Farewell to Mark Hoffman
With mixed feelings, we farewell Professor Mark Hoffman who will leave UNSW Sydney at the end of January to become the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at the University of Newcastle. Mark is recognised internationally as a leading engineer, researcher, teacher and administrator. He is a fellow of both the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and Engineers Australia.
Mark joined UNSW Sydney in 1997 and has held numerous leadership roles including the Head of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Associate Dean Research in faculty of Science, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and, since 2015, as the Dean of Engineering. Mark’s achievements in five years as the Dean of Engineering are numerous. They include the recruitment and development of a high-performing leadership team and academic staff cohort, including important efforts to improve gender balance. During his term as Dean, the Faculty rose in the global rankings and Mark firmly established UNSW as Australia’s No.1 ranked university for Engineering.
After his appointment as the Dean of Engineering, Mark identified the opportunity to create a new water institute to harness the broad range of capabilities and expertise in water research and education across the faculties of Law, Science, Engineering, Arts and Social Science, Medicine and the Built Environment.
“It was clear to me that UNSW had more water related research and teaching capacity than any other university in Australia, or any other institution," said Mark.
"Also, it was increasingly important that a multi-disciplinary approach was needed to manage the effects of climate change on water security, coastal infrastructure and marine and freshwater ecosystems."
Mark’s vision was instrumental in establishing the UNSW Global Water Institute in 2016 and he has continued to provide leadership and guidance through his role as the chair of GWI’s Steering Committee. We are very grateful for Mark’s support and wish him all the best in his new appointment at the University of Newcastle.
Image credit: Karen Watson
