International Celebration of Research Management Professionals 2024 Competition

In the heart of Curtin, where ideas ignite, 
The Research Office stands, a beacon of light. 
Led by the DVCR, with vision so bright, 
Fuelling discovery, sparking insight. 

Engagement is key, as scholars convene, 
With ROC Stars guiding, a dedicated team. 
The project initiation crew lays foundations so strong, 
While the fulfilment team ensures goals are met along. 

The grant success team, with vision and skill, 
Transforms aspirations into funding that will 
Support innovative projects, making dreams real, 
While commercialisation brings ideas to heel. 

The contracts team navigates terms with care, 
Ensuring compliance, and making partnerships fair. 
The NRAS team safeguards national resilience,
Managing risks with meticulous diligence. 
Space and foreign risk teams provide insight, 
Mitigating challenges, ensuring research takes flight. 

The relationship team collaborates with all, 
Building connections, answering the call. 
And human and animal ethics guard the way, 
Upholding integrity in research each day. 

The Graduate Research School stands by HDR
Supporting their journeys, no matter how far. 
With mentorship and guidance, they nurture each dream,
Equipping future leaders, part of a vibrant team.
Through Research Rumble events, ideas collide,
Fostering dialogue, where insights reside. 

Research systems streamline, enhancing the flow,
Empowering scholars to push knowledge to grow. 
With industry partners, they forge pathways wide,
Bridging the gap, where theory and practice collide.
From grant proposals to studies profound, 
The office guides efforts, where impact is found. 

Data and methods, the tools of the trade, 
Transforming raw whispers into truths that won’t fade. 
So here’s to the ROC Stars, the heart of this space, 
Their dedication and wisdom, a true embrace. 
For in every project, each theory and chart, 
Lives the pulse of research progress, with ROC at it's heart.

Submitted by: Madeline Roe, Curtin University

Research professionals acknowledged at La Trobe University event

Staff from La Trobe University’s Research and Industry Engagement portfolio gathered to celebrate Research Administrator’s Day.

Founded in 2015 by the National Council of University Research Administrators, this day recognises and celebrates the contributions made by research management professionals globally as enablers of research excellence. 

To mark the occasion, a panel discussion was held, led by La Trobe’s Research Grant Development and Transformation Director, Deepa Balakrishnan with staff members discussing their careers in research management. 

The panel was comprised of:

·         Darcelle Thompson - Senior Business Development Manager, Industry Engagement 

·         Tanmay Shekhar – Manager LARFT, Research Capability 

·         Helen Slaney – Manager, Impact, Research Office 

·         Raylee Pasalis – Operations Manager, Graduate Research School 

Each participant shared a story about their journey in research management and administration, including the successes and challenges experienced along the way.

Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Industry Engagement Professor Chris Pakes also reflected on his time in the sector.

“It was wonderful to be able to acknowledge and hear from our staff involved in research management and administration,” Professor Pakes said.

“While the University’s academics produce innovative and groundbreaking research, it is the work being done behind the scenes by research management professionals that help support this important work.”

Submitted by: Clayton Bennett, Research & Industry Engagement, La Trobe University

National Research Administrators' Day across the Ramsay Health Care Network

Ramsay Health Care and Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation proudly celebrated National Research Administrators’ Day, 25th September through a variety of morning teas, presentations, consultations, and networking events across our Clinical Trials Network.

This special day was dedicated to honouring the invaluable contributions of our research administration staff, whose hard work and dedication make our research possible. 

Thank you to all our research administrators for your unwavering support and for being the backbone of our research community!

Submitted by: Alexandra Bartholomew, Ramsay Health Care and Ramsay Hospital

A Day to Celebrate, a Week Late
For Research Administrators Day

We gathered ‘round, all full of cheer,
For a day of fun, once held dear.
A football theme was what we planned,
Before the boss took an unwell stand.

The grand final was near, excitement high,
But we had to wait, with a collective sigh.
So we postponed, set it back a week,
To give our boss time to feel less weak.

At last the day came, we all did meet,
In teams and smiles, with energy sweet.
Research administrators, we are tough,
Balancing papers, grants, and other stuff.

The football game? That took a twist,
But our spirit was high, no joy was missed.
We kicked around ideas and ate donuts too,
Celebrating the work that we always do.

From managing projects, to keeping in line,
We’re the team that keeps it all fine.
A day postponed, but worth the wait,
To cheer for admins who are truly great!

Submitted by: Merryl McHugh, Swinburne Research, Swinburne University of Technology

The University of Sydney Post Award Contracts and Grants teams celebrated Researchers Administration Day by going out to lunch at a local Thai restaurant.

We reflected on why we are proud to be in our roles and the impact we have on our researchers! It was great to come together to celebrate our contributions to enable global research and pause in our busy roles to appreciate and acknowledge one another.

We are committed to ensuring we celebrate this day every year and make more time to celebrate our successes and achievements in our role when we come together more often.

Submitted by: Helen Zinoviev, Post Award Grants and Contracts, The University of Sydney

Treats, Trees & Total Legends
Happy Research Administrators Day!

We celebrated the quiet achievers who give their all, by partnering with UOW researchers and helping them to do amazing things.

Universities are complex places and it is the people, working well beyond expectations, that make them great complex places.

On Research Administrators Day 2024, we took a moment, we spoke to each other, we played, we ate, and most importantly, we celebrated each other and the work we do.

Here’s to the University of Wollongong’s, Division of Research and Sustainable Futures.

Our event was a true testament to the creativity and dedication of our Research Administrators (RAs). The entire celebration was organized and executed by the RAs themselves. Each participant contributed by bringing plates and drinks, creating a vibrant and collaborative atmosphere.

This initiative highlighted our commitment to our work and showcased the strong sense of community and teamwork within our department. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together, share our experiences, and celebrate the invaluable contributions of our RAs.

Submitted by: Sachi Yasuda, Graduate Research School, University of Wollongong Australia

The team at the University of Waikato work across the (quite beautiful) campus supporting researchers in the individual schools and Divisions.  We do meet regularly but mostly online.

What a delight it was to celebrate what we do as research management professionals by having lunch out.  Yes, talk was about ‘how best to support our researchers’ but also included upcoming holiday plans (six weeks in Malaysia was the winner) and the quality of food (the shared fries won out there).

What a fabulous opportunity this was to spend some valuable time with each other, enjoy some great food and remind ourselves why we love what we do.

In this photo left to right are Alex Cullen (Research Management Advisor); Anthea Lamason (Principal RMA); Nadine Viljoen (RMA); Bridget Holland (RMA); Carol Robinson (Senior RMA); Katie O’Sullivan (Assistant RMA); Jenny Robertson (Senior RMA); Jin Chua (Contracts Advisor).

For our usual Thursday online meeting some of the team met in the Paa over a coffee while others joined us online. This gave us an opportunity to photograph team members who were not available for Tuesday’s celebration lunch.

In this photo left to right are Carol; Fran Duggan (RMA Finance); Bridget; Te Hunanga Ngapo (Research Developer Maaori Engagement); Lois Vuursteen (Personal Assistant); Alex. Other members on the team onscreen include Nicola Win (Grant Writer) and Penny Xie (RMA).

Submitted by: Bridget Holland, University of Waikato