50 Higher Education People Leaders in Australia

Jonno White

Aug 12

12 min read

Last updated: 12 August 2026

Australian universities are led through a mix of formal authority, shared governance, academic judgement and public responsibility. The people in these roles make decisions about education, research, culture, partnerships, student experience and the future shape of their institutions.

This list introduces 50 current higher education people leaders at universities in Australia. It includes vice-chancellors, presidents, provosts, deputy vice-chancellors and other senior academic leaders, because university leadership is a system rather than a single job title.

Why higher education leadership matters

Universities have to hold several tensions at once. They need to protect scholarship and academic freedom while making clear choices about strategy, money, people, technology, partnerships and the experience of students.

That makes the quality of leadership conversations unusually important. A strong leader can make a difficult trade-off visible, give people a clear next move and connect the daily work of a faculty or professional team to the institution's wider purpose.

1. Rebekah Brown, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President, Australian National University

Rebekah Brown is the Interim Vice-Chancellor and President at Australian National University. The role is closely connected to university-wide leadership and research strategy. She commenced as ANU's Interim Vice-Chancellor and President in September 2025.

2. Joan Leach, Acting Provost and Senior Vice-President, Australian National University

Joan Leach is the Acting Provost and Senior Vice-President at Australian National University. The role is closely connected to academic leadership and the connection between research and public understanding. Her background is in science communication, and the executive page places her in the university's senior academic leadership.

3. Zlatko Skrbis, Vice-Chancellor and President, Australian Catholic University

Zlatko Skrbis is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Australian Catholic University. The role is closely connected to university-wide leadership in a national Catholic university. He is listed as the Vice-Chancellor and President in ACU's current organisational leadership structure.

4. Julie Cogin, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Australian Catholic University

Julie Cogin is the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at Australian Catholic University. The role is closely connected to academic standards, education and the student experience. Her portfolio sits across ACU's academic leadership and university-wide educational direction.

5. Deborah Terry, Vice-Chancellor and President, The University of Queensland

Deborah Terry is the Vice-Chancellor and President at The University of Queensland. The role is closely connected to stewardship of a large research university and its public responsibilities. UQ's senior executive team is responsible for strategy, budget, risk and assurance, organisational culture, Indigenous matters and advancement.

6. Mark Blows, Provost and Senior Vice-President, The University of Queensland

Mark Blows is the Provost and Senior Vice-President at The University of Queensland. The role is closely connected to academic leadership across teaching, research and the university's colleges. He is listed as Provost and Senior Vice-President in UQ's current senior executive team.

7. Clare Pollock, Vice-Chancellor, Edith Cowan University

Clare Pollock is the Vice-Chancellor at Edith Cowan University. The role is closely connected to whole-university leadership across a multi-campus institution. ECU's executive team page lists her as Vice-Chancellor, with the page reviewed in May 2026.

8. Colm Harmon, Provost and Vice-President, Edith Cowan University

Colm Harmon is the Provost and Vice-President at Edith Cowan University. The role is closely connected to academic leadership and the quality of teaching and learning. He is listed as Provost and Vice-President in ECU's current executive team.

9. Margaret Sheil AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, Queensland University of Technology

Margaret Sheil AO is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Queensland University of Technology. The role is closely connected to leading a technology-focused university with strong external partnerships. QUT's executive team lists her as Vice-Chancellor and President at a university focused on practical, industry-connected education and research.

10. Robina Xavier, Provost, Queensland University of Technology

Robina Xavier is the Provost at Queensland University of Technology. The role is closely connected to academic leadership, curriculum and the student experience. She is listed as QUT's Provost in the current executive team.

11. Glyn Davis AC, Interim Vice-Chancellor, The University of Melbourne

Glyn Davis AC is the Interim Vice-Chancellor at The University of Melbourne. The role is closely connected to stewardship and continuity during a university leadership transition. He is listed as Interim Vice-Chancellor in Melbourne's current senior leadership team.

