On The Move | November

BENNETT GETS THE GONG

Professor Sue Bennett is the University of Wollongong’s new executive dean of the Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Bennett has been acting executive dean since May this year, and brings nearly 30 years’ experience in teaching, research and academic leadership in education, technology and the humanities.

UOW vice-chancellor Professor Patricia Davidson said Bennett was the right person at the right time for the university.

“With her impressive track record in teaching and academic leadership, combined with her research in the field of technology enhanced learning, Professor Bennett’s insights into the needs of today’s ‘digital natives’ and the importance of digital inclusion makes her the perfect choice for this role.”

MEREDITH STEPS UP

Flinders University has appointed Associate Professor Maree Meredith director of Poche SA+NT – an Aboriginal-led centre focused on improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Meredith, a Bidjara woman, joined Flinders in 2012 as an academic and student, and has been acting director of Poche SA+NT since August 2019.

She said the appointment “demonstrates a commitment to growing grassroots leadership at Flinders as I was the first Poche PhD graduate and now as the director, I can help to grow the next generation of leaders and scholars”.

FIRST NATIONS FOCUS

Charles Darwin University has appointed Professor Reuben Bolt as deputy vice-chancellor First Nations Leadership.

CDU becomes just the third Australian university to make such an appointment.

Bolt, a proud Yuin/Wandandian and Ngarigo man, joined CDU in January 2020 as the Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership and Regional Outreach.

“This appointment is significant for the country, and it tells the community that the university is serious about addressing issues that First Nations people experience around unemployment and addresses the lack of representation of First Nations peoples in senior leadership roles,” Bolt said.

BISHOP BACKS UP

ANU has voted to reappoint the Hon Julie Bishop as chancellor for a second four-year term, commencing in 2023.

“It is a privilege for ANU to have as its chancellor one of the nation’s most eminent leaders in Julie Bishop,” said vice chancellor Brian Schmidt.

“She has raised the university’s profile domestically and abroad, and has further extended the university’s global connections through a tireless program of engagement and advocacy, hindered, but not deterred, by the pandemic.”

Bishop is ANU’s first female chancellor, and was appointed to the role in August 2019, before beginning her first term on 1 January 2020.

NEW DEPUTY VC AT UOW

UOW has appointed Warwick Shanks as deputy chancellor, taking over from Dr Elizabeth Magassy who has held the position since 2017.

He was appointed to the UOW Council by the NSW Education Minister in 2018, and will serve alongside fellow deputy chancellor, Robert Ryan.

Shanks brings over 30 years’ experience in corporate governance, audit and risk management.

CHESWORTH NEW UA DEPUTY

Universities Australia has appointed Peter Chesworth as its new deputy chief executive, succeeding Anne-Marie Lansdown who retired in November.

UA chief executive Catriona Jackson said Chesworth’s policy expertise and wealth of experience in the public sector made him ideally qualified for the role.

“Peter has had a long and distinguished public service career, culminating in his most recent role with the Department of Defence,” she said.

“Peter brings a deep understanding of the operation of government and parliamentary processes, as well as broad policy experience and knowledge.”

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