Griffith University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans is the new Chair of Universities Australia (UA) succeeding University of South Australia Vice-Chancellor and President Professor David Lloyd.
The new Chair was confirmed at UA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in late May.
Professor Evans studied law, first at the University of Melbourne and then as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford. Prior to her appointment at Griffith in 2019, she held senior leadership positions at the University of Melbourne, and she is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
Throughout her career, Professor Evans has promoted the importance of universities combining excellence in teaching and research with a commitment to social justice and inclusion.
She has been a member of the UA Board since 2023.
Professor Evans said it was both an exciting and challenging time to be taking over the leadership of Australia’s university sector and thanked Professor Lloyd for his dedication during the past two years as UA Chair.
“David has done a remarkable job as Chair during what has been a testing couple of years, and I want to acknowledge his significant contribution to Universities Australia and our sector over a long period,” Professor Evans said.
“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.
“Now more than ever, our sector needs reliable and proper policy and financial settings to continue to provide the skills, knowledge and innovation our country needs to grow and prosper in the years ahead.”
