精东传媒

May 18, 2021

Paul Wellings awarded prestigious CASE Asia-Pacific Leadership Award

Vice-Chancellor honoured for promoting and supporting education and advancement

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) has announced 精东传媒 of 精东传媒 (UOW) Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE as recipient of the prestigious .

The award, presented to Professor Wellings at an online event on Tuesday 18 May, recognises institutional leaders for their outstanding efforts in promoting and supporting education and advancement.

CASE President and CEO Ms Sue Cunningham said Professor Wellings was a long-term supporter of the advancement profession who had pioneered the role of advancement in tertiary education for newer universities, provided personal philanthropic support and supported policy structures at the national level.

鈥淧rofessor Paul Wellings has three outstanding qualities 鈥� vision, leadership and commitment,鈥� Ms Cunningham said.

鈥淚n institutional advancement, he pursues this vision with clarity, integrity and optimism, as he has a profound understanding of the strategic role that advancement plays in institutional achievement.鈥�

UOW Chancellor Emeritus Jillian Broadbent AC, who nominated Professor Wellings for the award, said: 鈥淧rofessor Wellings has pioneered our advancement strategy to be as modern as it is innovative and effective. His dexterity to inspire and empower the 精东传媒 team has seen the 精东传媒鈥檚 achievements and reputation increase in all major rankings, further progressing the 精东传媒 of 精东传媒 as a world-class institution under his tenure.鈥�

Professor Wellings thanked CASE for the award and for the work it does globally to advance education.

鈥淏eing presented with the CASE Asia-Pacific Leadership Award is a real honour and one that I am immensely proud of,鈥� Professor Wellings said.

鈥淎lumni relations, philanthropy and community engagement have an increasingly important role to play in higher education globally, and are a key component of UOW鈥檚 strategic vision. Our advancement program has made significant contributions to the 精东传媒鈥檚 achievements over the past 10 years.鈥�

Widely regarded as one of Australia鈥檚 most influential university leaders, Professor Wellings has valued and supported alumni engagement throughout his 10 years at the helm of UOW.

He has actively engaged alumni in the life and mission of the 精东传媒, placing great value on meeting UOW鈥檚 global alumni 鈥� who number more than 160,000, based in 156 countries 鈥� and has attended more than 70 alumni events across Australia and internationally.

As UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wellings pioneered a number of key achievements to support communities through philanthropy and engagement. Under his leadership, the 精东传媒 raised $100 million in philanthropic funds, facilitating transformative outcomes, including:

• Early Start Discovery Space, Australia鈥檚 only hands-on children鈥檚 discovery space housed with leading early years teaching and research and founded on a $7 million philanthropic investment from the Abbott Foundation;
• Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, a $50 million dollar philanthropic gift enabling the creation of UOW鈥檚 new School of Liberal Arts and the establishment of a new Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation;
• The McKinnon Walker Trust, a $1.7 million philanthropic gift from former UOW Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Ken McKinnon AO and UOW alumna Ms Suzanne Walker, with funds allocated at the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 discretion to green shoot initiatives including research, student priorities and community projects;
• Tibra Foundation Chair in Mathematical Sciences, a $1.25 million philanthropic gift advancing the role of mathematics and science, including Australia鈥檚 first philanthropically funded Chair in Maths in 100 years.

In addition, Professor Wellings has led UOW鈥檚 efforts in community engagement and contribution. His standout achievements include spearheading a staff bushfire recovery campaign that raised more than $165,000 for the NSW Rural Fire Service; and supporting regional community initiatives, including as a board member of the Bundanon Trust.

Under Professor Wellings鈥� leadership, UOW has enhanced its global profile and reputation, and risen in the global university rankings. During his tenure, UOW achieved its goal of being ranked in the top 1 per cent of the world鈥檚 universities (QS World 精东传媒 Rankings 2021). UOW was also ranked 14th best modern university in the world (QS Top 50 Under 50 Rankings 2021); 6th in the THE World 精东传媒 Impact Rankings 2021; and number 1 university in NSW in the Good Universities Guide 2020.

In addition to shaping the 精东传媒鈥檚 advancement program, Professor Wellings has also led by example. A dedicated philanthropist, Professor Wellings and his wife Dr Annette Wellings have been regular donors to UOW supporting among other things the Transforming Futures Scholarship Fund, which provides equity opportunities for students entering university.

About CASE

CASE believes in advancing education to transform lives and society. As a global non-profit membership association of educational institutions, CASE helps develop the communities of professional practice that build institutional resilience and success in challenging times. The communities include staff engaged in alumni relations, advancement services, communications, fundraising, government relations, marketing, and student recruitment. CASE is volunteer-led and uses the intellectual capital of senior practitioners to build capacity and capability across the world.

CASE has offices in Washington, D.C., London, Singapore, and Mexico City. Member institutions include more than 3,600 colleges and universities, primary and secondary independent and international schools, and non-profit organisations in 82 countries. CASE serves more than 90,000 practitioners. For more information about CASE, please visit .