Westmead Precinct Board (WPB)

The Westmead Precinct is one of Australia’s leading precincts for the delivery of healthcare and healthcare related research and education. On the Precinct are located Westmead Hospital, the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Cumberland Hospital, Westmead Private Hospital, the University of Sydney, the Westmead Medical Research Institute, the Children’s Medical Research Institute, and the Institute for Clinical Pathologyand Medical Research Pathology West. The Precinct is currently undergoing a major multi-billion-dollar re-development. The University has committed to giving academic leadership support to the re-development of the Westmead Precinct and to the realisation of the vision of the Precinct Partners for:• the integration of teaching and research with clinical care in order to improve health outcomes in Western Sydney, and• the further development of Westmead as a global leader in health-related innovation.The University has also committed to building its teaching activities on the Westmead Precinct to 6,000 students by 2030 covering the full range of disciplines relevant to the improvement of health and wellbeing and the creation of a globally leading centre of innovation. It is expected that the University’s commitment will total $500M over 20 years.This Board is responsible for overseeing and guiding all activities associated with the University’s investment to the Westmead Precinct redevelopment. This has the potential to be an organisation defining initiative for the University.In making its deliberations, the Board will be mindful of the following matters when making decisions:(a) The nature of the venture: this is ‘a whole of University’ contribution to a ‘whole of health’ response to an unfolding demographic shock in the western region of Sydney.(b) The nature of the University’s contribution: generating new knowledge and sharing knowledge from all disciplines by deepening collaborations within the University and with the Precinct partners.(c) Alignment of other initiatives: It is important that the University’s capital works program and its strategy for future educational offerings in Western Sydney support the academic strategy for the Precinct.(d) Financial sustainability: Activities associated with the Westmead Precinct initiative must, ultimately, be supported by revenue raising activities based at or associated with the Precinct.Terms of Reference:The purpose of the UE Westmead Precinct Board (UE WPB) is to provide direction, governance and decision making for the University’s investment in the Westmead Precinct.It is responsible for five areas of activity.1. Leadership- Championing the Westmead Initiative across the University and Westmead Precinct partners and other stakeholders.2. Oversight and academic governance of the University’s planning and activities concerning the Precinct- Ensuring cross-Faculty collaboration and pan-Faculty oversight of the University’s activities at Westmead.- Making recommendations to the University Executive and the Vice Chancellor on the activities and direction of the Program.- Making recommendations to Campus Infrastructure Services, Information, Communication and Technology and other Professional Services Units about capital and information communication and technology infrastructure priorities and delivery of support services at Westmead.3. Specific responsibilities- Streamlining and managing approvals of:a. Academic Strategyb. All Program plans including annual Operations Plan and Program Budget- Approving reports to the University Executive and Senate.4. Dispute resolution- Resolving escalated issues from the Westmead Precinct Academic Committee or the Westmead Precinct Operations Committee.5. Quality control and risk management- Monitoring risk mitigation and contingency plans.- Commissioning quality assurance/reviews as required.[source: https://intranet.sydney.edu.au/content/dam/intranet/documents/secretariat/parramatta-westmead/wpb-terms-of-reference.pdf accessed 12/07/2019]