Associate Professor Greg Walker arrived at Mitchell College of Advanced Education (MCAE) in 1973 as an economics lecturer. Thirty-four years later he leaves as Head of the School of Marketing and Management, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Business and Head of the Bathurst Campus of Charles Sturt University (CSU).

 

Dean of CSU’s Business Faculty Professor John Hicks has praised Dr Walker’s contribution and commitment. “Greg’s long list of job titles truly reflects the wide-ranging contribution he has made to CSU, the skills that he has been able to bring to his various tasks, and the sheer dedication and pride that he takes in seeing a job well done.

 

“What it perhaps does not show is the loyalty and service that he has extended to all with whom he has worked at CSU,” said Professor Hicks.

 

As a lecturer, Dr Walker taught financial economics, financial markets, macroeconomics, international finance and banking, and as an academic he has researched topics as widely diverse as regional economics, bank mergers and even petrol pricing.

 

Professor Hicks describes Dr Walker’s research and writing as “ground breaking”. He also notes Dr Walker’s contribution to the development of the Western Research Institute, and believes Dr Walker was such an effective Head of Campus because of his understanding and empathy for the local Bathurst region.

 

Dr Walker says the role of Head of Campus has been enjoyable, challenging and even "eye-opening".

 

"You are not only reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor, and therefore having a close connection with what’s happening at the very upper echelons of the University, but you are also working with the local Bathurst community to ensure the proud history of delivering quality education programs for the region continues.

 

“The Associate Dean’s role was fascinating because you get a total University focus within the faculty. And that is exciting – dealing with people on all Campuses. The higher you get the more interesting it becomes because you are dealing with strategic issues,” Dr Walker said.

 

Professor Walker says he continued at CSU because the University continually threw up more challenges and opportunities, not least when MCAE became the multi-campus structure that is CSU. “I love the intellectual stimulation – the meeting of minds. This job is incredibly people-focused and the pace is intense, and I’m interested to see how much I’ll miss that.”

 

Professor Walker is looking forward to his post-retirement life of part-time and casual academic work with the added benefit of the freedom to drop everything and, “Pick up our bags and just go if we want to.

 

“I want to repair the house, repair the golf handicap, and spend more time with the family. We want to travel to parts of Australia we haven’t seen and visit friends. We want to have options. Now I will be free to say, I’m sorry, but I’m not available.”