Geelong building named in honour of former Vice-Chancellor

Deakin University today welcomed back to Geelong former Vice-Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Sally Walker AM, for the naming of a building in her honour.

From today, the Dennys Lascelles building at Deakin'sGeelong Waterfront Campus will be known as the Sally Walker Building in recognition of Professor Walker's service to the University as its fifth Vice-Chancellor from 2003 to 2010.

Chancellor David Morgan said it was fitting that the building be named in honour of Professor Walker, given her commitment to fostering relationships in the Geelong community and her tireless efforts in securing both State and Federal funding for the refurbishment of the building.

He spoke of Professor Walker's achievements during her time as Vice-Chancellor of Deakin.

"Professor Walker was a strong believer in the transforming power of higher education and, under her leadership, Deakin developed an enviable reputation for being a university which is accessible, helpful and friendly."

He said that Professor Walker played a key role in promoting Deakin internationally, opening the University's office in China in 2008 and becoming the first Australian university to do so.

Under Professor Walker's leadership, Deakin also established the Institute for Technology Research and Innovation to undertake research in new materials, composites, nanotechnology, biotechnology and intelligent systems, and the Alfred Deakin Research Institute to undertake research in public policy.

"And of course the establishment of Deakin's Medical School, the first new medical school in Victoria in 40 years, was achieved during Professor Walker's leadership of the University," Mr Morgan said.

The Sally Walker Building is now a key part of Deakin's $38-million Geelong Accommodation and Relocation Strategy which will see the Business and Law Faculty relocate to the Waterfront campus from the beginning of the 2013 academic year.

A number of the University's functions have moved into the Walker building to allow the refurbishment of the John Hay Building next door, also named in honour of a former Vice-Chancellor, to accommodate teaching activity from the beginning of next year.