Griffith University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans has been appointed Chair of Universities Australia, following her confirmation at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting this week.
She takes over from outgoing Chair Professor David Lloyd, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia, who steps down after two years in the role and six years on the UA Board.
Professor Evans, who joined Griffith in 2019, has built her career around combining academic excellence with a strong commitment to social justice and inclusion. She previously held senior leadership roles at the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. A Rhodes Scholar, she completed her legal studies at the University of Oxford after graduating from the University of Melbourne.
“It’s both an exciting and challenging time to be taking over the leadership of Australia’s university sector,” Professor Evans said following the announcement. “Universities are critical to Australia’s future, and I am eager to work with our members, industry colleagues and parliamentarians to make our sector stronger for the benefit of all Australians.”
Professor Evans has been a member of the Universities Australia Board since 2023.
In his farewell remarks, Professor Lloyd thanked his colleagues and described the last two years as a defining period for higher education. “The Universities Accord gives me a lot of hope, and I will be watching our future progress as a sector with great interest and optimism. We are now in Carolyn’s very capable hands,” he said.
Also confirmed at the AGM were several new additions to the Universities Australia Board:
- Professor Rufus Black – Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Tasmania
- Professor Harlene Hayne CNZM – Vice-Chancellor, Curtin University
- Professor Andrew Parfitt – Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Technology Sydney
They join continuing Board members:
- Professor Attila Brungs (UNSW)
- Professor Renee Leon PSM (Charles Sturt University)
- Professor Adam Shoemaker (Victoria University)
- Professor Zlatko Skrbis (Australian Catholic University)
- Mr Luke Sheehy – CEO, Universities Australia
All appointments are effective immediately.
Picture courtesy of Universities Australia.
