Henry Cope

Henry Cope was appointed to the U3A Network Management Committee on 19 December 2024, filling a vacancy on the team.

Born in Toowoomba in 1952, Henry spent his formative years there before moving to Brisbane in 1970 to pursue higher education. In 1974-75, during a gap year from university, he and his wife, Vicki, embarked on a nine-month journey through Europe in a Kombi van—a formative experience that fueled their lifelong sense of adventure. The couple married in 1976.

Henry’s academic pursuits led him to become a perpetual learner, completing several degrees. He registered as an architect and worked with several architectural firms in Brisbane. In 1983, he relocated to Rockhampton for a six-month role with a local architectural office, which eventually became a long-term move.

In 1987, Henry transitioned to the Queensland public service, joining the former Works Department. Over the years, he rose through the ranks to become Regional Architect (albeit briefly) before being seconded to the Central Regional Health Authority in 1993. There, he served as Program Manager for their Regional Capital Works Program for three years. He later returned to the Works Department, working as a project and program manager until his retirement in 2011.

A part of his community involvement, Henry has held roles as president, secretary, and treasurer for various community organizations. His commitment to lifelong learning led him to join U3A Rockhampton on 22 February 2016.

In 2022 and 2023, Henry served as Vice President of U3A Rockhampton and chaired the Conference Planning Committee for the U3A Network Queensland State Conference in May 2023, which also marked the 50th anniversary of U3A Worldwide.