2023 has presented some wonderful opportunities for research in HASSE. As we approach the close of the year, I’d like to share a few reflections about our research environment.

Since my commencement at UNE at the end of April this year, I’ve been impressed with the amazing talent and enthusiasm for research amongst our HASSE colleagues. This has been rewarded in multiple ways – our faculty has received in excess of $2.6M in external funding this year, in addition to which HASSE fared very well in the Internal Funding Scheme (IFS), with 5 ECR projects and 3 MCR projects being successful. Congratulations to ECR colleagues Dr Jo Bird, Dr Caitlin D’Gluyas, Dr Xiang Gao, Dr Lisa Hackett and Dr Isara Khanjanashiti, and MCR colleagues A/Prof Jill Fielding, Dr Jennifer Hamilton, and Dr Zuocheng Zhang on their successful applications.

Importantly, the IFS applications demonstrated not only the ability of researchers in our faculty to develop high quality funding proposals, but also the openness of our researchers to interdisciplinary approaches, team-building and mentoring. In the coming year, these talents and orientations will no doubt find multiple avenues for building on these successes.

This year the Faculty Research Committee welcomed new HDRCs Dr Jo Bird (SOE) and A/Prof Francois Soyer (HASS), and a new SRC Dr Diana Barnes (HASS), with A/Prof Jill Fielding returning to her role as SRC (SOE) after a period as the Acting ADR. I would like to take the opportunity to thank their respective predecessors in these important roles, Dr Adele Nye, Dr Ariella Van Luyn, A/Prof Jason Stoessel. FRC also welcomed new student representatives Tashi Dema (HASS) and Tshering (SOE) this year.

As we move into the new year, it will be important to continue thinking about ways that we can enhance our individual and faculty profiles, both within the university itself, as well as nationally and internationally. Recent initiatives, such as the Digital Futures Research Hub, will be operationalised in 2024, will offer multiple opportunities for interdisciplinary cross-faculty engagements. Individually, as we continue to emphasise the career advantages of publishing our work in highly ranked outlets, actively pursuing competitive funding opportunities, and building strategic partnerships with colleagues around Australia and overseas, we can expect to see continued growth in citation rates, h-indexes, and other metrics. But far more importantly, we are building on the strengths that already exist in our research culture, and that will no doubt continue to grow and develop – high calibre scholarship, positive collaborations, and research that makes a difference to our communities and our world.

Wrapping up, I would like to thank each of you for your support and warm welcome as I’ve settled into UNE, and for your enthusiasm and willingness to contribute your knowledge, skills and talents to the success of HASSE research. Best wishes for the holiday season, and for a great start to the new year.