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Monash University appoints new Vice-Chancellor

Meld Magazine

Wed Dec 18 2013

Monash University

MONASH University has announced its new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Margaret Gardner, taking over from Professor Ed Byrne next year in September. Grant Roberts reports.

Monash University has appointed Professor Margaret Gardner AO as Vice-Chancellor taking over from Professor Ed Byrne in September next year, as Professor Byrne moves on to become President and Principal at King’s College London.

Professor Gardner will become the ninth Vice-Chancellor and first woman to fill the position at Monash University since the university’s inception in 1958.

Professor Gardner is currently Vice-Chancellor at RMIT University and has held the role since 2005, guiding the university to its strong fiscal position. She has also held the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) role at the University of Queensland.

Professor Gardner has had a prominent career as an academic working with several Australian universities including Griffith University, the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Deakin University, and most recently RMIT University.

In 2007 she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition for her dedicated service to tertiary education, particularly areas of university governance and gender equity.

Monash University Chancellor Dr Alan Finkel AM said in a statement he believes Professor Gardner will be an outstanding asset to Monash University, further advancing the university’s reputation as one of the top universities in the world.

“Building upon a successful academic career in the fields of industrial relations and organisational management, she will further advance Monash University’s position as a world-leading research institution, and continue to develop the opportunities offered to our students,” he said.

Professor Gardner is a first class honours graduate in Economics at the University of Sydney where she also acquired her PhD, and in 1988 was a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow.

She has also spent time at the world’s number one ranked university Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cornell University, as well as the University of California Berkeley.

Professor Gardner currently serves on a number of arts and education boards, including the Museums Board of Victoria, Chair of the Strategic Advisory Committee and the Office for Learning and Teaching and a director of Universities Australia.

Professor Ed Byrne said in a statement he was thrilled by the university’s choice and is confident Professor Gardner can lead the university into the future.

“I am delighted that Council has chosen such a strong successor, who has all the attributes needed to take Monash on the next stage of the journey,” said Professor Byrne.

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