Professor Judy Raper

Welcome

In 2015, the University celebrated its 40th anniversary of independence by acknowledging the achievements of UOW researchers in the ‘40 Years of Research Impact’ initiative.

In 2016, we have continued the UOW Impact series with UOW Women of Impact.

The University already has a reputation as one of the best workplaces in Australia for gender equality. UOW is an Employer of Choice accredited by the Federal Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) and was also one of the first universities in Australia to join the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) pilot program, which aims to further the careers of academic women in STEMM.

UOW Women of Impact builds on this reputation by recognising and encouraging the outstanding contributions to research and teaching by women academics across all academic levels and disciplines.

Read through the profiles and you’ll discover an incredible depth of female talent at our university: researchers focused on solving complex world challenges, academics advancing knowledge in fast-moving industries and teachers passionately mentoring a new generation.

These UOW staff members are achieving incredible things. They also happen to be women. I thank them for sharing their stories with us for this initiative.

I am proud to call these women my colleagues and look forward to see what they – and the next generation of academics they inspire – achieve in the years ahead.

PROFESSOR JUDY RAPER
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)

Profile

A chemical engineer by training and research, Professor Judy Raper was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Wollongong in July 2008.

Her prior roles include Dean of Engineering at the University of Sydney, Division Director at the National Science Foundation in Washington and Department Chair of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

In 2012, Professor Raper was named by the Australian Financial Review and Westpac as one of Australia’s ‘100 Women of Influence’, and in 2015 was named in the ‘Top 100 Influential Engineers’ by Engineers Australia for the third year running. 

A fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Professor Raper balanced raising two sons – now successful professionals in Asia and the United States – in parallel with establishing her career. 

She currently serves on three incorporated boards: Unimutual Limited, AutoCRC Limited, and the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, having also completed a four year term on the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation board in July 2016. 

Yet it is her position as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) that provides the greatest professional fulfilment. 

“Daily I encounter tenacious, capable and intelligent academics and innovators, working hard in teaching, research and administration to deliver the strategic goals of UOW – and fulfil their career dreams. 

“Being an advocate for this work provides a great deal of professional satisfaction and I am extremely proud of what we have achieved at UOW together, and of what we are working to in future.”