Tsunami taskforce

On this page:

• About the taskforce
• List of taskforce members

About the taskforce

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Peter McPhee, is leading a taskforce of expert staff and students to advise on ways in which the University might assist with the longer-term rebuilding phase in tsunami-affected areas.

Partner institutions in the region have been asked for advice on how we could work with them to provide expert assistance and advice has been sought from key alumni in the affected countries.

The taskforce is a point for coordination of staff- and student-organised events to support the tsunami appeal.

For information about the taskforce's activities, telephone Rosa Brezac on +(61 3) 8344 3744 or email r.brezac@unimelb.edu.au

In January 2005 the University made cash donations totalling A$250,000 to the following agencies:

• Red Cross A$100,000
• UNICEF A$50,000
• Oxfam A$50,000
• CARE Australia A$50,000

The University has set up an additional fund of A$250,000 to be used over three years to support University staff engaged in tsunami relief projects.

We will also be providing A$50,000 to Thailand's Population Community Development Association (PDA) to provide school lunches, develop school lunch farms, books for children in tsunami-affected villages in southern Thailand. The University already works with PDA, headed by alumni Dr Mechai Viravaidya, in school lunch and scholarship programs in northern Thailand.

In the longer term, the University will collaborate with universities and other institutions in tsunami-affected countries with which Melbourne has established links in providing assistance in rebuilding universities, schools, hospitals and other education providers devastated by the tsunami. We are asking partner institutions in the region how we could work with them to provide expert assistance and advice has been sought from key alumni in the affected countries.

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List of taskforce members

For information about the taskforce's activities, telephone Rosa Brezac on +(61 3) 8344 3744 or email r.brezac@unimelb.edu.au.

The taskforce members are:

• Professor Peter McPhee, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
• Professor Graham Brown, Head, Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Western (personal assistant: Heather Saunders, email hsaun@unimelb.edu.au)
• Ms Christina Buckridge, Senior Media Officer, Communications Office
• Professor Catherin Bull, Elisabeth Murdoch Professor of Landscape Architecture and Associate Dean (International), Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
• Dr Richard Di Natale, Australian International Health Institute, email rdinatale@epartments.com.au
• Mr Paul Donegan, President, Melbourne University Student Union (MUSU), email p.donegan@union.unimelb.edu.au
• Mr Steve Halliwell, Advocacy Manager, University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association (UMPA)
• Ms Judith Heron, Manager, International Student Services
• Mr Yongjian Hung, President, Melbourne University Overseas Student Services (MUOSS)
• Dr Michelle Kermode, NHRMC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian International Health Institute
• Ms Wendy Lawler, Head of Department (Acting), Development Office, email w.lawler@unimelb.edu.au
• Professor Michael Leigh, Deputy Director, Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies (MIALS) (personal assistant: Linda Poskitt)
• Mr Pranay Lodhiya, Deputy Director, Finance Support Services, Financial Operations
• Ms Rita Manessis, Program Coordinator, Student Ambassador Leadership Program
• Dr Vin Massaro, Melbourne University Private (personal assistant: Camille Moloney, email c.moloney@muprivate.edu.au)
• Ms Jenny McGregor, Executive Director, Asialink (personal assistant: Bernandine Fernandez, email b.fernandez@asialink.unimelb.edu.au)
• Associate Professor Priyan Mendis, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
• Ms Linda O'Brien, Vice-Principal (Information) (personal assistant: Robyn Williams)
• Ms Liz O'Keefe, Manager, International Relations Office
• Professor Abdullah Saeed, Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies (MIALS)
• Ms Pauline Shi, Consultant, Human Resources
• Ms Jenny Stephens, Director, Student Programs
• Ms Lynne Wrout, General Manager, Faculty of Arts (personal assistant: Margaret Sullivan)