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University to honour world-class thinker
A successful business woman who has helped many small companies to think big in terms of their export potential will become an Honorary Doctor of the University of the Sunshine Coast next week.
Dr Karen Woolley, the CEO of Proscribe Medical Communications and a director of the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast for the past four years, will receive the award at USC’s Graduation Ceremony on Friday 30 September.
Dr Woolley of Noosaville is an adjunct professor of USC and the University of Queensland. She was judged the Sunshine Coast Business Woman of the Year in 2004 and the Telstra Business Woman of the Year in 2005.
She champions the idea of “small giant” business innovation, which is an approach used by companies that aim to be great rather than big.
“Our company, which has 15 employees, exports our services around the world and we’ve won contracts over much larger companies with 20,000 employees,” she said.
“I think it’s important that businesses think about how they can export from the Sunshine Coast, rather than just sell to the Sunshine Coast.
“You don’t just want to be the best on the Coast or the best in Australia, but your passion must be so great, that you believe you can be among the best in the world at what you do.
“If you have export focus and the belief that you can be among the best in the world, then all it takes is technology and the internet so that you can sell your ideas, or products or services to the world.”
Dr Woolley has also helped establish a Clinical Trials Centre and Clinical Trial Management course at USC, and is assisting with the development of practical strategies to position the Sunshine Coast University Hospital as an economic asset for the region.
USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill said Dr Woolley was an inspirational role model whose success on the world stage should be recognised.
“Karen is dedicated to the advancement of the regional economy and encouraging others to follow her lead,” he said.
“She has established a global business that ensures new money is brought into the local economy which in turn leads to a more diversified economy and improved rates of employment.”
Even though Dr Woolley is already a Doctor of Medical Science, she said receiving an honorary doctorate was incredible.
“The honorary doctorate from USC is much more unexpected and was far more enjoyable to earn,” she said.
Dr Woolley will join the ranks of other USC Honorary Doctors including Supreme Court judge Tony Fitzgerald, East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta, marathon champion Robert de Castella, and award-winning television journalist Caroline Jones.
— Michelle Widdicombe