It seems worlds apart from the small, pristine and laid-back island of Tasmania where the Chief Executive of private equity investment firm Beckway studied.
Despite the differences and the vast distance, the bond between Mark and the University of Tasmania is stronger than ever. One of the ways he fosters this deep connection is through his role as the University of Tasmania Foundation USA Chair. Established in 2006, the charitable organisation is a vital and valued link in our global community.
It promotes research and education opportunities between the USA and Australia with a distinct focus on the University of Tasmania.
This includes: supporting international exchange, organising events, and facilitating connections between former and current students, staff and friends of the University.
Over many years, the Foundation has also provided the means by which generous and significant philanthropic support to a range of the University’s people and projects may be managed. Whether it’s investigating how the ocean can help us combat climate change, or ensuring every child has access to high-quality language education, the Foundation’s giving has a global impact.
But for Mark and many other members of the Foundation, their philanthropic roots stem from their own early educational experience in Tasmania.
“The University had a very meaningful impact on my life,” Mark said.
“It helped me broaden my skills, develop as a person and provided the pathway to new opportunities.
“The University is also very important to Tasmania, which is an island and community that l care very deeply about. As such, supporting its research and education missions becomes very important and personal.”
Mark said the Foundation was very grateful to be associated with helping to auspice two recent research projects which demonstrate the University’s care for its students, community and our environment.
Thanks to the support of the Silicon Valley Community fund, Dr Lennart Bach, ARC Future Fellow for Climate Intervention at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, is testing the Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement hypothesis.
It proposes removing billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by pulverizing large amounts of specific rock minerals and spreading them onto the oceans, to enhance the CO2 storage capacity of seawater (known as alkalinity).
A generous gift from the Spencer Foundation will also help improve equity in the provision of additional languages to primary school aged children.
The University’s Dr Mairin Hennebry-Leung is conducting a study to understand the challenges that impact on novice teachers’ motivation to teach languages in primary school.
“A shortage of teachers means languages are often taught by teachers ill-equipped for the task,” the Senior Lecturer in Languages and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) said.
“This phenomenon threatens their sense of competence and their motivation, in turn impacting on the quality of teaching and on student outcomes.
“The support from the Spencer Foundation is crucial in ensuring that research is driven by the needs of society and a concern for providing children with opportunities that prepare them for the realities that await,” Dr Hennebry-Leung said.
Story image: Mark Habner, Chair University of Tasmania Foundation USA (Image supplied)
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