12. Jane Gunn AO, Interim Provost, The University of Melbourne

Jane Gunn AO is the Interim Provost at The University of Melbourne. The role is closely connected to academic leadership and the coordination of education across a research university. She is listed as Interim Provost in Melbourne's current senior leadership team.

13. Adam Shoemaker, Vice-Chancellor, Victoria University

Adam Shoemaker is the Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University. The role is closely connected to whole-university leadership across higher education and vocational pathways. Victoria University lists him as Vice-Chancellor in its current executive team.

14. John Germov, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, Victoria University

John Germov is the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer at Victoria University. The role is closely connected to academic quality, teaching and the relationship between higher education and work. His role combines senior university leadership with responsibility for the chief academic portfolio.

15. Mark Scott AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, The University of Sydney

Mark Scott AO is the Vice-Chancellor and President at The University of Sydney. The role is closely connected to public leadership, education policy and institutional reputation. Before joining the University of Sydney, he led the ABC and served as Secretary of the NSW Department of Education.

16. Joanne Wright, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Students, The University of Sydney

Joanne Wright is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Students at The University of Sydney. The role is closely connected to education strategy and the conditions that help students succeed. Her portfolio includes teaching and learning, curriculum, digital learning, quality, student wellbeing and the student experience.

17. Attila Brungs AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, UNSW Sydney

Attila Brungs AO is the Vice-Chancellor and President at UNSW Sydney. The role is closely connected to whole-university leadership in a research-intensive institution. He is listed as UNSW's Vice-Chancellor and President in the university's current governance and leadership information.

18. Vlado Perkovic, Provost, UNSW Sydney

Vlado Perkovic is the Provost at UNSW Sydney. The role is closely connected to academic leadership, health research and the student experience. Before becoming Provost, he was Dean of Medicine and Health and is a Scientia Professor and nephrologist.

19. Sharon Pickering, Vice-Chancellor and President, Monash University

Sharon Pickering is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Monash University. The role is closely connected to leading a large international university through strategy and change. She is listed as Vice-Chancellor and President in Monash's current Vice-Chancellor's Executive Committee.

20. Tim Dunne, Provost and Senior Vice-President, Monash University

Tim Dunne is the Provost and Senior Vice-President at Monash University. The role is closely connected to academic leadership across a global university. He is listed as Monash's Provost and Senior Vice-President in the current executive committee.

21. Nicola Phillips, Vice-Chancellor and President, Adelaide University

Nicola Phillips is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Adelaide University. The role is closely connected to building a new university's identity, strategy and public purpose. She started as Adelaide University's Vice-Chancellor and President on 12 January 2026 after a career in political economy and labour standards.

22. Joanne Cys, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Adelaide University

Joanne Cys is the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Adelaide University. The role is closely connected to academic integration during the creation of Adelaide University. Her role leads six Colleges, 29 Schools, the Flinders Institute and regional campuses.

23. Harlene Hayne, Vice-Chancellor, Curtin University

Harlene Hayne is the Vice-Chancellor at Curtin University. The role is closely connected to leading a university with Australian and international campuses. She was appointed Curtin's Vice-Chancellor in April 2021 after previously serving as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago.

24. Matthew Tonts, Provost, Curtin University

Matthew Tonts is the Provost at Curtin University. The role is closely connected to academic leadership informed by regional development and public policy. He joined Curtin as Provost in June 2024 after serving as Chair of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority.

25. Carolyn Evans, Vice-Chancellor and President, Griffith University

Carolyn Evans is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Griffith University. The role is closely connected to whole-university leadership and the public role of Australian universities. She has served as Griffith's Vice-Chancellor since February 2019 and is Chair of Universities Australia.

26. Liz Burd, Provost, Griffith University

Liz Burd is the Provost at Griffith University. The role is closely connected to education leadership and the practical use of learning technology. Before Griffith, she was Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching at the University of Newcastle and led a technology-enhanced learning group at Durham.

27. Andrew Deeks, Vice-Chancellor and President, Murdoch University

Andrew Deeks is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Murdoch University. The role is closely connected to leading a university with a strong regional and global outlook. He joined Murdoch as Vice-Chancellor and President on 28 March 2022.

