PEOPLE FIRST: Our Human Capital The Review Panel highlighted an important and urgent priority, which is to strengthen staff well-being. We have many excellent scholars and support staff who have done a stupendous job during the challenges of the past few years. But in some ways, that is the problem. Meeting the increasing demands has led to burnout, low morale and other issues among some staff members. My team and I are therefore taking steps to make daily life a little easier for both professoriate and non-professoriate staff, an effort that started with my Townhall meetings back in the autumn of 2022 to sound out people’s needs and aspirations. Those meetings highlighted a few issues. One was the need for practical support to promote wellness. We have responded by rolling out a series of People First initiatives that include a shuttle bus service to the MTR, exercise and fitness classes, mental health counselling and therapy support, staff talks and activities, and Staff Common Rooms (SCRs). One of the SCRs is going to be located in the Alumni Chamber and I thank alumni for allowing us to repurpose this venue. You are always welcome to join us there! Staff also want more opportunities to mingle and connect with each other informally. We held a happy hour event for staff of the School of Clinical Medicine, and a separate gathering in June for the five non-clinical Schools and Department, and the good feedback we received has spurred us to keep organising gatherings and research mixers in future. At the leadership level, we also piloted a series of mini-retreats for our Heads and Chairpersons of Departments and Schools this spring to foster collaborative synergy between clinicians and basic scientists. 8
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