National Tertiary Education Union National President Alison Barnes will represent university staff at the Jobs and Skills Summit

The union joins Universities Australia as a higher education organisation in the room where big things will happen.

Dr Barnes will be joined by NTEU committee member Sharlene Leroy-Dyer (Uni Queensland) in her role as deputy chair of the ACTU Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy Committee.

Dr Barnes nominates casual employment conditions and underpayment of university staff as key issues.

“Universities play a vital role in developing critical thinking skills that are essential for a vibrant democracy. Funding research and education needs to be a priority for government and universities,” she says.

She is running for re-election in fiercely contested campaign.