CQU will recognise Leo Zussino’s contribution to the development of the University over the past 12 years with the naming of the Leo Zussino Building, this Saturday.

The naming will occur after the campus graduation ceremony.

Chancellor Rennie Fritschy and Vice-Chancellor Professor Glenice Hancock will officially name the Leo Zussino Building.

In future references, it will be said that the Gladstone Engineering Centre operates out of the Leo Zussino Building, so both identities will continue.

Mr Zussino recently retired from CQU Gladstone’s Advisory Committee after 12 years of service.

He joined the Gladstone Advisory Committee in 1992 as chairperson and retained this position up until December 2003 upon his retirement from the committee. He was also a member of the University Council from 1990 to 2001.

Mr Fritschy said he believed Mr Zussino would be remembered as the father of the CQU Gladstone campus and said the naming of the building represented a well deserved tribute to his significant contribution to CQU.

“During Leo's custodianship and due in no small manner to his efforts, all of the current buildings have been built and a suite of courses has been developed, including the flagship maintenance management postgraduate programs.

“The Process Engineering and Light Metals (PELM) research and development centre has also been established, along with the Centre for Environmental Management, the Martin Hanson building and the Cyril Golding Library.".

James Goldston Faculty of Engineering & Physical Systems Dean, Professor Elizabeth Taylor said the present growth and vigour of the Gladstone campus and CQU was a monument to the long-term commitment of Gladstone leaders to the future of their region. “These leaders recognised the need for skills development within their community and so they developed a vision for a university campus that would become an important community resource.

“Leo Zussino was a major architect and implementer of that vision and it is particularly fitting that his significant contribution should now be remembered with the naming in his honour of the building from which the Gladstone Engineering Centre operates.

“It is fitting that future generations of students will enhance their knowledge and skills within the Leo Zussino building and so ensure the prosperity of their community,” Professor Taylor said.