28. Don Klinger, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, Murdoch University

Don Klinger is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education at Murdoch University. The role is closely connected to the connection between educational quality and belonging. His portfolio covers student experience, teaching, learning, academic quality and diversity.

29. Theo Farrell, Vice-Chancellor, La Trobe University

Theo Farrell is the Vice-Chancellor at La Trobe University. The role is closely connected to whole-university leadership across metropolitan and regional campuses. He is listed as La Trobe's Vice-Chancellor in its current senior management structure.

30. Rob Pike, Provost and Senior Vice-President, La Trobe University

Rob Pike is the Provost and Senior Vice-President at La Trobe University. The role is closely connected to academic leadership across a distributed university. He is listed as La Trobe's Provost and Senior Vice-President in the current senior management structure.

31. Bruce Dowton, Vice-Chancellor and President, Macquarie University

Bruce Dowton is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Macquarie University. The role is closely connected to long-term strategy and the links between research, learning and community. He joined Macquarie in 2012 and has led its strategic framework, research, learning, industry, philanthropy and capital works agenda.

32. Eric Knight, Deputy Vice-Chancellor People and Operations, Macquarie University

Eric Knight is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor People and Operations at Macquarie University. The role is closely connected to making people systems and operations part of university strategy. His portfolio includes workforce development, human resources, marketing, student and corporate shared services and digital transformation.

33. George Williams AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, Western Sydney University

George Williams AO is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Western Sydney University. The role is closely connected to public purpose, law and the leadership of a large urban university. He started as Vice-Chancellor in July 2024 and is a constitutional law scholar and Australian Laureate Fellow.

34. Deborah Sweeney, Provost, Western Sydney University

Deborah Sweeney is the Provost at Western Sydney University. The role is closely connected to academic leadership serving a rapidly growing region. She is listed as Provost in Western Sydney University's current executive leadership team.

35. Alex Zelinsky AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, The University of Newcastle

Alex Zelinsky AO is the Vice-Chancellor and President at The University of Newcastle. The role is closely connected to leading a regional university with a strong civic and research role. He is listed as Vice-Chancellor and President in Newcastle's current executive leadership information.

36. Belinda Tynan, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, The University of Newcastle

Belinda Tynan is the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at The University of Newcastle. The role is closely connected to academic quality and the experience of students across regional campuses. Her role combines senior university leadership with responsibility for the academic portfolio.

37. Max Lu AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Wollongong

Max Lu AO is the Vice-Chancellor and President at University of Wollongong. The role is closely connected to research leadership, international experience and regional impact. He became the University of Wollongong's sixth Vice-Chancellor and President in May 2025 after leading the University of Surrey.

38. Ana Deletic, Provost, University of Wollongong

Ana Deletic is the Provost at University of Wollongong. The role is closely connected to academic leadership in a research university with a regional identity. She is listed as Provost in the University of Wollongong's current executive board and university executive information.

39. Rufus Black, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Tasmania

Rufus Black is the Vice-Chancellor and President at University of Tasmania. The role is closely connected to values, public purpose and the stewardship of a place-based university. He is a Rhodes Scholar with degrees spanning law, politics, economics, ethics and theology, and has served as President of Museums Victoria.

40. Kate Huntington, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Student Services and Operations, University of Tasmania

Kate Huntington is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Student Services and Operations at University of Tasmania. The role is closely connected to student services, operations and practical institutional change. Her background includes transformation, policy, government and work in the Australian Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

41. Simon Biggs, Vice-Chancellor and President, James Cook University

Simon Biggs is the Vice-Chancellor and President at James Cook University. The role is closely connected to leading a regional university with a distinctive northern Australia mission. He is listed as Vice-Chancellor and President in James Cook University's current executive team.

42. Mitch Parsell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, James Cook University

Mitch Parsell is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education at James Cook University. The role is closely connected to education leadership in a regional and tropical university context. He has held the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education role since July 2025.

43. Simon Ridings, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President, Swinburne University of Technology

Simon Ridings is the Interim Vice-Chancellor and President at Swinburne University of Technology. The role is closely connected to technology, innovation and impact as a university leadership purpose. Swinburne says he guides its vision to create social and economic impact through science, technology and innovation.

