A message from the President: Mr John McLenaghan AM

In recent years, the Alumni Council has taken its mission of engagement with our alumni community to new levels, with new and expanded programs in support of the university and its place as Australia’s first and leading university. The year ahead provides us with opportunities not only to build on these successes but also to extend the Alumni Council’s reach through some new initiatives. In doing so, the Council will continue its close liaison with the Alumni and Events Office.

Key initiatives for this year include:

• further augmentation of the suite of alumni awards, with the introduction of three new graduate medals;
• another comprehensive program of alumni events, with an increased focus on events for overseas alumni;
• continued emphasis on the importance of communications links with alumni, especially through the Sydney Alumni Magazine(SAM), eSydney, and Alumni Online;
• the attendance of Alumni Councillors at graduation ceremonies;
• extending our student mentoring efforts, including through the Fun, Fare and Future Alumni Program;
• and, of course, through our continued support of the University’s fund raising efforts.

New challenges and opportunities for our engagement efforts will come from the rapidly growing overseas component of our network of almost 200,000 contactable alumni, the recent establishment of the Student Alumni Association, and the potential for new associations and chapters.

I am honoured to have this opportunity to serve as the Council’s President.

John McLenaghan AM
BEc Syd '59
President of the University of Sydney Alumni Council

April 2012

Past Presidents

Mr David Turner (BArch ('71) MDesSc, Hons ('97)) President 2009-2011

Dr Barry Catchlove (MBBS ’66) President 2006-2008

Dr Michael Thomas (B Sc ’59) President 2003-2005

Ms Helga Pettitt (Dip Comm Nurs ’79, Dip Adv Clin Nurs ’91) President 2000-2002

Mr George Symons (B Ec ’83) President 1997-1999

Mr Charles Latimer (BA ’82, B Ec ’88) President 1994-1996

Dr Neville Webb AM (BA ’49, Dip Ed ’50, M Ed ’79) President 1988-1993

Dr Les Kemp AM (BA ’38, MA ’47, Hon Fellow ’89) Presdeint 1985-1987