Kate Robertson is the Projects & Communications Manager at University of the Sunshine Coast. Her FM core competency is in capital works, project management and communications.  

Kate was recently awarded the 2020 Travel/Research Scholarship, a unique professional development opportunity to consider space post COVID-19 via an Australasian study tour.  Kate brings energy, communication skills and passion to the Education Services Committee, and the Board as a whole – watch out for the release of the webinar and regional events calendar to aid in provision of professional development opportunities for our members. 

Nicole Eaton is Director Campus Planning and Services at RMIT University and brings 25 years of tertiary education sector experience, with a core competency in campus / space planning. She is a previous winner of TEFMA's prestigious Maurie Pawsey Scholarship.  You can view Nicole's report and webinar recording, 'A Review of Space Management & Design' in our TEFMA resources here. 

In her short period of time on the board, Nicole has already greatly contributed to the Info Services Committee as we gear up ready for this year's benchmark survey, release of our new communications tool and sharing platforms.  

Last but not least we would like to introduce Jo Riley from Deakin University.  Jo is Director of Business Management & Services at Deakin University.  Her core competency is in campus infrastructure and property strategy, strategic planning, and business case development.

Coming more recently into the tertiary education sector, she brings over 20 years expertise from other sectors in governance and risk. Being a graduate of AICD, there is no doubt Jo will be an asset to the Board.  Like Nicole, Jo too has joined the Information Services Committee and has been instrumental in preparing for the 2020 initiatives rollout.

The Knowledge Services Committee (KSC) was a new committee introduced in September 2019, with the main focus of reviewing and updating TEFMA's current Guideline documents. 

A working group with broad representation from institutions was formed early last year and revised versions of the the Strategic Asset Management and Asset Audit Guidelines will be released to our membership in the coming weeks. 

The KSC will now turn their attention to the much anticipated revision of the Space Guideline.  A working group has been established with initial discussions taking place in the latter part of 2020.  With so much change in the sector over the past 12 months, space is certainly at the forefront of conversation for a lot of our members and institutions.  

TEFMA supports fundraising for Brash A-T (https://brashat.org.au/) to help researchers at the University of Queensland find a cure for a rare and currently incurable condition that takes more young lives than is deserved.

I would encourage you all to forego one cup of coffee this week and donate to our partners as we collectively strive to help these affected families have a better future.