Australian Catholic University

An ACU education seeks to transform lives and communities

An ACU education builds on the Catholic understanding of faith and reason working together in pursuit of knowledge and promotion of human dignity and the common good.

An ACU education seeks to transform lives and communities. Students are challenged to look beyond the classroom, solve real world problems, develop their own search for meaning, and cultivate strong professional ethics. They are invited to stand up for people in need and causes that matter.

ACU is open to all. As is common with great Catholic institutions the world over, the university is inclusive and supportive of everyone, every day – regardless of their faith or tradition.

The university has seven campuses around Australia, a campus in Rome, Italy, and an online campus – ACU Online.

Opportunities for personal and professional growth are critical to ACU. This is a university of service – so much so that it is built into the curricula. All ACU courses offer work placements, internships, or volunteering opportunities.

To find out more, visit the Australian Catholic University website www.acu.edu.au/   

Governance at
Australian Catholic University

ACU is a public company limited by guarantee in addition to a public university under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth). The governing body of ACU, as prescribed in Section 13 of the Constitution of the University, is the Senate.

And ours is a more complex university than most. ACU is a public institution, recognised and funded by the Commonwealth Government, but also a public company. Our incorporation allows us to conduct ourselves as a Catholic university, and means we are governed in accordance with our constitution.


The Hon Martin Daubney AM KC

Chancellor Australian Catholic University

The Honourable Martin Daubney AM KC served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland from 13 July 2007 to 31 December 2021.  He was also President of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal from October 2017 until November 2021.

His appointment as Chancellor of Australian Catholic University took effect on 1 January 2022.

Mr Daubney was educated at Downlands College, Toowoomba.  He initially undertook studies at the Yarra Theological Union (Diploma of Theological Studies) before attending the University of Queensland from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws.  After 18 months practising as a solicitor, he was admitted to the Bar in 1988.  In 2000 he was appointed Senior Counsel.  In addition to an extensive practice as a commercial barrister, Mr Daubney became prominent as a mediator, particularly in commercial disputes.  From 1994, he was also admitted to practise in Fiji, and appeared in numerous trials and appeals in that jurisdiction.  In 2005, he chaired a Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland thoroughbred racing industry.  Before his appointment to the bench, Mr Daubney served on the Council of the Bar Association of Queensland for more than 10 years in various roles, including as President from July 2006 until his appointment to the Supreme Court.

He has served on a wide range of community and philanthropic boards, including two terms on the Senate of the University of Queensland and his current appointment as a member of the Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees.

Among his awards and honours are the prestigious Australian Insurance Law Association Prize awarded in 2017 and the 2019 Colleges’ UQ Alumni Award.  He is a Fellow of King’s College UQ.  In 2018 Mr Daubney was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law, and to the judiciary, to education, and to the community.

Mr Daubney has served the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane on the Archdiocesan Finance Council (since 2011; Chair since 2018). He was National Vice-President and Queensland Chair of the Australian Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (2009-2014; 2016-2017).

As Chancellor of ACU Mr Daubney is committed to ensuring effective corporate governance practices and strategic management in leading the ACU Senate and supporting the Vice-Chancellor and President and senior university management.  He looks forward to representing ACU across industry and the broader community to strengthen ties and create awareness of opportunities, and working closely with the Catholic Church to ensure that ACU stays true to its mission, strong sense of identity, and distinctive Catholic vision.

The Senate

The objects of the Senate are as follows:

  1. Review and endorse strategic directions and priorities, and monitor progress against agreed goals.

  2. Oversee the establishment and effective operation of key policies.

  3. Ensure adequate risk management procedures and associated internal controls are established and effectively maintained.

  4. Oversee the effective and prudential operation of the University, including approval and monitoring of budgets and financial plans.

  5. Require and monitor compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations.

  6. Ensure the University’s assets and resources are properly managed.

  7. Effectively manage its own operations with due concern for proper and appropriate accountability.

  8. Appointment of the Vice-Chancellor and President.

  9. Ensure a clear definition of Senate’s role and the delegated responsibilities and authorities it assigns to the Vice-Chancellor and President, other officers, and the Senate Sub-Committees and the Academic Board.

Constituted under Sections 1-12 of the ACU Constitution, ACU Limited (Corporation) consists of 24 Members, divided according to Bishops and their nominees and Congregational Leaders. There are 24 Member in total. The President of Corporation is Most Reverend Mark Coleridge DD.

State-based Chapters serve as conduits between the University’s multi-State campuses and the respective dioceses with respect to the application of the University’s teaching, research, mission and social engagement initiatives in the dioceses.

Senate Membership

Ex-Officio Members

Chancellor: The Hon Martin Daubney AM KC

Pro-Chancellor: Ms Virginia Bourke

Vice-Chancellor: Professor Zlatko Skrbis

Archibishop: Most Rev Peter A Comensoli DD
Cleric nominated by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference under Clause 13.2 (e) of the ACU Constitution.

Chair of the Academic Board: Professor Timothy McKenry

State Chapter Members

New South Wales: Ms Marita Winters (to May 2027)

Queensland: Dr Peter Steer (to May 2025)

Australian Capital Territory: Mr Ross Fox (to May 2025)

Victoria: VACANT (to May 2026)

Members Nominated by Panel

New South Wales: Ms Francine Pirola (to May 2025)

Queensland: The Hon. Justice James Douglas KC (to May 2025)

Australian Capital Territory: Mr Julian Widdup (to May 2026)

Victoria: VACANT (to May 2026)

Elected Members

Academic Staff: Professor Elspeth Froude (to April 2025)

Academic Staff: Associate Professor Leah Kaufmann (to April 2026)

Academic Staff: VACANT

Professional Staff: Ms Sarah Beltrame (to 30 April 2026)

Student Member: Ms Ella Birt (to December 2025)