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);

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), Peter Høj AC (Adelaide 2021-ff, Queensland 2012-20, Uni SA 2007-12);

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-ff, Sydney 2008-20).

italics: Høj and Spence still in office (as at January 2024).

The current Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors/Presidents are given (as at May 2020 with some subsequent updates).

University Chancellor Vice-Chancellor/President
Australian Catholic University Martin Daubney, AM[1] Zlatko Skrbis[2]
Australian National University Julie Bishop[3] Genevieve Bell
Bond University Annabelle Bennett AO, SC[4] Tim Brailsford[5]
Central Queensland University Graeme Innes AM[6] Nick Klomp[7]
Charles Darwin University Paul Henderson, AO[8] Scott Bowman, AO[9]
Charles Sturt University Michele Allan[10] Renée Leon, PSM[11]
Curtin University Andrew Crane[12] Harlene Hayne[13]
Deakin University John Stanhope AM[14] Iain Martin[15]
Edith Cowan University Denise Goldsworthy AO FTSE[16] Steve Chapman
Federation University Terry Moran AC[17] Duncan Bentley[18]
Flinders University John Hood [19] Colin J Stirling[20]
Griffith University Henry Smerdon AM[21] Carolyn Evans[22]
James Cook University Bill Tweddell[23] Simon Biggs[24]
La Trobe University John Brumby, AO[25] Theo Farrell[26]
Macquarie University Martin Parkinson AC PSM[27] S Bruce Dowton
Monash University Simon McKeon, AO[28] Sharon Pickering[29]
Murdoch University Gary Smith[30] Andrew Deeks (from April 2022)[31]
Queensland University of Technology Ann Sherry, AO[32] Margaret Sheil, AO
RMIT University Peggy O'Neal[33] Alec Cameron[34][35]
Southern Cross University Sandra McPhee, AM[36] Tyrone Carlin[37]
Swinburne University of Technology John Pollaers, OAM[38] Pascale Quester[39]
Torrens University Australia Michael Mann AM Alwyn Louw[40] (Vice Chancellor) & Linda Brown (President)
University of Adelaide Catherine Branson[41] Peter Høj[42]
University of Canberra Tom Calma, AO[43] Paddy Nixon[44]
University of Divinity Graeme Blackman, AO Peter Sherlock
University of Melbourne Jane Hansen AO[45] Duncan Maskell[46]
University of New England James Harris FRSN[47] Chris Moran[48]
University of New South Wales David Gonski, AC Attila Brungs[49]
University of Newcastle The Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM[50] Alex Zelinsky AO, FTSE[51]
University of Notre Dame Australia The Hon. Chris Ellison[52] Francis Campbell[53]
University of Queensland Peter N Varghese, AO[54] Deborah Terry AO[55]
University of South Australia The Hon. John Hill[56] David Lloyd
University of Southern Queensland John Dornbusch[57] Geraldine Mackenzie[58]
University of Sydney Belinda Hutchinson, AC Mark Scott, AO[59]
University of the Sunshine Coast Angus Houston, AK, AC (Mil), AFC[60] Helen Bartlett[61]
University of Tasmania Alison Watkins AM[62] Rufus Black[63]
University of Technology, Sydney Catherine Livingstone AO FAA Andrew Parfitt[64]
University of Western Australia Robert French, AC[65] Amit Chakma[66]
University of Wollongong Michael Still[67] Patricia Davidson[68]
Victoria University Steve Bracks AC[69] Adam Shoemaker[70]
Western Sydney University Jennifer Westacott AO[71] George Williams AO FASSA[72]
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