The Hon. Julie Bishop
Chancellor of Australian National University
As the 13th Chancellor of Australian National University (from 1 January 2020) the Hon Julie Bishop is the first female to hold the role. She served as Australia's 38th Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 until 2018, the first female in that position as well as the first female Deputy Leader of the Federal Liberal Party, serving for 11 years from 2007 until 2018.
As Foreign Minister, she was responsible for strengthening Australia's key strategic and economic relationships with Ministerial responsibility for more than 5,000 departmental staff, 110 overseas missions as well as government agencies the Australian Secret Intelligence Service and the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research.
In 2014 she led the international response to the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine, and was awarded the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Under her leadership, the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper was developed, providing a comprehensive policy framework for the subsequent decade; and the New Colombo Plan was established, enabling Australian undergraduates to live, study and work in the Indo-Pacific region. Within five years more than 40,000 students had participated in the Plan.
In a political career spanning over 20 years, Julie also served as Minister for Education, Science and Training, Minister for Women's Issues and Minister for Ageing.
Julie’s relationship with ANU began when she was Education Minister in the Howard Government, when she also established the $10bn Education Endowment Fund to invest in higher education and research.
Prior to entering politics Julie was Managing Partner of the Perth law firm Clayton Utz.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Adelaide in 1978 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 2017 for her exceptional service to Australian politics.
Julie completed the Advanced Management program at Harvard Business School in 1996. She is a fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
Julie also chairs the board of Telethon Kid's Institute, is a board member of The Prince's Trust Australia, a non-executive director of the Palladium Group, and a member of the international advisory boards of Afiniti, Greensill Group and the Human Vaccines Project.
University Profile
The Australian National University (ANU) was established by an Act of Federal Parliament in 1946 for the purpose of giving Australia a unique research institution that would advance the cause of research and learning, and take its place amongst the great universities of the world. In 1960 ANU began offering undergraduate degrees and accepted responsibility for research-led education at the same high standards. As the national university, ANU has a special relationship with government, providing expert scholarship and advice to politicians and policy makers that contributes to advancing the Australian nation.
By international standards ANU is a relatively small university; it has, however, developed an enviable reputation. ANU is a global university that consistently ranks amongst the world’s finest institutions. The University recently ranked 29th in the QS World University Rankings, and is the first Australian university to be ranked in the world’s top twenty. ANU leads the nation in 12 subjects and ranks in the top 30 globally in 15 subjects. The University has produced six s Nobel Prize winners as well as a winner of the prestigious Kyoto Prize. ANU is also a member of the Group of Eight, a coalition of Australia’s eight leading research universities.
The Australian National University is Australia’s most research intensive university. Since its establishment, ANU researchers have fundamentally changed the world for the better including advancing human understanding of the nervous system, led the successful effort to eradicate smallpox, and shed new light on the expansion of the Universe.
ANU is recognised for educational excellence that is characterised by a high quality curriculum and leadership in developing distinctive approaches to education. This distinctiveness is expressed in three areas: double degrees; research-led education; and online education. ANU is transforming the understanding of these areas by exploring and challenging the boundaries between the curricula and extra-curricular, between research and education, and between the global the national and the local.
ANU is located in Canberra, the national capital, in the Australian Capital Territory. The primary campus is spread over 145 hectares in the heart of Canberra. Its outstanding facilities include a wide range of laboratories and Australia’s most powerful supercomputer. Researchers are also based at observatories at Mount Stromlo in the ACT, Sidings Springs in NSW and the Northern Australian Research Unit in Darwin.
Students are drawn to ANU from across Australia and around the world. With a student population of around 26,000 (20,000 EFTSL), ANU also offers a unique residential experience to about 6,000 students who live on the University’s campus. About 50 per cent of the ANU student population is enrolled at postgraduate level. Averaged over 2017-2019, ANU domestic postgraduate research students enjoyed the best employment outcomes four months after graduation of any G8 university in Australia and the University is ranked second in this regard for all Australian universities.
The Australian National University alumni make up many of Australia’s business, industry and government leaders. Our alumni include a former prime minister, a number of Federal and State ministers and parliamentarians, Justices of the Courts, diplomats, leaders in the humanities and arts and world renowned scientists.
To find out more, visit the Australian National University website www.anu.edu.au/
Governance
Australian National University Council
The Council of the Australian National University is established by the Australian National University Act 1991 (Cth), with 15 members who are appointed by the Council, the Federal Minister for Education and Training or elected by staff and students of the University.
The Council is the governing authority of the University. It has general oversight of the University, and is responsible for its general direction. The Council’s primary functions are to set the mission, values and strategic direction of the University; and to ensure the overall effective governance and management of the University, particularly its responsible financial and risk management.
Membership of the Australian National University’s Council is as follows:
Ex-Officio Members
Professor the Hon. Julie Bishop – Chancellor (to 31 December 2022)
Professor Brian P. Schmidt AC FAA FRS – Vice-Chancellor (to 31 December 2025)
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Ms Naomi Flutter – Pro-Chancellor (to 30 June 2022)
Mr Mike Baird (to 31 July 2023)
Dr Doug McTaggart (to 30 June 2020)
Professor Suzanne Cory AC (to 30 June 2022)
Ms Anne-Marie Schwirtlich AM (to 30 June 2021)
Mr Peter Yu (to 30 June 2020)
Ms Natasha Stott Despoja AM (to 30 June 2020)
Elected Members
Professor Matthew Colless – Dean/Head of a Research School member (to 29 September 2020)
Associate Professor Ben Corry - Academic Staff (to 29 September 2020)
Professor Kate Reynolds – Academic Staff (to 29 September 2020)
Mrs Claire Shrewsbury – Professional Staff (to 25 May 2020)
Mr Utsav Gupta – Postgraduate Student (to 2 September 2020)
Mr Lachlan Day – Undergraduate Student (to 30 November 2020)
Other Governing Bodies
Other Governing bodies within the University include:
Audit and Risk Management Committee
Chair – Mr Geoff Knuckey
Campus Planning Committee
Chair – Ms Anne-Marie Schwirtlich AM
Finance Committee
Chair – Dr Doug McTaggart
Honorary Degrees Committee
Chair – The Hon. Julie Bishop, Chancellor
Nominations Committee
Chair – The Hon. Julie Bishop, Chancellor
Remuneration Committee
Chair – The Hon. Julie Bishop, Chancellor