Following consultation with our staff, students and members of the community, the ANU Poster Policy is now in effect. This policy aims to promote freedom of speech and freedom of expression by ensuring that campus users can share visual materials around the ANU Campus, while maintaining a clear and welcoming physical environment.

This policy ensures that posters are displayed in appropriate locations, maintaining the aesthetic and operational integrity of the University while supporting communication and engagement within the ANU community. 

In the policy library you can find a detailed map identifying the designated notice boards available for use. These include internal locations within ANU buildings and external sites across campus. Internal noticeboards are now fully operational.  

External noticeboard locations are currently pending approval. Once approved, these noticeboards will be installed. A further update will be provided once information becomes available. We encourage all students, staff, and community members to familiarise themselves with the policy and utilise the designated internal noticeboards for their notices and communications. 

Learn more: ANU Poster Policy 

Last week the University held its first annual graduation ceremonies event since the transition from bi-annual graduation ceremonies. Over 4,000 bright-minded students received ANU qualifications both in-person and in absentia. To celebrate their achievements, we’ve gathered some inspiring stories from our graduates. 

Sonali Varma. Photo: Photo: Nic Vevers/ANU

Sonali Varma is advocating for better mental health support for young people

ANU graduate Sonali Varma says Australia must facilitate community for young people struggling with isolation and loneliness. 

“Whilst the mental health system in Australia is generally well intending and full of really wonderful people, it’s not set up in a way that best serves young people,” she says.   

Read more: Sonali Varma 

Achalie and Madhawa. Photo: Luka Vertessy/ANU

Recipe for marital success: husband and wife celebrate their PhD graduations

Last week, married couple Dr Achalie Kumarage and Dr Madhawa Perera graduated from ANU with their doctorates. 

After time apart on different continents, this married couple reunited to navigate their PhD journeys at ANU. 

Read more: Dr Achalie Kumarage and Dr Madhawa Perera 

Dr Natalie Gordon displaying her possum skin. Photo: Nic Vevers/ANU

Life 2.0: How Dr Natalie Gordon’s second chance led her to medicine

Dr Natalie Gordon honored the people who helped her on her path to becoming a doctor by including them on her ceremonial possum cloak.

Natalie pursued a medical career to advocate for rural women and Aboriginal communities and her graduation is an important milestone on that journey.  

Read more: Dr Natalie Gordon 

Andrew (Drew) Clarke has made an exceptional cumulative contribution to Australia’s public policy and administration. He has worked passionately and effectively towards forward-looking policy and effective institutions that can support low-emissions energy transition while meeting real-world constraints such as energy affordability. His work sits across thought leadership, advocacy within the public policy and regulatory systems and public administration. While his career contribution spans a wide range of fields and topics, Drew's contributions towards energy transition and especially energy market reform are particularly noteworthy. 

Read more: Honorary Doctorate Citation, Drew Clarke

This week, a new waste program is launching in the Marie Reay Teaching Centre. The ANU Green initiative includes five distinct bins to help divert waste from landfill.  

Waste walls display clear signage above the new bins to help make throwing rubbish in the correct bin easier. For instance, did you know that coffee cups and eco-friendly food packaging go into landfill red bins, not recycling bins?  

Find more tips on what waste goes where and the new waste system at ANU. 

2025 ANU Commencement: New Student Address, at Llewellyn Hall, The Australian National University. Photo: Crystal Li/ANU

Starting at university can cause trepidation, excitement or even eagerness for what is ahead.  At the 2025 ANU Commencement: New Student Address, TV presenter and graduate Lee Constable encouraged new students to figure out how to ignore certain advice. 

Read more: Rites of passage 

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer 

Applications are now open for our substantive Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO). This is an opportunity for an experienced leader to play a pivotal role in driving the University’s marketing and communications strategy.  

This role will be crucial in advancing the University’s strategic objectives and continuously innovating engagement methods to enhance the University’s national and international standing. The CMCO will work closely with the Vice-Chancellor, Executive team and key stakeholders across the University, including with the Pro Vice-Chancellor (International and Future Students) to enhance the University’s global engagement and student recruitment initiatives.  

Applications close on 10 March 2025 with the selection process to be finalised towards mid-2025. Perrett Laver is partnering with ANU on this recruitment process.  

Our thanks to Steven Fanner for assuming the role of Interim CMCO while our extensive search process is undertaken.  

Apply Now: Chief Marketing and Communications Officer 

In 2024 the Campus Environment team completed numerous refurbishments to teaching and office spaces on the University’s Acton and Mount Stromlo campuses. As the University has over 250 buildings across both campuses, the prioritisation of building refurbishment is determined by asset condition ratings and operational requirements, including work, health and safety and cost. 

In 2024 the following spaces were refurbished: 

Alongside these works, the University also completed numerous upgrades to ageing building services including electrical distribution boards, lifts, mechanical systems, hydraulic services, replacing end of life carpet and fixtures and the removal of hazardous materials. In 2024, Campus Environment actioned approximately 20,000 maintenance work orders to the cost of around $13 million. 

