11 December 2007

The University of Queensland will award former Premier Wayne Goss with an honorary doctorate on December 12.

Mr Goss, who is also an Adjunct Professor with UQ’s Business School, will be honoured with a Doctor of Economics honoris causa at the 2pm Faculty of Biological & Chemical Sciences graduation ceremony.

Mr Goss studied law at UQ before becoming a solicitor. He worked for the Aboriginal Legal Service before working as a lawyer for his own practice for a decade, where he also became President of the Caxton Legal Service.

He entered State politics in 1983 and served as Premier of Queensland from 1989 until 1996.

As Premier, he presided over the implementation of many of the reforms of the landmark Fitzgerald Inquiry into police corruption and his government introduced a wide range of social reforms as well as participated in a national reform program, including development of an Energy and Competition Policy.

He is National Chair of Deloitte Australia, Chair of Ausenco Ltd and Chair of the Government Reform Commission of South Australia. He is also Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Queensland Art Gallery and has served on the boards of Ingeus, WebCentral Group Ltd, Peplin Ltd, Lincolne Scott Pty Ltd, and Brisbane Broncos Ltd.

Internationally renowned Indigenous author, academic and activist Dr Jackie Huggins will be the guest speaker at the 11am Biological & Chemical Sciences and Natural Resources, Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences faculties' graduation ceremony.

Dr Huggins, who is Deputy Director of UQ’s Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander Studies Unit, was named as the University’s Alumnus of the Year for 2007.

Dr Huggins is co-chair of Reconciliation Australia and was heavily involved in this year’s celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum that saw Indigenous people included in the federal census for the first time.

Three graduation ceremonies will take place at UQ’s St Lucia Campus on December 12, featuring graduates from Biological & Chemical Sciences and Natural Resources, Agriculture & Veterinary Sciences faculties at 11am; the Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty at 2pm; and the Social & Behavioural Sciences Faculty at 6pm. All graduations will be held at the UQ Centre.

Media inquiries: Andrew Dunne at UQ Communications (3365 2802 or 0433 364 181).