44. Karen Hapgood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Swinburne University of Technology

Karen Hapgood is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research at Swinburne University of Technology. The role is closely connected to research strategy, partnerships and diversity in STEM. She has an engineering and STEM background, with more than seven years in industry and 15 years of higher education leadership.

45. Tim Brailsford, Vice-Chancellor and President, Bond University

Tim Brailsford is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Bond University. The role is closely connected to whole-university leadership in a private university setting. He has served as Bond's Vice-Chancellor and President since 2012 and previously worked at several major Australian universities.

46. Keitha Dunstan, Provost, Bond University

Keitha Dunstan is the Provost at Bond University. The role is closely connected to academic operations, educational strategy and Indigenous leadership. She leads Bond's research, learning and teaching units and is a proud descendant of the Mandandanji people of South West Queensland.

47. Alec Cameron, Vice-Chancellor and President, RMIT University

Alec Cameron is the Vice-Chancellor and President at RMIT University. The role is closely connected to leading a global technology and design university through applied impact. RMIT's 2026 organisational chart lists him as Vice-Chancellor and President.

48. Catherine Itsiopoulos, Deputy Vice-Chancellor STEM College and Vice-President, RMIT University

Catherine Itsiopoulos is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor STEM College and Vice-President at RMIT University. The role is closely connected to STEM leadership, health education and applied university partnerships. RMIT's 2025 appointment announcement records her move from an acting role to the permanent STEM College and Vice-President appointment.

49. Colin Stirling, President and Vice-Chancellor, Flinders University

Colin Stirling is the President and Vice-Chancellor at Flinders University. The role is closely connected to research growth, education and the transformation of a university. He moved to Australia to join Curtin as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic before becoming Flinders University's eighth President and Vice-Chancellor in 2015.

50. Romy Lawson, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Flinders University

Romy Lawson is the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Flinders University. The role is closely connected to connecting the university's academic and professional leadership. She is listed as Flinders University's Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor within a senior executive structure built around People and Culture, Research, Education, and Engagement and Impact.

What this university leadership landscape shows

The first pattern is that university leadership is distributed. The vice-chancellor may carry the visible institutional mandate, but provosts, academic leaders, research leaders, student leaders and people leaders turn that mandate into choices that staff and students can actually experience.

The second pattern is that context matters. A regional university, a technology university, a global research university and a new institution created through structural change do not need identical leadership habits. They do need leaders who can name the real decision, make ownership visible and keep the conversation connected to purpose.

The third pattern is that good leadership is practical. Strategy becomes real in the way a meeting is run, a curriculum is changed, a partnership is handled, a researcher is supported, a student is welcomed or a difficult conversation is held.

How to use this list

Use the list as a map of the Australian higher education leadership landscape. Read the current role pages, follow the work that is most relevant to your institution and notice which leadership portfolios sit closest to the problem you are trying to solve.

If you lead a university team, choose one live decision and ask three questions: what does good look like, who owns the next move and what trade-off are we asking people to accept? Those questions are small, but they can make a complex leadership system easier to work in.

Frequently asked questions

What does a higher education people leader do?

A higher education people leader may be the vice-chancellor, president, provost, deputy vice-chancellor, chief people officer or another senior leader whose work shapes people, culture, education, research or institutional direction. The title varies between universities, so the portfolio matters as much as the label.

Why are provosts and deputy vice-chancellors included?

They are included because university leadership is shared across academic, research, education, student, Indigenous, international, people and operational portfolios. These leaders often turn broad strategy into the decisions that staff and students feel most directly.

How is the list arranged?

It is a current directory arranged for easy reading, not a judgement about the people listed. It is intended to help readers understand the people and portfolios shaping Australian universities.

About the author

Jonno White helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at. His work is practical rather than motivational, with tools leaders can use on Monday morning.

If you are planning leadership development for a university or education organisation, email Jonno White for a written proposal. He can help you make the hard conversations, choices and next steps clearer.

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