Staff snapshot: John Bonanno

Based on the Hawkesbury campus, John Bonanno is the Director of Capital Works and Facilities (CWF) and was awarded the Spirit of UWS Award at the recent VC's Excellence Awards, for his passionate commitment to creating high-quality facilities and campus environments for staff and students.

John takes time out to provide an insight into his role at UWS.

When did you start working at UWS and what was your first role?
I started working at UWS in 2007 as Director, Capital Works and Facilities.

Describe your current role:
I am responsible for CWF across all campuses. CWF focuses on the University’s presentation, including cleaning, wastage, signage, landscaping and the upkeep and renewal of all assets and infrastructure, and the restoration and adaptive reuse of assets, including Heritage-listed buildings. The power supply, ongoing improvements to facilities, and designing and constructing new buildings and car parks also fall into the CWF portfolio.

CWF responds 24/7 to call-outs and activities related to campus requirements, such as storm damage and operational events management. CWF manages the logistics services, including internal and external mail and inter-campus transferral of library loans, and is responsible for space allocation and relocations.

CWF is committed to doing anything necessary to meet UWS requirements.

What’s the best thing about your job?
I have a really good team and high level of support from the Executive. Everything CWF does is committed to improving facilities for staff, students and researchers.

Because the University is multi-campus, the role can be challenging. While the responsibilities of the portfolio can be predictable at times, there are elements that are unpredictable, such as weather.

Being able to prepare campuses for events and being linked to the support and presentation of UWS are other good things about the job. First impressions last, so it’s important the campuses are presented well.

I enjoy working for UWS and am always happy to go to work. There are always new challenges requiring solutions to be found.

What do you love most about working at UWS?
The people. I work with an excellent team, including everyone from the VC and Executive to the highly valued CWF team. The work is challenging and the recognition and high level of support encourage you to achieve. I have always found the people at UWS to be honest and trustworthy and to work with integrity.

What are you working on in the next 12 months?
CWF will be working on a number of exciting projects, including but not limited to:
• the new UWSCollege buildings at Nirimba, Bankstown and Penrith campuses
• the design and construction of a new library on the Penrith campus
• adaptive reuse of the library at Lithgow for UWSCollege
• restoration of the Female Orphan School on the Parramatta campus
• completion of the nursing clinical practice building on Hawkesbury campus
• completion of 200 residential units and a common room on Bankstown campus
• new sports activity area at Hawkesbury campus
• completion of main campus entry at Parramatta campus
• the design and construction of the new childcare centre on the Parramatta campus
• the design and construction of the learning commons pavilion on the Parramatta campus.

Any other comments?
I consider myself extremely fortunate to work with my team; they are dynamic, resourceful and experienced professionals in their relevant portfolios, and their dedication and commitment are second to none. Their willingness to respond and rally towards assisting each other in difficult times is exceptional. When we benchmark against others across our responsibility of portfolio, we find we are as good, if not better, in the way we’re structured and the way we operate.