First published 15 March 2021
With over twenty-five years’ experience in the public and private sectors of city planning, consulting, and now construction, QUT alum Jeremy Blackwell knows how far a good education can take you.
Though Jeremy’s career has taken him all over Australia, Queensland is still close to his heart. Jeremy completed a Bachelor of Built Environment at QUT in 1993, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning in 1995. He remembers his time studying at Gardens Point campus fondly, recalling his degree’s practical focus, design basis and the fantastic learning environment.
“My studies have given me a rich, city-shaping perspective and drove my passion for infrastructure and place,” he said.
But his path was not always so smooth. When Jeremy was just sixteen years old, his mother passed away after battling cancer. The loss deeply affected him and, understandably, his grades during his final year of high school. Despite this, Jeremy applied for university and was offered a place at QUT.
“QUT believed in me and gave me a chance to study in my chosen field,” Jeremy shared.
It is this gratitude that prompted Jeremy to support the QUT Learning Potential Fund. A consistent donor for the past eighteen years, Jeremy is also leaving a gift in his Will to QUT. His bequest will support students studying urban and regional planning by providing study assistance and facility upgrades. Jeremy sees this as repaying the kindness that QUT afforded him almost thirty years ago.
He hopes his generosity will enable these students to experience a fulfilling education and equally rewarding careers.
When asked what he would say to someone considering leaving a gift in their Will, Jeremy’s advice is straight forward.
“Think about it and, if it’s right, do it.”
Remember QUT in your Will
Including a gift in your Will is an extraordinary way of creating a life-changing legacy.
In a world that faces increasing challenges, it is a means of making a genuine, lasting difference by helping to build the future.
For more information, visit our website or contact Heath Mackay, Gifts in Wills Manager, on +61 7 3138 7525 or at heath.mackay@qut.edu.au.
