With the recent signing of new CDU VC, Scott Bowman, Alison Haines will step into her new role as Associate Vice-Chancellor for Katherine and the Big Rivers Region.

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With an extensive history within the region, Haines has all the tools and local knowledge to create a better future for the Katherine campus.

"I was born and raised in the Northern Territory," Ms Haines said.

"I grew up on a cattle station between Alice Springs and Mount Isa. I then worked various positions including a stay in the United States.

"In 2001, I came back home to work on a cattle station in the Katherine region and have been in the region since. I was a lecturer at Katherine CDU in 2004/2005 and returned in 2013 after spending 5 years working in the Victoria River region for the Department of Primary Industries.

"I've also been the Agriculture and Rural Operations Vocational Education and Training (VET) team leader in Katherine since 2016."

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This opportunity has the new associate VC ecstatic for the future.

"I'm excited, it's a great opportunity to see what we are able to achieve," Ms Haines said.

"I'm really pleased about the renewed refocus from the CDU on the region along with expanding regional delivery and collaborations.

"I'll be finding out what the region, town and stakeholders need from the CDU.I would like to see the Katherine campus, both sites become really active, bustling places where we're delivering across all areas.

"We'll be continuing our agriculture and rural operations training, but also a whole range of vocational delivery and higher educational delivery.

"New VC, Scott Bowman announced we would also have a pop up degree in Masters of Business Administration, so we'll be looking to get that up and running."

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Haines will look to use every bit of the Katherine Campuses to ensure students get the best out of their educational studies.

"Students can look forward to accessing a wider range of training and educational opportunities," Ms Haines said.

"We hope to expand delivery in the town and the campus. We want to utilise the facilities that we have, such as the kitchen and there have been talks of a training restaurant.

"There are a number of trades and trades apprentices that are in Katherine and I need to find out the number of each type. We want to see what number of trade blocks we can deliver and facilitate here at the two Katherine sites so people don't have to travel to Darwin.

"Outdoor education and increased research will be looked to be expanded also."

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There will be an opportunity for the community to voice their wants and needs with the new associate VC.

"I'm looking forward to working with the community and getting to know everybody I may not already know," Ms Haines said.

"I want to find out what is needed in the region on a broad scale, along with coming up with new and inventive ideas for the future.

"We'll have a team of students and staff showing livestock at the Katherine show, these are local high school students and we're encouraging everyone to come down and cheer them on and we'll also have a trade stand.

"Along with myself and other CDU Staff to chat to, there will be a suggestion box there and we would love to hear what people want and need from us within the Katherine region."

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