CQUniversity Podcast - Greatvine

An AI generated track inspired by CQUniversity staffer Trent Jones which encompasses the mission and emotions of the CQUniCares Appeal in 2025.

CQUniversity has launched its latest podcast series CQUniversity Commentary. This podcast series brings you CQUni experts in research, work and study, dissecting the issues and current affairs that affect you, your family and your community. CQUniversity has dedicated the first season of CQUniversity Commentary to focus on conversations about the emerging issues from COVID-19. To listen to this po...

She says her whole life has been about science education, in one way or another, and now CQUni’s Dr Linda Pfeiffer’s legacy in developing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education in regional Queensland has landed her as a semi-finalist in the Queensland Community Awards. Linda shares about what some see as a ‘glorified classroom’ known as STEM Central (which she helped des...

She received a surprise round of tea-room cheers on her first day on campus, was suddenly in bagpipe-induced tears at her first graduation – and for Associate Vice-Chancellor (Victoria) Lara Carton, leading CQUniversity Melbourne has remained a rollercoaster. Lara shares the logistical nightmares of moving a whole campus, how the student cohort has quadrupled in Melbourne, and why you can always e...

Rhianna Wood is a dedicated nursing student with a heart for making a difference in the lives of others. As a child, she never dreamed that she would grow up to be a nurse, but always had a passion to help those around her. This passion led her to The Philippines on a mission and she has continued to help others in her community and afar. As well as being a second-year undergraduate student, the 1...

Chris Veraa once worked as a barista at McCafe, before he ever drank a coffee, and later became a rural reporter, despite having little farming experience, and now is CQUni’s Director of Student Experience – and in case you’re wondering, yes, this time he’s got loads of experience. As a high school student who excelled at English, Chris decided to study journalism and marketing at university befor...

With more than a decade of research experience, Nancy Greer has faced crocs at Rockhampton’s reptile farm (for an award-winning study about how excitement impacts gaming habits), tackled gambling studies in Bundaberg, moved to Brisbane and then into the heart of Melbourne to understand the huge and heartbreaking issues around homelessness. Now, her PhD subject has put her in the middle of the high...

From sacked sandwich maker to VET education innovator, Peter Heilbuth shares some of his early vocational fails and how an opportunity to teach at TAFE led to a rewarding career in the vocational education sector. Today, Peter is CQUniversity's Pro-Vice-Chancellor for VET Operations and Growth heading up the VET operations of Queensland's first fully comprehensive university. He reflects on some o...

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Student Experience and Governance Joanne Perry. Joanne shares the many changes she’s been a part of at CQUni over the years and tells us there are some things that haven't changed – the Uni’s commitment to students and communities. Growing up in Mackay, just down the road from where the Ooralea campus stands today, Joanne talks...

This week on the Greatvine we chat with Bachelor of Digital Media student Beau Moloney. Beau shares about how a horrific car crash changed his life forever, forcing him to reevaluate his career ambitions and eventually leading him to his love of the arts, videography and animation. He talks about how he overcame many hurdles to study at CQUni and about the support he received from the University a...

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni's hospitality teacher Charlie Jensen. Charlie shares how a smile can make all the difference to finding success in the hospitality profession. Her positivity and bubbly personality is something that always shines through as a teacher, but she’s modest about having her hard work recognised with a Queensland Training Award in 2018. She also shares the ch...

This week on the Greatvine we chat with Professor Corneel Vandelanotte. Corneel shares about his childhood growing up in in a small village within Flanders, the northern portion of Belgium, surrounded by farms lands, animals and lots of places to get dirty. We learn that his mother encouraged him to start Judo, which formed part of the reason why he studied physical education at Ghent University....

Growing up in Bargara, regional Queensland, Associate Professor Celeste Lawson lived a carefree childhood, where she did what she loved and what she found interesting. In this podcast, we learn she unconsciously followed in her father’s journalistic footsteps, but soon realised that it wasn’t for her. She shares that her desire to help people led her to become a Rockhampton-based police officer an...

