Greg Wood - enabling Warrnambool's future leaders
Professor of Management and Head of Warrnambool Campus, Professor Greg Wood, sees education as 'the great enabler'.
'I never thought as a child that I would be sitting where I am today doing what I'm doing,' he says. 'Education has opened up opportunities for me that weren't there for my parents and grandparents. My education has allowed me to see the world and enjoy a job where I can make a difference in people's lives.'
Greg hopes to use his position to share his passion for education and for Deakin University, and to inspire young people to achieve to the best of their ability.
'I always challenge students to dream and not be constricted in their goals,' he said.
He is adopting a similar approach in his new role with big ambitions for the Campus.
'I am very honoured in being asked to take on this role and am mindful of the work of my predecessors over the past 40 years who have turned Warrnambool into such a well respected Campus,' he said.
Greg sees his position as a broker between the university and the regional community.
'One of my main tasks is to pursue greater partnerships and community engagement across the region,' he said.'
Deakin will continue to engage with local government, other education providers, industry, business and community organisations to ensure that we offer more courses of relevance to the region.'
'I see Deakin as a vibrant education precinct that is part of the community and provides a pathway into future career opportunities for the region's residents.'
Greg has ambitious visions for the campus, including being charged by the Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, Professor den Hollander, to almost double student numbers to 2300 by the year 2020, developing a Deakin presence in Warrnambool's central business district, further cementing its reputation for quality research and expanding the use of technology to reach and enhance the educational opportunities of more people in the region.
'We want to see Deakin at the forefront of Warrnambool becoming a smarter city as part of a smarter region,' he said.
Greg has a PhD in Management from Deakin University, is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute, a Certified Practising Marketer, Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a Member of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management. He is a visiting Professor in the Business School of Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, United Kingdom and is also an honorary Professor of the Oslo School of Management in Norway.
He has worked with Deakin University for the past 20 years and has extensive ties with the Warrnambool community through involvement on a number of committees ranging from school councils and art shows to business awards and marketing groups.
Before joining Deakin as a lecturer in the Faculty of Commerce at the Warrnambool Campus in 1991, Greg worked from 1981–1990 in national and international roles for a multinational energy and resources company.
'It has been an advantage to have had that commercial experience to complement my academic work,' he added.
Born and raised in Adelaide, Greg started his working career as a primary school teacher and later specialised in physical education. His passion for Deakin also extends to the Sharks Football Netball Club where he is president and an ardent supporter.
Greg sees Deakin's students as the future leaders of our community and his belief is that their time at Deakin will influence who they are and who they will become.
