RMIT Vietnam Executive Director (Operations) Dr Matthew Sukumaran, who knew Mr Tappenden for six years, acknowledged Mr Tappenden’s support during the restructure of RMIT Vietnam’s Finance department, as well as his attendance in all Board and Audit and Risk Management Committees during that time.
“Mr Tappenden's approach and contributions to the Board of RMIT Vietnam and the Audit and Risk Management Committee were consistently 'forensic' and thorough, which was reflective of his vast experience in managing Boards and Committees, ensuring details relating to the financials, risk management and the positioning of RMIT Vietnam through its various stages of development were captured with precision and accurately reported,” Dr Sukumaran said.
Mr Tappenden shared his life experience with the audience of graduands and their parents at a RMIT Vietnam graduation ceremony.
“Continue to learn and acquire new knowledge. Today is not the end of your learning. It is merely the end of building your knowledge foundations, and the beginning of the next phase of your learning,” he said.
“Take opportunities to do new things. Take on a new project or a new assignment if they are offered to you or available. Be prepared to take some risks and challenge yourself. Try to obtain work experience in overseas locations – this will be more critical for your future careers.”
Mr Tappenden encouraged graduates to be inquisitive, to try new ways, to make and invent new things, to learn, and to explore the unknown as “Change in what we do and how we do things has always been with us as humans”.
“There are always new and interesting things to do – if you seek them out. With an open, optimistic and positive attitude, you can never say there is nothing to do or achieve, or that you are bored,” he shared.
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The presentation of an honorary doctorate is a time‐honoured tradition. It is a time when the University gathers to recognise a member of the community who has excelled in their chosen field, and made an outstanding contribution to society. Recipients of an honorary doctorate are receiving the highest honour from the University – a degree honoris causa. These are people who have striven to improve the lives of others, through their leadership and commitment to their profession and to the community as a whole.
Story: Hoang Ha
