Expenditure Taskforce update: A message from the Chief Operating Officer

As many of you know, I am leading the ANU Expenditure Taskforce, which is attempting to capture $150 million in savings from our ongoing non-salary operational expenses.

That membership includes:

• Dean of Law
• General Manager of College of Arts and Social Sciences
• Chief Operating Officer
• Chief Information Officer
• Director Facilities & Services
• Director Commercial & Procurement
• Director Facilities & Services Business Partnering
• General Manager College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics
• School Manager Research School of Biology
• Associate Director People & Culture

This is important work as savings we make here will help the University be more efficient and reduce the amount of other savings required to be financially sustainable that affect our people and our jobs. 

I’ll be sharing a series of updates on the work of the Taskforce in coming weeks. 

When we refer to ‘non-salary operating expenses’ we mean any area of expenditure at the University not related to people’s employment.  Across the University, we spend a lot of money on things like maintaining our buildings, software licensing and travel. 

We know there are opportunities to be smarter in our procurement and while we are looking for areas where large savings can be made, every dollar counts. 

Next week I will share some of our observations on trends in key areas of expenditure that the Taskforce is compiling. 

Kind regards, 

Jonathan Churchill

Chief Operating Officer