ANU is searching for a new Chancellor

Published in the Research School of Physics Event Horizon
Vol44 Issue26 1–5 July 2019

From Academic Board - ANU is searching for a new Chancellor

Background- The ANU Chancellorship has been occupied by some of the most illustrious Australians of their age, from our first Chancellor and Australia’s eighth Prime Minister Stanley Bruce to legendary public servant H.C. Nugget Coombs and Lord Howard Florey who shared the Nobel Prize for the discovery of penicillin. In keeping with this proud history, ANU is seeking someone exceptional – a Chancellor that not only is a steady hand, but someone who can guide and inspire the ANU community to achieve even more as the national university. The person will ideally have significant national standing, wide experience and impeccable integrity and character. They will also be committed to ANU’s role as the National University and be a passionate advocate for the University.

The ANU Council is the peak governing body for the University. There are 15 members on Council, who include:

The Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and seven members appointed by the Federal Minister for Education; A representative from the current Deans and School Directors; Two academic staff members; A staff member representing professional services and divisions, and

The ANU Council has oversight of the University and is responsible for its mission and strategic direction, ensuring effective overall governance and management. It is also responsible for finance and risk management.

As part of ensuring effective overall governance and management, the Council appoints the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor.

The Chancellor is the most senior official of the university with ultimate responsibility for ANU’s governance framework. In addition to the governance responsibilities, the Chancellor is a valued and trusted confidant of the Vice-Chancellor, providing challenge, support and advice to ensure the VC acts in accordance with our ethos and governance framework.

Academic Board has been requested to reflect on the attributes that are important for selection group to consider when we making recommendations to Council.

Questions for consideration What characteristics and qualities are most important in a prospective Chancellor? It is clearly important for the Chancellor to have a presence; what kind of public profile do you think is appropriate? Several Chancellors have come from a political background which has supported our relationship with Government. With the new appointment, are there other experiences or backgrounds that you think would be valuable assets to the Council that we should consider? How important is it for a prospective Chancellor to have an historic connection to the ANU? What kind of engagement / understanding of academic issues is important for the prospective Chancellor? Are there any other issues we should specifically consider or be aware of?

Jodie Bradby is currently a rep on Academic Board. Thoughts on the above issues can be sent to her to forward to the Chair of Academic Board.