Leadership & governance

Learn about UNSW’s senior leaders and initiatives.

UNSW Kensing
ton Quad

UNSW's senior leaders guide our University towards ambitious goals, building on distinction and innovative education in service to the community, nation and world.

Professor Attila Brungs, Vice-Chancellor & President 

Professor Attila Brungs is the 10th and current Vice-Chancellor and President of UNSW Sydney. His commitment to education, research and engagement will ensure that UNSW continues to nurture its passion for excellence to improve lives in Australia and globally.  

Vice Chancellor & President

Chancellor 

Mr David Gonski AC - Chancellor, UNSW Sydney and Chairman, UNSW Foundation Board

One of Australia's most prominent business leaders and philanthropists, David Gonski has been a formidable advocate for education, the University, and its mission. Mr Gonski has a long association with UNSW. He is the first UNSW alumnus (BCom, LLB) to hold the position of Chancellor, elected in 2005. He is also Chairman of the UNSW Foundation and his role has been critical in building the University’s philanthropic culture and support.

University Leadership Team

Scientia Professor Vlado Perkovic

Provost

Professor Vlado Perkovic is the Provost at UNSW Sydney, and previously the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health and Scientia Professor at UNSW, a Professorial Fellow at The George Institute, Australia, and was a Staff Specialist in Nephrology at the Royal North Shore Hospital.

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Michelle Steel

Interim Chief People Officer

Michelle Steel is the Interim Chief People Officer at the University of NSW. Michelle has a wealth of experience helping businesses to grow, transform and face new challenges, she brings high levels of strategic clarity and a commercial mindset to the people agenda.

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Professor Claire Annesley

Dean – UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture

Professor Claire Annesley’s research and teaching expertise includes comparative politics, executives, gender equality, political representation and public policy. She has received numerous accolades for her research on gender politics and policy.

 

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Professor Frederik Anseel

Interim Dean – UNSW Business School

Professor Frederik Anseel is the Interim Dean at UNSW Business School. He is a Professor of Management and has been Senior Deputy Dean in UNSW Business School for four years.

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Dr Christine Burns

Chief Information Officer

Dr Chrissy Burns joined as UNSW Sydney’s Chief Information Officer in 2022 to drive its technology strategy so it enables the innovative ambitions of the students and staff of the university. 

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Professor Merlin Crossley AM

Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Academic Quality

Professor Merlin Crossley is a molecular biologist, specialising in human genetic diseases. He is also an enthusiastic teacher and science communicator who contributes frequent articles on science, education and policy.

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Professor Nick Fisk

Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Research & Enterprise 

Professor Nick Fisk provides strategic leadership and support to the Vice-Chancellor and President in the generation of external research income and improving UNSW’s overall research performance, and in attracting and retaining outstanding academic staff.

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Professor Julien Epps

Dean – UNSW Engineering

Professor Julien Epps was appointed as a Senior Lecturer at UNSW Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications from 2007, Associate Professor from 2014, and Professor and Head of School from 2019. In 2023 he was appointed Dean of the UNSW Faculty of Engineering. 

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Hon. Verity Firth AM

Vice-President - Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement

The Hon. Verity Firth AM is the inaugural Vice-President Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement.  Verity has over twenty years’ experience at the very highest levels of government and education sectors in Australia.

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Professor Colin Grant

Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Global

Professor Colin Grant is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global as the University of New South Wales. Previously he was Vice Principal International at Queen Mary University of London. He was Chair of the British Council Education Advisory Group and Trustee of the Council for At Risk Academics (CARA) 2018-2022.

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Clair Hodge

General Counsel

In addition to her role as General Counsel, Clair is responsible for the University’s compliance framework. Clair has over 25 years’ experience as a senior legal and compliance executive, responsible for providing strategic and commercially focused advice to boards and senior management.

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Professor Leanne Holt

Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Indigenous

Professor Leanne Holt is a Worimi/Biripi woman from the mid-coast of New South Wales. She is the inaugural Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous at UNSW. Contributing to Indigenous higher education for over 25 years she was previously the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Strategy at Macquarie University.

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Professor Andrew Lynch

Dean – UNSW Law & Justice

Professor Andrew Lynch is the Dean of the UNSW Faculty of Law & Justice. He has previously served as Head of School and Deputy Dean. He teaches and researches in the field of Australian constitutional law. His research concentrates on the topics of federalism, judicial dissent, judicial appointments reform, and legal

Professor Sarah Maddison

Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Education & Student Experience

Professor Sarah Maddison is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education & Student Experience) at the University of New South Wales. The Division includes Future Student, Registrar & Student Services, and Education & Student Experience.

