Around 280 people turned out to listen to a public lecture delivered by Dow Chemical Company Chairman and CEO, Dr Andrew Liveris last week.
Returning to his alma mater University of Queensland (UQ) as part of a Centenary Oration series, Dr Liveris discussed Australia’s historical growth as a nation, emphasising the contribution of immigrants in making Australia what it is today.
“My grandfather, a poor unskilled laborer from the Dodecanese, sailed into Darwin during those pioneering times,” Dr Liveris said in his speech.
“He worked hard because he had no choice, but he also saw, as so many Australians did in those times: potential. That, I believe, was the key to this continent: the prospects of our resources, the potency of our place in the Asia Pacific region, the promise of a people with strength, a hard work ethic, and a drive to win”.
Organiser of The University of Queensland Centenary Oration series Ellen Juhasz described Dr Liveris as “charismatic, pragmatic and very intellectual”. “Dr Liveris is someone we can be immensely proud of at the university,” Ms Juhasz told Neos Kosmos.
“He’s an Aussie, based in the US, heading up a company like Dow and the annoying thing is he doesn’t have the high profile he deserves in Australia. He’s a Greek boy from Brisbane who’s made good in the most stunning fashion,” she said.
Dr Liveris, who was UQ’s alumnus of the year in 2005, said in his speech that his experience at UQ has taken him to where he is today. “He spoke about how his education at UQ taught him to be a critical thinker and set him on the path to the leadership position he holds today,” Ms Juhasz said.
“He also made a point of stressing the need for courageous political figures in Australia, who are focused on long term solutions rather than just short term,” she said.
Dr Liveris was the penultimate talk in the Centenary Oration series. The final speaker will be international cancer research expert Professor Michael Stratton, who will speak on December 7.
For more information visit: http://www.uq.edu.au/centenary/oration-series