These refurbishments are focused on providing our staff, students and visitors with an improved experience while on our campuses. We thank our Campus Environment team and contractors for the wonderful upgrades they have made. For upgrades in your local area, please speak with your building custodian.

Tuesday 18 February, 6-7pm 

Arnold Dix will be in a conversation with journalist Alex Sloan on his new book The Promise. How an everyday hero made the impossible possible. 
 
In rural Victoria, Arnold Dix is known to locals as a farmer and a part-time truck driver. But his name reached global recognition when he played a pivotal role in rescuing 41 Indian workers trapped after a tunnel collapse in the Himalayas. In vivid detail, Arnold recounts the unlikely rescue that transformed him into a global hero. He reflects on the extraordinary challenges he faced, culminating in his unwavering promise: `41 men are coming home alive.’ 

Register now: Meet the author – Arnold Dix 

Monday 24 February, 5.30-7pm 

The indicators are that Donald Trump’s second term as President will be as disruptive for international law and international relations as the first. This seminar will focus on what the proposed US actions means for tariffs in the context of international trade law, the threatened acquisition of territory by economic or military means and ultimately, for multilateral, regional and bilateral treaties as the foundation for the rules-based international order.  

Register now: Trump 2.0, Tariffs, Territory, and Treaties 

Monday 3 March, 12.30-3.30pm 

Master the three stages of minute-taking during corporate policy and decision-making meetings from business writer and writing coach, Stephanie Oley. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will have learnt skills such as listening, drafting and editing while minute taking. The training uses various examples drawn from the a university setting. 

Register now: Minute Taking Workshop 

A snake lantern for celebrations in Singapore. Photo: Choo Yut Shing/Flickr

Happy Lunar New Year! As billions around the world celebrate the Year of the Snake in 2025, we spoke with ANU experts about the snake’s cultural significance and global influence. 

Read more: Embracing the Year of the Snake 

Missingham returned to ANU as the University Librarian in 2012. Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU

Outgoing ANU librarian Roxanne Missingham has empowered generations of students and researchers. With decades of service at some of Australia’s foremost libraries, she has been both a guardian and innovator, having supported these bastions of intellectual freedom through digital revolutions, natural disasters, and global pandemics.

As Roxanne's retirement draws near, she leaves behind a legacy built on the principle that knowledge—like a good book—should always be within reach. Roxanne's last day with ANU is Friday 14 February.

Read more: Farewell to ANU Librarian Roxanne Missingham

After a long nine-month intermission due to the Cultural Centre’s closure, the ANU Film Group is back. Join in the celebrations with free screenings from February 10 - February 15, featuring recent hits like Wicked, Better Man, Heretic and more. 

Learn more: ANU Film Group screenings 

The ANU Policy Library Consolidation Project, led by the Corporate Governance and Risk Office (CGRO), aims to streamline and simplify the University’s extensive Policy Library. The initiative addresses challenges around policy accessibility and navigation, with the goal of creating more streamlined pathways for presenting policy documents. As of July 2024, the library contained 657 documents; by January 2025, this number has been reduced to 549. 

By consolidating policies, procedures, guidelines, standards and forms, the project aims to create a more intuitive and user-friendly experience for the University community.  Since its launch in July 2024, over 100 outdated and redundant policy documents have been repealed, and more than 30 internal forms have been migrated to secure ANU webpages, ensuring the public-facing library remains focused on essential policies. In addition, a new Policy Library Handbooks webpage has been established to consolidate related documents, making it easier for users to find relevant information. CGRO continues to work with service areas across the University to progress this critical project.  

A full report of policy document reviews, including repeals can be found here. Questions or concerns relating to this project can be directed to policy@anu.edu.au. 

The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are the country’s most comprehensive national science awards, honouring excellence across the areas of research and innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science. 

Presented annually in partnership with some of the nation's leading scientific institutions, government organisations, universities and corporations, the Eureka Prizes raise the profile of science and science engagement in the community by celebrating outstanding achievement. 

Enter now: Eureka Prize 

ANU scientists are conducting research examining the cognitive processes associated with safe driving in provisional drivers and are seeking research participants. Participation involves completing computer-based driving and cognitive tasks for roughly 90-120 minutes.  

Participants need to: 

Participants will be awarded $40 for their time. For further information or to arrange participation contact Esther on u7277813@anu.edu.au. 

If you have a passion for helping Early Career Researchers (ECRs) succeed, consider enrolling as a Mentor in the ANU NECTAR Mentoring Program.  

We are seeking Mentors with diverse experiences to help ECRs navigate challenges ranging from balancing teaching loads to gaining research impact. Enroll as a mentor before 24 February (it takes just 10 minutes) to make a meaningful difference in someone's career. 

Enrol now: NECTAR Mentoring Program 2025 

ANU Security - (02) 6125 2249 

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call ANU Security.  

Media hotline 24/7 - (02) 6125 7979 

Contact the 24/7 media hotline for media queries regarding the University and its operations, or to track down experts that aren’t listed in our Experts Guide.  

Help is available if you need it. Whether it's a work-related issue or a personal one, the University encourages you to seek support through the Employee Assistance Program.

If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to this guide developed by the Student Safety and Wellbeing team.