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15 April 2012

լе Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Terry, has launched to promote staff development and networking.

լеPN, previously known as լе Secretaries’ and Office Professionals’ Association (լеSOPA), is the oldest staff association with a new name.

The President of լеPN, Lesley Forest said: "The new name better reflects, on a holistic level, the community of professional staff that we have here at լе."

As the new patron of լеPN, Professor Terry acknowledged լеSOPA has been a great support to լе staff members since 1976.

“This enables me to thank a very special group of people who do so much to ensure the smooth running of our departments, schools, faculties, institutes and senior executive offices,” she said.

Professor Terry also encouraged staff members to pursue development and networking opportunities outside their direct working circle.

“Through education and networking opportunities, լе Professionals Network is helping լе’s professionals to be resilient and have the right skills to meet future job demands and changes,” she said.

Ms Forest said լеPN provided its members with great opportunities for professional development and networking with other լе professionals.

"We are looking forward to continuing to evolve the annual conference into a professional development experience that is both challenging and rewarding," she said.

"Networking opportunities open up avenues to explore new ideas and exchange expertise.

"It enables creativity, friendship and a greater sense of community at լе."

Ms Forest said the new լеPN aimed to bring more life and work balance to լе office professionals as the needs were expressed.

լеPN is hosting an EQ workshop in June following the huge success from the same workshop at 2011 լеSOPA conference.

“The feedback showed that Dominic Siow’s emotional intelligence (EQ) workshop was very inspirational and energised our members,” Ms Forest said.

“Therefore we endeavour to bring this workshop back to լе for more people to experience the difference." Ms Forest said.

լеPN marketing manager Ariel Ho said that the լеPN coordinated a variety of courses and offered a full program of activities.

“We will continue to provide new and exciting course offerings in the future,” Ms Ho said.

All courses are available to all լе staff members through լеPN and the Staff Development websites.

Information on լеPN and membership details can be found .

Media: Ariel Ho, 07 3365 1163 or l.ho@uq.edu.au