2007 Chris Diamond UQ
2007 – Chris Diamond – UQ
Chris Diamond joined the University of Queensland branch of the NTEU in 1998 when she started work at the University in a temporary project role in the Academic Registrar’s Office. The following year, she started work on her PhD in the Department of Government and worked as a tutor and research assistant, still as a union member. While employed as a casual junior staff member, Chris became an activist early on, working with a colleague to organise the casual tutors in her department. She became a co-delegate in what was then the School of Political Science, and then joined the NTEU’s committee at UQ.
After completing her PhD on 'The Impact of Telework on Work-Family Balance in Australia', Chris continued her research into industrial relations as a post-doctoral fellow in politics, focussing on equity for women and parental leave issues. Her research work informed her activism. As a full-time contract research staff member, Chris took on a number of roles, becoming active in equity issues in the University, an active NTEU branch research sub-committee member, National Councillor of the NTEU, State Division Executive Member and representative to the NTEU Women’s Conference.
As a relatively junior casual and later fixed-term staff member she took on major roles in the union branch that included dealing with senior management, which never fazed her. Her capacity for hard work, regardless of how low- or high-profile the task, inspired her fellow union members with complete confidence in her. The union knew it could always rely on her sound judgement, even temper, good humour and resilience.
Chris’s employment at the University of Queensland finished at the end of August 2007 and the NTEU is united in wishing her well for the next stage of her life. Wherever that takes her, we know she will still be fighting the good fight.