Image: Carmel is pictured second from the left in the front row at her farewell lunch with colleagues.
After 25 years in Legal Services, Carmel O’Brien is closing the chapter on her UNE career and retiring this month.
Carmel first came to UNE in 1995 on a scholarship to complete a PhD in English Literature, specialising in 19th century poetry and the works of Gerard Manley Hopkins under the supervision of Dr Robert Dingley and Dr Jennifer McDonell. By the time she submitted her thesis in 2000, UNE had just established its first Legal Services unit. With her background in the Commonwealth Public Service managing programs and contracts, Carmel stepped into the brand-new role of Contracts Officer.
“I never intended to stay for 25 years,” Carmel said. “But I had experienced meaningless jobs previously and I found that I thrived in Legal Services, where the work was always varied and challenging. At the end of every day I felt I had assisted my colleagues and contributed to UNE.”
Carmel received UNE’s Distinguished Service Medal in 2013.
One of her proudest memories is receiving the Distinguished Service Medal in 2013.
“I still feel humbled because it was recognition of my efforts by my colleagues. I particularly thank Professor Mingan Choct for nominating me and all my colleagues who supported my nomination. I was presented the medal at Grad on the same day as my 30th school reunion, so it was a very big day for me.”
Over the years, Carmel has watched UNE evolve. She points to the growing seriousness of governance – legal, financial, procurement, audit and risk – as one of the biggest changes.
“The changes have caused some pain but it is the world we live in now, and I can’t see it lessening in the future. My position in Legal Services is an example of that change as UNE has moved from having no in-house legal services to the thriving, professional and progressive Directorate we see today under the leadership of Katrina Warden and Cara Austen.”
Carmel is proud of the growth of the directorate and admits it’s the people she will miss the most.
“My greatest pleasure has been supporting my colleagues, assisting them with their problems and making their day just a bit easier. I will particularly miss my Legal Services colleagues Katrina Warden, Cara Austen, Roger Wade, Libby Magann, Erinn Thornton, Teisa Moce and Nicole Williams. Every day working with them has been a joy.”
Retirement won’t mean slowing down. Carmel is heading to Rome at the end of September on a Jubilee year pilgrimage with members of the Armidale diocese. The timing feels fitting: “I started at UNE in a Jubilee year and I am leaving UNE in a Jubilee year.” She plans to remain in Armidale after her travels, so colleagues can expect to see her around.
A huge thank you to Carmel for her 25 years of dedicated service – her intelligent approach, deep expertise, wise counsel, good humour, and unwavering commitment to customer excellence have been invaluable to our organisation. If anyone from the UNE community would like to send Carmel a farewell message, please email legal@une.edu.au.