Science isn’t just a profession, but even more so a passion for CQUniversity Adjunct Professor Simon Robson. And as the country celebrates National Science Week, we chat with the CQUni scientist that made huge news earlier in the year when he, along with a research team, rediscovered the world’s largest bee! We hear about why the news was so big and if the rediscovery continues to generate media b...

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni's Senior Lecturer and Head of Course for Environmental Science Dr Nathan English. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Nathan now lives and works in Townsville, North Queensland. We learn that Nathan grew up in a very ‘non-traditional family’ and delve deep into his passion for the environment, in particular, the natural sciences. We also discover that Na...

This week we chat with CQUni's Publications and New Media Officer, and Be mag editor, Priscilla Crighton. With preparation underway for the 30th edition of Be Magazine, we hear from the lady behind the publication about its creation and some of the most memorable front cover stories. We learn that Priscilla’s love of writing started in high school, where she dabbled in poetry and public speaking,...

This week on The Greatvine we hear from CQUni's Pro Vice-Chancellor of Indigenous Engagement and BHP Chair in Indigenous Engagement, Professor Adrian Miller. A proud North Queenslander and even more proud of his Indigenous heritage and culture, we hear how Adrian has a real passion for education and its transformative effect. We learn that Adrian, like everyone, sometimes needs a little distractio...

This week, in conjunction with NAIDOC Week, we chat with CQUni's Deputy Director for Student Life and Wellbeing and proud Indigenous woman Melinda Mann. Melinda shares about her childhood growing up in small rural and regional areas, surrounded by her Indigenous family and friends, where fishing, hunting and camping were some of her favourite pastimes. We learn that her childhood was a rich cultur...

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni's koala researcher Dr Alistair Melzer. While he grew up on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, and initially studied at the University of Queensland, we hear that Alistair was destined to work in Central Queensland. And while his research spans a variety of environmental management fields, for the past 20 years he has been dedicated to the research of Au...

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUniversity's Deputy Director of Development and Alumni Relations Francois Gallais. His first ambition was to be a professional soccer player, but once he discovered his skill set didn't match his passion, a young Francois quickly turned his attention to another love ... cheese. In this week's podcast, we hear how Francois' early years growing up in France...

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni's Vice-Chancellor Nick Klomp. He has been in the top job now for four months and has just completed his inaugural tour of CQUni's many locations, so it is timely to hear about his first impressions of CQUni. We also discover how his career has progressed over the years and about his drive to make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities...

This week on the Greatvine we chat with CQUni Education students and siblings Bronte and Elliot Wills. The fun-loving sister and brother duo talk about their different experiences leaving western Queensland to study in Rockhampton and the reasons behind both deciding to become teachers, despite their father's best efforts to make at least one of them an engineer. Sorry Dad! While their sibling riv...

This week on The Greatvine we chat with CQUni's Head of Acting Karen Crone. We hear how Karen was destined for the theatre having grown up on stage, in everything from neighbourhood performances to eisteddfods and school musicals. We learn that Karen has performed alongside some of Australia's best, including her friend Jackie Weaver, and has even performed for the Queen. She is passionate about s...

This week on the Greatvine we chat with remedial massage teacher Gary Kaddatz. Gary shares about his career jump from meatworker to massage therapist and now teacher. We learn that the meat industry was much more of a grounding for his current career than many may think, plus he tells us about growing up in a family where alternative pain therapies, such as chiropractic and massage, were commonpla...

This week on the Greatvine podcast we chat with Associate Vice-Chancellor Jodie Duignan-George. We hear about her challenges growing up, facing bullies and becoming a parent at a young age. We learn how a Bachelor of Arts began her progression to become a 'jack of all trades' which led to a Master in Social Sciences and eventually management roles in the university sector. Jodie tells us about the...