Julie Bishop reappointed as ANU Chancellor

01 Oct 2021

The Australian National University (ANU) Council has today unanimously voted to reappoint the Hon Julie Bishop as Chancellor for a second term for four years, commencing in 2023.

Ms Bishop was appointed to the role of ANU Chancellor in August 2019, with her first term commencing on 1 January 2020 and ending on 31 December 2022.

Continuing a long list of firsts throughout her professional and political career, Ms Bishop is the University's first female Chancellor.

ANU Pro-Chancellor, Ms Naomi Flutter, said ANU Council was delighted that Ms Bishop will continue to lead Council and the University community, including the vision set out in the ANU 2025 Strategic Plan.

"Since her appointment, Julie has provided leadership which helps to inspire the ANU community to deliver upon our bold ambitions, including global standards of excellence in education and research. Julie appreciates and helps ANU meet its national mission; to improve the lives of all Australians," Ms Flutter said.

"Julie's first term started in the middle of catastrophic bushfires. Since then, the University has been hit by a once-in-a-generation hailstorm. Today, we are continuing to respond to diverse, extenuating challenges associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"As one of Australia's most impressive public figures, she has helped navigate paths through these stormiest of seas. None of these crises have altered her ambition for our University.

"In Julie, ANU is very fortunate to have an inspirational leader who brings deep appreciation and passion for the transformative powers of learning and research.

"I am so very delighted that she will remain ANU Chancellor for another four years from 2023."

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC said: "It is a privilege for ANU to have as its Chancellor one of the nation's most eminent leaders in Julie Bishop.

"Despite a first term besieged by fire, hail and pandemic, Julie has done an outstanding job helping steer the University through these adverse times with outstanding leadership of the ANU Council.

"She has raised the University's profile domestically and abroad, and has further extended the University's global connections through a tireless program of engagement and advocacy, hindered, but not deterred, by the pandemic.

"I look forward to our continued work together to make sure that ANU delivers for the people of Australia, our region and the world as the national university."

The Hon Ms Bishop said: "It is a great privilege and honour to have the support of The Australian National University Council to continue my work as Chancellor of this great institution.

"ANU was founded 75 years ago with a mission of strengthening the social and economic fabric of our nation.

"That work is more important than ever as we recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic."