Alumni GradLife eNewsletter Winter 2013

Tim FerraroMeet your Member

Tim Ferraro has been elected the new Graduate Board Member on the University's Board of Trustees, taking over from previous graduate representative Dr Ken Langford. He will hold the position until 30 June 2017.

 

Bill AndersonAlumni Profile: Bill Anderson, Bachelor of Business (Management) 2003

Strong ambition and a longstanding passion for trucks drove graduate Bill Anderson to a senior sales role for the 'Porsche' of the truck world – Kenworth Trucks – relatively early in this career.

 


UWS Connect Fitness LogoConnect Fitness Discounts & Deals

Connect Fitness are now offering Alumni student rates, and pay only $1 joining fee if you sign up before the end of July 2013!

 

 

 AmyJournalism graduates make their mark in local news (opens in a new window)

Three Western Sydney University graduates have taken the next big steps in their journalism careers after being selected to be the new faces of the community news team at Television Sydney (TVS). 

Read the full article online (opens in a new window)

 

Meet your member

Tim FerraroTim Ferraro has been elected the new Graduate Board Member on the University's Board of Trustees, taking over from previous graduate representative Dr Ken Langford. He will hold the position until 30 June 2017.

It was his long history with the University that sparked Tim's interest in the position – he studied Environmental Science at Hawkesbury Agricultural College from 1988 to 1991 and then went on to do honours in 1992. He reconnected with the University eight years ago, and is now the Chair of  Westernconnect. 

Tim's community involvement extends well beyond his work with Western Sydney University – the Dubbo resident has also helped to establish a local Landcare group, is a committee member for Little Athletics, and undertakes marketing and PR for local running festival, the Dubbo Stampede.

Tim currently works as a principal consultant (natural resources and agriculture) at GHD, and during his four-year term on the Board, hopes to achieve some objectives around sustainability and agricultural education at Western Sydney University.

"Globally, food security, agriculture, energy and climate are intersecting in an interesting way and I think education has an important role to play in that," he says. 

Tim will also be using and building on his existing network to discover what is most important to alumni.

"I'll be making sure that I get out to come of the broader Board of Trustee events and extend my network so I can really get a sense of what the issues are and how I might best represent alumni," he says.

Graduates who were interested in the graduate representative position had to be nominated by two former students before standing for election, which took place in March. 

Tim praised the quality of the field of nominees in this election, with six graduates standing – the most the board has ever had.

"Not only does that mean graduates are making their way in their chosen professions and getting a good profile, but also that they're keen to contribute back to the University," he says.

Alumni Profile: Bill Anderson, Bachelor of Business (Management) 2003

 
Bill AndersonStrong ambition and a longstanding passion for trucks drove graduate Bill Anderson to a senior sales role for the 'Porsche' of the truck world – Kenworth Trucks – relatively early in this career.
 
Bill graduated with a Bachelor of Business Management from Western Sydney University, landing himself an 18-month traineeship at Gilbert & Roach Trucks, a Kenworth dealer.
 
When an opening in the sales representative team came up four months later, he expressed interest in the role – but was told he was dreaming.
 
"I applied through the newspaper when my boss put the ad up. I knew how the Kenworth system worked and I had a passion for the product, I was keen," he says.
 
Bill's enthusiasm paid off, and only 12 months into his traineeship, he moved up the ranks to sales representative – a title which also came with a company car.
 
It was déjà vu when the position of sales manager came up in 2007, and Bill was told there was no way a 29-year-old was going to be in charge of such a big brand and franchise.
 
"I've been manager ever since," says Bill, whose drive and knowledge of the company helped him secure the position once again.
 
Where most graduates try out a few companies in their early career, Bill has already clocked up nearly 13 years at Gilbert & Roach. So what's kept him happy and motivated all this time?
 
"It s just a brand that I love. As much as there's other trucks out there, there's only one truck in my eyes," Bill says of the Australian made Kenworth. "Also, the Sutton family that owns Gilbert & Roach are very well respected in the industry and they've always looked after me, that's why I stay here."
 
Even though Bill left university over a decade ago, he still refers to his old notes and has all his textbooks at hand in his office.

"I can take something from every one of those books and combine it to enhance this role. The combination of subjects from my degree is what's given me the managerial skills to do what I'm doing," he says.

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Connect Fitness Discounts & Deals

Connect Fitness LogoConnect Fitness are now offering Alumni student rates, and pay only $1 joining fee if you sign up before the end of July 2013! 

Alumni can now also receive Student rates at Connect Fitness when you present your Alumni GradLife Membership Card.

Connect Fitness is located on the Bankstown, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury and Penrith Campuses.

To find out more visit the GradLife Connect Fitness webpage online now(opens in a new window). 

$1 connect fitness 

 

Journalism graduates make their mark in local news

AmyThree Western Sydney University graduates have taken the next big steps in their journalism careers after being selected to be the new faces of the community news team at Television Sydney (TVS). 

Farah Abdurahman, Amy Richardson and Ryan McClenahan have joined news producer and fellow  graduate, Krystyna Pollard, to present TVS News every Friday at 6.30pm on digital channel 44.

Produced in partnership with Fairfax, the news not only presents a local round-up of happenings in the greater western Sydney area but also provides journalism students with training and the opportunity for internships.

Read the full article online (opens in a new window) 

  

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