List of Australian university leaders

Since the development of the university sector in Australia and the foundation of the first university (University of Sydney, 1850), a small number of Vice-Chancellors have served for 15 years or more with some portion of this time in office as Vice-Chancellor in Australia. They include:

29 years: Sir Anthony Brownless KCMG KSG (Melbourne 1858–87);

26 years: Sir William Mitchell (philosopher) KCMG (Adelaide 1916–42);

21 years: John Douglas Story (Queensland 1938–59);

20 years: Sir Stephen Henry Roberts CMG (Sydney 1947–67), James McWha AO (Lincoln 2018, Rwanda 2013–15, Adelaide 2002–12, Massey 1996–2001);

19 years: William Barlow (vice-chancellor) CMG (Adelaide 1896–1915); Sir Robert Strachan Wallace KCMG (Sydney 1928–47); Dianne Yerbury AO (Macquarie 1987–2006); Alan Gilbert (Australian academic) AO (Manchester 2004–10, Melbourne 1996–2004, Tasmania 1991–96); Paul Wellings CBE (Wollongong 2012–21, Lancaster 2002–2012); Margaret Gardner AC (Monash 2014–23, RMIT 2005–14);

18 years: Sir Raymond Priestley (Birmingham 1938–52, Melbourne 1934–38); Sir Stanley Prescott OBE (Western Australia (1953–70); Peter Høj AC (Adelaide 2021–present, Queensland 2012–20, Uni SA 2007–12).

17 years: Sir George Currie (academic) (UNZ 1952–62, Western Australia 1945–52); Michael Birt (biochemist) AO CBE (UNSW 1981–92, Wollongong 1975–80); Brian Wilson AO (Queensland 1979–96); Roy Webb AO (Griffith 1985–2002); Glyn Davis AC (Melbourne 2005–18, Griffith 2002–05);

16 years: Sir Philip Baxter KBE CMG (UNSW 1953–69); Sir Louis Matheson KBE CMG (Monash 1960–76); Alec Lazenby AO (Tasmania 1982–91, UNE 1970–77); Ian Chubb AC (ANU 2001–11, Flinders 1995–2000); Gerard Sutton AO (Wollongong 1995–2011).

15 years: Ken McKinnon AO (Charles Darwin 2002–03, JCU 1997, Wollongong 1981–94); Dennis Gibson (academic) AO (QUT 1988–2003); Michael Osborne (La Trobe 1990–2005); John Hay (academic) AC (Queensland 1996–2007, Deakin 1992–95); Steven Schwartz (psychologist) AM (Macquarie 2006–11, Brunel 2002–2006, Murdoch 1996–2002); Janice Reid AC (Western Sydney 1998–2013); Peter Coaldrake AO (QUT 2003–17); Ian O'Connor AC (Griffith 2005–19), Sandra Harding (sociologist) AO (JCU 2007–2021), Michael Spence AC (UCL 2021–present, Sydney 2008–20).

Høj and Spence still in office (as at June 2025).

The current Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors/Presidents are given as at April 2025.^[1]

University	Chancellor	Vice-Chancellor/President
Australian Catholic University	Martin Daubney, AM[2]	Zlatko Skrbis[3]
Australian National University	Julie Bishop[4]	Genevieve Bell, AO FAHA
Bond University	David Baxby[5]	Tim Brailsford[6]
Central Queensland University	Graeme Innes AM[7]	Nick Klomp[8]
Charles Darwin University	Paul Henderson, AO[9]	Scott Bowman, AO[10]
Charles Sturt University	Michele Allan[11]	Renée Leon, PSM[12]
Curtin University	Vanessa Guthrie, AO[13]	Harlene Hayne[14]
Deakin University	John Stanhope, AM[15]	Iain Martin[16]
Edith Cowan University	Gaye McMath[17]	Clare Pollock[18]
Federation University	Terry Moran AC[19]	Duncan Bentley[20]
Flinders University	John Hood [21]	Colin J Stirling[22]
Griffith University	Andrew Fraser[23]	Carolyn Evans[24]
James Cook University	Ngaire Brown[25]	Simon Biggs[26]
La Trobe University	John Brumby, AO[27]	Theo Farrell[28]
Macquarie University	Martin Parkinson AC PSM[29]	S Bruce Dowton
Monash University	Megan Clark, AO FTSE[30]	Sharon Pickering[31]
Murdoch University	Gail McGowan PSM[32]	Andrew Deeks[33]
Queensland University of Technology	Ann Sherry, AO[34]	Margaret Sheil, AO
RMIT University	Peggy O'Neal, AO[35]	Alec Cameron[36][37]
Southern Cross University	Sandra McPhee, AM[38]	Tyrone Carlin[39]
Swinburne University of Technology	John Pollaers, OAM[40]	Pascale Quester[41]
Torrens University Australia	Michael Thawley, AO[42]	Alwyn Louw (Vice Chancellor),[43] Dan Cockerell (President)[44]
University of Adelaide	Catherine Branson[45]	Peter Høj, AC[46]
University of Canberra	Lisa Paul, AO PSM[47]	Bill Shorten[48]
University of Divinity	Graeme Blackman, AO	James McLaren[49]
University of Melbourne	Jane Hansen AO[50]	Emma Johnston AO[51]
University of New England	Sarah Pearson[52]	Chris Moran[53]
University of New South Wales	David Gonski, AC	Attila Brungs[54]
University of Newcastle	The Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM[55]	Alex Zelinsky AO, FTSE[56]
University of Notre Dame Australia	The Hon. Chris Ellison[57]	Francis Campbell[58]
University of Queensland	Peter N Varghese, AO[59]	Deborah Terry AO[60]
University of South Australia	The Hon. John Hill[61]	David Lloyd
University of Southern Queensland	John McVeigh[62]	Karen Nelson (acting)[63]
University of Sydney	David Thodey, AO FTSE[64]	Mark Scott, AO[65]
University of the Sunshine Coast	Angus Houston, AK, AC (Mil), AFC[66]	Helen Bartlett[67]
University of Tasmania	Alison Watkins AM[68]	Rufus Black[69]
University of Technology, Sydney	Catherine Livingstone AO FAA	Andrew Parfitt[70]
University of Western Australia	Robert French, AC[71]	Amit Chakma[72]
University of Wollongong	Michael Still[73]	Eileen McLaughlin (Interim)[74] Max Lu (from May 2025)[75]
Victoria University	Steve Bracks AC[76]	Adam Shoemaker[77]
Western Sydney University	Jennifer Westacott AO[78]	George Williams AO FASSA[79]

See also

• Lists of university leaders