News Archive

I have been advised by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dawn Freshwater, that she has accepted an offer of appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland commencing March 2020 and will be resigning from office as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia with effect from 13 March 2020.

Professor Freshwater will have served the University for nearly six years at the end of 2019 as both Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor. During that time she has been engaged in driving major change processes to place the University on a secure foundation from which to meet the many challenges facing the higher education sector in Australia and globally.

In particular she has established a new executive leadership team and, in conjunction with them, has developed a vision and strategic plan to guide the University through to 2025 and beyond to 2030. She has also overseen the development of a Campus Master Plan to ensure that the University’s great physical resources and assets are used to greatest effect in the creation of an enhanced educational experience for students and staff and to enhance its high reputation as a place of excellence in research across many disciplines.

As part of the Renewal process which began while she was Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Freshwater has also overseen the recruitment of 40 additional senior academic staff as part of the Be Inspired Program. She has played a leading role in the establishment of the UWA Public Policy Institute, focussed on the delivery of real world solutions to challenges in the Indo-Pacific Region. Professor Freshwater’s term as Vice-Chancellor has marked a watershed in the University’s recent development history.

I have enjoyed working with her since my appointment as Chancellor at the end of 2017. On behalf of the Senate I thank her for her tireless work in the interests of the University. I wish her and her family well in the next phase of her career.

The Senate will begin immediately the work of finding a replacement to fill the office of Vice-Chancellor.

The Hon Robert French AC
Chancellor

Media references

David Stacey (UWA Media Manager) 08 6488 3229 / 0432 637 716