About the University Chancellors Council

The University Chancellors Council (UCC) was established in 2004 as the University Chancellors Conference and renamed to the University Chancellors Council in 2007, and is made up of Chancellors from all Australian Universities that are established under their own Act of Parliament.

A key component of the UCC’s work has been the development and update of Voluntary codes, around significant areas of University Governance. These codes were created with the intention of supporting Australian universities in the standardisation and formatting of their information on key issues.

The UCC exists primarily with the purpose to:

  1. Facilitate a means for University Chancellors to discuss relevant areas, issues, and current events surrounding the Australian tertiary education sector

  2. Assist Australian Universities in carrying out their respective, and collective, functions

  3. Provide a means of voicing concerns on behalf of Australian Universities on matters of governance

  4. Liaise with Universities Australia, and relevant organisations and bodies within the tertiary education sector on relevant areas, issues, and events

  5. Act as ambassadors in the advancement and promotion of Australian Universities

  6. Provide a forum for communication and discussion around Australian Universities and related institutions for Chancellors, and their representatives when relevant

  7. To carry out any such activity as is necessary to continue to further the above objects, and Australian University

Governance of the University Chancellors Council

The University Chancellors Council is overseen by a group of voluntary Executive Committee Members, and a Convenor. The Convenor is nominated for a period of 3-years. The Convenor’s role is to act as the Chair of the UCC and the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee meet five times per year to review key issues relevant to Universities, and their governance, in Australia.

Current Convenor

The current Convenor of the UCC is Professor John Pollaers, OAM, who is the Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology. He is supported by a group of ten other Chancellors who make up the Executive Committee.

Executive Committee

Mr Graeme Innes AM
Chancellor, CQ University

Dr Vanessa Guthrie AO
Chancellor, Curtin University

Mr John Stanhope AM
Chancellor, Deakin University

Mr John Hood
Chancellor, Flinders University

Professor Ngiare Brown
Chancellor, James Cook University

The Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM
Chancellor, University of Newcastle

Mr Peter Varghese AO
Chancellor, University of Queensland

Sir Angus Houston AK AC AFC (Ret’d)
Chancellor, University of the Sunshine Coast

Ms Jennifer Westacott AO
Chancellor, Western Sydney University

Ms Alison Watkins AM
Chancellor, University of Tasmania