New appointments always provide the opportunity to create positive change, re-shape culture and redefine organisational potential.

This section provides insights into the first impressions and ambitions of freshly minted higher education leaders in our First Hundred Days section, and also carries news of the latest appointments and achievements from the sector.

March Appointments

  • The Australian Academy of Science announces the nine ECRs, who will attend this year’s Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting, * Ifrah Abdullahi (La Trobe U) * Siobhon Egan (Murdoch U)  * David Klyne (Uni Queensland) * Lynn Nazareth (CSIRO) * William Reay (Uni Newcastle * Kate Secombe (Uni Adelaide) * Enakshi Sinniah (Uni Queensland) * Cottrell Tamessar (Uni Newcastle) * Rachel Visontay (Uni Sydney)
  • Winners of the Banksia Foundation’s National Sustainability Awards include the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (members include CSIRO, Griffith U and James Cook U). Philip Chan (Uni Sydney) wins the Ethical Sourcing Award.In NSW Prue Carr is sworn in as education minister, and deputy premier, in the brand new Labor Government.
  • Florian Mueller (Monash U) is inducted into the Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI) Academy
  • National Health and Medical Research Council reports awards
    Biennial awards: Caleb Dawson (Walter and Eliza Hall) Doug Hilton (Walter and Eliza Hall), Kevin McGovern (St Cecilia’s Church) Queensland Aphasia Research Centre  (Uni Queensland)
    Research excellence awards: * Susan Davis (Monash U) * Louisa Degenhardt (UNSW) * Greg Fox (Uni Sydney) * Graham Gee (Murdoch U) * Eddie Holmes (Uni Sydney) * Caroline Holmer (Burnet Institute) * Vaughan Macefield (Monash U) * Tafi Marukutira (Burnet Institute) * Jose Polo (Uni Adelaide) * Alistair Stewart (Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute) * Wai-Hong Tham (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute) * Doug Tjandra (Monash U)
  • Education Minister Jason Clare announces a panel to advise on “key targets and specific reforms” in the next commonwealth-states’ National School Reform Agreement. Lisa O’Brien, (Australian Education Research Organisation) chairs, with member including,* Jordana Hunter (Grattan Institute) * Stephen Lamb (Victoria U) * Lisa Paul (former sec DoE) and Pasi Sahlberg (Uni Melbourne). Yes, that Professor Sahlberg, while he joined Southern Cross U in February ’22, he left for Melbourne “several months ago. 
  • From May, Raj Shekhawat will become research dean of Flinders U’s College of Education, Psychology and Social Work. He moves from the university’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
  • At the University of Adelaide, Grayson Rotumah and Dylan Crismani are appointed joint leaders of the Centre of Aboriginal Studies in Music.
  • Phillip Vaughan is appointed Chief Human Resources Officer at Uni Queensland. He returns after seven years in HR at Monash U.
  • Steven Weller moves from Uni Newcastle to be ED for engineering and information sciences at the Australian Research Council.
  • High school maths maven Eddie Woo becomes a professor of practice at Uni Sydney’s School of Education and Social Work.

Looking for previous appointments? Visit our Appointment Archive here.