I am so very sad to hear that Professor Alan Robson AO has died. Alan was a great Australian.

Alan was Vice-Chancellor of WA’s first university, The University of Western Australia for eight dynamic years from 2004 to 2012.

Prior to becoming Vice-Chancellor, he was an integral part of the leadership of UWA as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost from 1993.

A renowned agricultural scientist, he was committed to applying research and science to improving agricultural outcomes across Western Australia and the world.

As a university leader, he drove UWA into the Top 100 universities in the world and lifted the global aspiration of a great Western Australian institution.

I was fortunate enough to first meet Alan in 1994, when I was a young law student, and when elected to the Senate of UWA.

He had a great interest in and care for all the students of UWA.

I was even more fortunate to have the opportunity work for Alan as his Chief of Staff for a few years.

Alan’s leadership continues to be an inspiration to me personally, and I am sure to many others as well.

There is no doubt in my mind that I would not have had the opportunity to become a Minister in the Federal Government without the learning opportunities Alan Robson provided to me in those years we worked together.

He changed my life. And I thank Alan for that.

As anyone who worked at UWA when Alan was around knows, he knew everyone.

He remembered the name of every person he met and would say hello to each one of them on any walk through the magnificent UWA Crawley campus that he loved.

I know the University community will be heartbroken today, and I share their grief.

My thoughts are with his wonderful wife, Gwenda, and his children Andrew and Nicole and the whole family.

I know they are proud of Alan and the legacy he leaves UWA and our great state of Western Australia.