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Scientia Professor Sven Rogge

Dean – UNSW Science

Professor Sven Rogge is the Dean of UNSW Science. His research is in condensed matter physics, in particular quantum electronics at the School of Physics. Before joining UNSW in 2011 Sven worked at the Kavli Institute for Quantum Nano Science at Delft University and Stanford University.

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Professor Emma Sparks

Dean & Rector – UNSW Canberra

Professor Emma Sparks has a BSc (Hons) in sports science and osteopathy, an MSc and PhD in systems engineering for defence. She is the first female to be appointed to the role of Dean and Rector at UNSW Canberra.

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Libby Stratford

Chief Financial Officer

As Chief Financial Officer at UNSW Sydney, Elizabeth (Libby) Stratford is responsible for the University’s financial direction and management, financial and business performance monitoring and analysis, and providing independent advice on the financial performance of university-controlled and associated entities.

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Professor Adrienne Torda

Interim Dean – UNSW Medicine and Health

Professor Adrienne Torda is the Interim Dean of UNSW Faculty of Medicine & Health. She is an academic leader, medical educator and scholar, as well as a medical clinician with specialist qualifications in Infectious Diseases. 

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Andrew Walters

Vice-President – Operations

Andrew Walters is the Vice-President, Operations, at UNSW Sydney, having commenced in August 2015. The Division of Operations includes the portfolios of Finance, UNSW IT, Estate Management, and HR.

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Professor George Williams AO

Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Planning & Assurance

Scientia Professor George Williams was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2011 for, “distinguished service to the law in the fields of anti-terrorism, human rights and constitutional law as an academic, author, adviser and public commentator.”

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Senior UNSW Officers

Brett Biles

Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement and Research

Associate Professor Brett Biles is a Murrawarri man originally from Brewarrina. He has been living on Wiradjuri country for the last 20 years. Brett is the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement and Research at UNSW.

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Professor Megan Davis

Pro Vice-Chancellor – Society

Professor Megan Davis is a Professor of Law and the Balnaves Chair of Constitutional Law. She is a Cobble Cobble woman and a renowned constitutional lawyer and public law expert, focusing on advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Professor Scott Kable

President – UNSW Academic Board

Professor Scott Kable is the Chemistry Head of School in the Faculty of Science at UNSW Sydney.

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Professor Dane McCamey

Pro Vice-Chancellor – Research

Professor Dane McCamey is a Professor of experimental condensed matter physics. He is a Chief Investigator and Research Platform Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Exciton Science.

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Professor Grainne Moran

Pro Vice-Chancellor – Research Infrastructure

Professor Grainne Moran provides strategic leadership and oversight of UNSW's research infrastructure, including the centrally managed shared research facilities.

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Professor Jonathan Morris

Pro Vice-Chancellor – RT & E

Professor Jonathan Morris is the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research Training & Entrepreneurship at UNSW Sydney. From 2015-2018 he was Deputy Dean Graduate Research at UNSW. He was appointed Dean of Graduate Research at UNSW in 2019. In 2021, he became the Pro Vice Chancellor Research Training & Entrepreneurship.

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Scott Parlett

Director Nura Gili, Centre for Indigenous Programs

Professor Scott Parlett is the Director Nura Gili, Centre for Indigenous Programs. He is a proud Malyangapa and Barkindji descendent but born and raised in rural QLD (Winton).

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Professor Stephen Rodda

Pro Vice-Chancellor – Industry and Innovation

Professor Stephen Rodda is the Pro Vice-Chancellor Industry and Innovation. He is responsible for providing strategic leadership across all facets of UNSW’s industry engagement, knowledge transfer, business development and commercialisation, and oversight of the Entrepreneurial Campus.

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Professor Alex Steel

Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor – Education & Student Experience

Professor Alex Steel is the Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience, and a Professor of the Law Faculty. Alex is an internationally recognised legal academic with interests in both criminal law and legal education.

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Professor Bruce Watson

Pro Vice-Chancellor – Inclusion

Associate Professor Bruce Watson has a diverse research and teaching background in sustainable futures, design studio learning and teaching, and most recently higher education management and policy. He has also practiced as as an artist, architect and interior architect. 

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Professor Lisa Zamberlan

Pro Vice-Chancellor International

Associate Professor Lisa Zamberlan is the acting Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Associate Dean International for the Faculty of ADA. Lisa’s mission is to work with our industry and community partners across the globe, to drive creative contributions to the complex possibilities and challenges of our time.

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UNSW Initiatives 

View our highlights, where we have come from and where we are now as we assess, track and measure existing and new strategic initiatives. 

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