed in your graduation, what you’ve achieved and your university life. So, today’s about celebrating your achievements. It’s about reflecting, with loved ones, on what you’ve done as well, too, so it is a big moment, as the Chancellor said. You’ve all worked very hard. 

They don’t give away degrees in this institution, they don’t give away science degrees, so again you should be very proud of what you’ve done. And your loved ones here today, a very big thank you to you. I’m sure you’ve stood by them, stood by your graduate today, when they’ve needed support, when they’ve been a little bit stressed because that assignment’s due at midnight and it’s five to midnight – I’m sure you all understand that situation; I’ve been there with my own daughters. Thank you – you’re an extension of this today. And graduates – and we can call you that now, and you should be very proud of it – there’s all different pathways that you will have got here today with, but I’m sure your science journey well before you were fortunate enough to join UTS, probably well before you were even in high school, because you had an inquisitive mind. You wanted to make the world a better place, and you wanted to solve problems. They’re underpinning characteristics of people who do science and science graduates. I’m confident that you’ve always been fascinated with solving problems and the like, and in terms of what inspired you to be here today, some of you will have been inspired by your teachers, some will have been inspired by family and friends, and some of you it will just be in your DNA that you wanted to pursue a career and a degree in science. But no matter what the genesis, whether it’s teacher, parent, DNA or something else, it’s a pursuit worth striving for. You’ve just reached a critical milestone in your life. I

’m also acutely aware that you do not complete a degree in a bubble. You have many more things happening in your lives- many more things happening in your lives – that need your attention while you’re studying, and you’re climbing that education mountain. It may be supporting frailing parents. It may be financial challenges. It may be you’re dealing with your own personal issues. It might be financial hardship, but whatever it is, that makes today even more special, the fact that many of you could have climbed that mountain – against all odds, some of you hare here. Some of you may be first generation graduates in your family too.

You’ve done a marvellous job to be here, and we shouldn’t think that all you do is turn up to do your academics. You have full lives outside of that as well. I’d like to take a moment now to share a little bit of my own background – they tell you you’ve got to do that when you do an occasional speech. So, it was a little more than 35 years ago, I was in your shoes, graduating with a science degree, mine in mathematics. And when I say it like that, it just seems such a long time ago, 35 years, but let me tell you, it passes so quickly. And when I was sitting in your shoes, I didn’t know what I’d be doing in a couple of years’ time. I didn’t know what I’d be doing, let alone in a decade years’ time, but I say to you, that doesn’t matter at the moment, because what you’ve done, what you’ve studied, what you’ve learnt, will carry you forward in whatever you do. 

That inquisitive mindset, that ability to solve problems, that ability to attack, as the Chancellor said, with integrity, is fundamental to your future, and you take that forward with you. So, let’s think forward for just a few moments, then. The chancellor mentioned change in the workforce, but I think there’s a good news story here for you. In CSIRO and many other organisations, including UTS, have examined the future of employment in Australia, and particularly the influence of digital disruption. And it paints an incredible picture, rife with opportunity – and I underline the rife with opportunity. Exponential growth in technological capabilities is transforming the way we work, reshaping the workforce and redefining skills and jobs that we need to do. There’ll be not one part of our society that’s not impacted. It will change the way we do work, where we do work and how we do work. And in fact, there’ll be jobs in the future that we haven’t even thought of yet. You should look upon that as an opportunity, rather than a threat, as your training and education sets you up perfectly for the limitless options that lay ahead of you. Too often, I think, too often we look at the downsides of change, rather than embracing the opportunities. Embrace them and don’t fear them, would be a message that I would give you. How does that tie back to today? Well, there’s another part of that research, and it’s very positive for all of you. Our research tells us that science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM as it’s known, knowledge is associated with 75 per cent of the fastest-growing companies. So, you’re in the fast lane. You’ve picked a degree and a career and a future that’s put you in the fast lane, so congratulations for doing that, and take full advantage of it. So, amongst all this change, all this disruption, your training can prepare you for an exciting career and a varied career. Perhaps a scientist at the bench, so join a great institution like UTS, or as an educator, or as a politician or as an industry or community leader, or one of those folks who’s an expert in the jobs we haven’t even thought up yet. 

Australia doesn’t have enough scientists, full stop. We don’t have enough scientists. Even more so, we don’t have enough scientists working outside of academia. Even though we’re blessed with those we do have in academia, we should have scientists working in all walks of life. Our nation would be even stronger to have science spread across all parts of society. Let me turn the clock back again. In my own case, I joined the Navy straight from high school. Navy saw benefits in education, and as the Vice Chancellor mentioned before, I went through an undergraduate degree in science and then a master’s degree in science also. In those early days, probably about the average age of the graduates today, I was about 22, I was responsible for navigating a Navy destroyer to all parts of the world. It was the most exhilarating role of experiences, and it was an amazing responsibility for a 22-year-old, but I’m here to tell you, it wasn’t enough. I distinctly remember one night, we were between Sydney and New Zealand, we were going through between the two islands in New Zealand. I was navigating on the bridge, and it was the dark of the night – it was about 2 o’clock in the morning. I remember saying, ‘I’ve got to get back to my science roots.’ These were exciting times – the Navy is a great place to work, but it was just in my heart that I had to get back to my science side at that time. It was a big decision, and I have absolutely no regrets for doing that. 

And I went on to become an oceanographer and a meteorologist and I applied those skills in the Navy, and I then stayed in the Navy for some 20 years. At that period of time, and my science training was fundamental to career success going through there, and I’ve been with CSIRO for 15 years, and again, it’s that underpinning roots of the science training which allows you to adapt to all situations that come your way, analyse what’s going on and paint a good future forward. So, whatever the future holds for you, you should feel excited about it, what lies ahead. Your scientific roots – I can’t underestimate it enough, underline it, sorry, enough – provide a terrific foundation upon which to build upon. 

It’s up to you to make your own future though. No one will do it for you, so grab it, work hard, and have absolute fun along the way, but whatever you do, you’re doing it with a great advantage – you’re a science graduate. That is an absolutely great advantage. So, think without limits, enjoy this day, take time to reflect with family and friends on what you’ve achieved. As the Chancellor said, it’s ab ig dal – it is a very, very big deal, and you’ll look back on this day as one of those key milestones throughout your career and through your life. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today, Chancellor – thank you for the honour you bestowed on me. It’s very, very personal and it’s a great privilege from my perspective, and congratulations to the graduating class.