grounded in the business - University of Western Sydney

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Taking on talkbackHeralded as a forerunner of a new generation in talkbackradio, radio and TV host Paul Murray (UWS Bachelor of Arts –Humanities) has taken on a new challenge this year – hostingthe drive program on Sydney radio station 2UE.The UWS graduate joined 2UE inFebruary 2011 as part of an allnewline-up designed to changethe station’s approach to talkradio as part of its relaunch.Charged with delivering ‘a fast-pacedbreakdown of current affairs each day’,it is a more serious turn from his last roleas co-host of the drive shift on Triple M.Paul previously worked in thenewsrooms of 2GB, 2SM andNova 96.9.Rounding out his schedule assurely one of the busiest men inAustralia media, Paul also presentsa nightly prime-time talk show onSky News, Paul Murray Live.Growing up in Sydney’s north-west,Paul completed a Bachelor of Arts(Humanities) part-time at UWS. Buthe wasn’t always keen on going touniversity, having not enjoyed school.‘My girlfriend, and her wonderfullyinspiring mum, convinced me to goto a UWS Open Day. By the end ofthe afternoon, I was in love with thecampus and intrigued by the course,’he says. ‘My years at UWS, the peopleI learnt from and the students I learntwith brought, without doubt, theturning point of my life. The coursebroadened every possible horizon andinformed my way of thinking aboutvirtually everything to this day.’But his passion for the media startedmuch earlier. Paul says in the same waysome kids just knew they wanted toplay cricket for Australia, he knew healways wanted to work in radio. Evenas a child, he listened to talkback on hisclock radio at home, and he is a selfconfessed‘radio tragic and news junkie’.When he began working innewsrooms, this led to an amazingarray of experiences on the job.‘By 25, I’d been to court, a federalbudget lock-up, seen people shoton the street, talked to rock stars atthe Arias, and done plenty of oneon-oneswith the Prime Minister.’One of his best moments as a reporterwas during the 2001 Sydney bushfires.‘Then-Prime Minister John Howardrecognised I was a local boy duringthe Marsfield fires and spoke to mebefore the rest of the pack,’ he says.His journalistic work on this event,as well as the federal election and thecollapse of Ansett, was acknowledgedwith the Brian White Award for radioreporter of the year in 2002.By contrast, crime reporting wasalways his least favourite task, ‘becauseof the obvious unpleasantness,and court stories, because of theconsequences of getting it wrong’.Paul’s days now are a whirlwindof digging into the news of the dayto plan his shows and then a hecticafternoon and evening of presenting.Paul also loves using Twitter as atool to keep up with what’s going on inthe world of news and current affairs,and tweets as part of his own show.Already a seasoned media veteranin his early 30s, Paul believes that tosucceed in this competitive arena, thereare some critical attributes you need.‘For me it is an ability to see andassess what’s in front of you, butbe more interested in the margins. Ialso think you need to be very awareof the way you deal with others.This is a craft, not an ego trip.’And for those wanting to forge acareer as journalists or broadcasters,be willing to work for free, he says.‘You’d be surprised how often bossesdon’t look further than the room for asolution. Do whatever you can to getinto that room. And when you get there,take time to talk to people who’vebeen there longer than you. I’d also berealistic about what you can achievein the first couple of years. They don’thire newsreaders fresh out of uni.’6 GradLife November 2011
Margaret’spassion countsUWS graduate Dr Margaret Drever has combined her passionsfor the pursuit of learning and community involvement in a stellarcareer in the accounting profession. Her current role, as Presidentof the NSW Division of CPA Australia, marks the culmination of heracademic and professional journey.After spending seven years as astay-at-home mum to three children,Margaret worked at Boral for 13years as an accountant. ‘My rolewas to look after the Port KemblaSlag Plant, reconcile the wages, paythe salaried staff, and maintain theasset register, which was about $127million. Technology changed so muchduring this time. Manual accountingfor taxation moved from A3 sheets tocomputerisation,’ Margaret says.While at Boral, she studied aBachelor of Commerce in Accountingat UWS, graduating in 1994, and thenbecame a TAFE accounting teacher.