New book: Early Career Research Pathways
Launching in November 2025, Early Career Research Pathways shares advice on managing seven tensions faced by new doctoral graduates. The book, edited by Cairns Institute Adjunct Susan Gasson, is based...

In September, Jen McHugh visited Waiben (Thursday Island) as part of the TNQ Drought Hub, Sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprise Program and her role as a Regional Activator for the Qld Social Enterprise Council (QSEC). She attended a Coffee and Yarn morning hosted by Murray Saylor (Tagai Management Consultants) and assisted Murray to facilitate a Keriba Building and Construction Program Business Workshop at the JCU Thursday Island Ngulaigau Mudh Campus.
Jen facilitated a social enterprise discussion with the screening of the film Tender. Directed by Lynette Wallworth, produced by Kath Shelper and filmed with the assistance of the Adelaide Film Festival, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian Council for the Arts & Screen NSW. The film showcases the journey by Tender Funerals Australia and is at once a heartbreakingly beautiful and funny glimpse of an extraordinary community taking on one of the most essential challenges of human life; its end?
Following the screening Marg Yandell (Tender FNQ) joined online to discuss the opportunities that communities have to make funeral services more affordable. Elise Parup, the CEO of QSEC also joined online to answer questions around social enterprise opportunities in Queensland and Brian Norris from the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) discussed some of the focus for Social Enterprises. The event was attended by local community groups and JCU Business Students.
Jen’s visit coincided with the State Government’s Community Cabinet and took part in a campus tour with Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs Meaghan Scanlon MP. Subsequently, Jen returns in October for Indigenous Business Month and the TNQ Drought Hub will support a Business Development event with the Department of Senior Disability Services Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DSDSATSIP) and DESBT.
Image: (above L-R) A/Prof Mills, JCU Business student Jordana Kris, Jen McHugh, Campus Coordinator Regina Turner and Hon Meaghan Scanlon MP with JCU medical students.




Launching in November 2025, Early Career Research Pathways shares advice on managing seven tensions faced by new doctoral graduates. The book, edited by Cairns Institute Adjunct Susan Gasson, is based...
Drought and climate variability continue to challenge Northern Australia, but the scholarship program is helping to equip future researchers with the tools to respond. The TNQ Drought Hub Honours Scho...
At the recent Social Science Community for the GBR’s symposium “REEFLECTIONS” in Townsville, the workshop was presented by The Cairns Institute’s D/Prof Stewart Lockie, Dr Rana...
The Developing Northern Australia Conference in Cairns provided an opportunity to show case some of the Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub's Sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Long term colleague of the Development in the Tropics Team, Dr John Coyne is co author of recent report that frames Northern Australia as a developing economy within a developed nation.The A...
On Friday 8 August, six inspiring alumni, working across law, government, conservation, and medicine, were awarded for their outstanding contributions to their fields in a ceremony held at t...
The 2025 Developing Northern Australia Conference (DNAC) took place from the 22-24 July in Cairns, bringing together over 500 delegates from across the north, the rest of Australia and the&n...
FNQ Connect, located within The Cairns Institute, has welcomed a new director to guide the now fully-staffed backbone team ahead of its cross-sector leadership table in August. The initiative, inspire...
© 2025 The Cairns Institute | Site Map | Site by OracleStudio | Design by LeoSchoepflin