‘Studying this degree opened doorsfor me to follow my goals,’ she says.Seeking further education, Margaretcompleted a Master of Economicswith specialisations in Accounting andEntrepreneurship at the Universityof New England, and then beganwhat would be an 11-year stint withSouthern Cross University, first asan Associate Lecturer in 1996.During her time at Southern Cross,Margaret had the opportunity toconduct workshops overseas inHong Kong and Shanghai – andsome challenges she experiencedled to an unexpected opportunity.‘International students struggledin understanding the concepts inaccounting theory. I started to puttogether mind maps in order for themto get the flow of the materials. I had aconversation with Wiley Publishers abouthow to address accounting theory in adifferent way,’ she says. ‘They believedin me and we went ahead and produceda workbook in 2004, then a textbookin 2007 that included mind maps.’Setting an even higher goal for herself,Margaret then undertook a Doctor ofPhilosophy, completing it in 2006 witha thesis entitled ‘Determinants of SmallBusiness Liquidity in Australia’, and laterbecame the Director of Accounting andBusiness Programs at Charles SturtUniversity Study Centre, and an AdjunctAssociate Professor with Charles SturtUniversity – a role she still holds today.Margaret has a passion for smallbusiness research, and supervisesa PhD student investigating therelationship between banks and smallbusiness. Over the years, she has alsobeen involved with Small EnterpriseAssociation of Australia and New Zealand(SEAANZ) and International Council ofSmall Business (ICSB) conferences.Margaret’s association with CPAAustralia began in 1994 when she was amember. She later became the CampusLiaison Officer for SCU’s Coffs Harbourcampus, and was the Branch Chair forNorthern Rivers for two years. In 2004,she was elected to the NSW DivisionalCouncil of CPA Australia, and was madea Fellow of the association in 2006.‘Through my work with CPA AustraliaI was a liaison officer for the SmallBusiness Committee. Today, I am partof the NSW Division of CPA AustraliaSME Taskforce,’ Margaret says.While she left full-time employmentin 2009 to spend quality time withher frail mother and work part-time,Margaret maintained her links withthe industry bodies. In 2010 she waselected as a Deputy President of theNSW Division of CPA Australia, andwas then voted as President in 2011.‘It has been a privilege to be part ofNSW Divisional Council of CPA Australiaover the last seven years,’ she says.Among the highlights of her time asPresident this year with CPA Australia,Margaret says, were meeting Max Walkerat its Newcastle Convention and talkingto him about cricket, shaking the handof Neil Armstrong – the first man to walkon the moon – at a celebration of 125years for CPA Australia, being involvedwith the Board of Studies to developthe HSC Financial Services Curriculum,being involved in the launch of theTAFE Associate Degree, and seeing hermentee complete the CPA program.‘I found that teaching and mentoringgo hand in hand to foster students’wellbeing. I remember all too wellwhat it was like as an undergraduatestudent in a sea of other undergraduatestudents and only being a number.Having mentors on campus providesan opportunity for students to enjoynetworking from day one,’ she says.In terms of what the future holdsfor Margaret, she says she is lookingforward to providing service to thecommunity, enjoying what life has to offer,and being available for whatever elsecomes her way – whether that is writingmore books, working at a universityagain or taking on board positions.Margaret’s advice to others? ‘Becreative – use the skills you haveavailable. Have integrity, as your ethicswill show you the way. Show leadershipand treat people the way you want tobe treated. Mentor others – along myjourney I have had mentors or peoplethat motivated me. Listen to others,as there are always two sides to astory. And be organised, you will besurprised what you can achieve!’»»For more information on Accountingcourses at UWS visit:www.uws.edu.au/accounting/soaGradLife November 2011 7
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