The Hon. Julie Bishop
Chancellor of Australian National University
The Hon Julie Bishop is Chancellor of the Australian National University, appointed in 2020.
Ms Bishop served as Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 until 2018, the first female to hold the role as well as the first female Deputy Leader of the Federal Liberal Party, serving for 11 years from 2007 until 2018.
As Foreign Minister, Ms Bishop was responsible for strengthening Australia's key strategic and economic relationships with Ministerial responsibility for more than 5,000 departmental staff, 110 overseas missions and several 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.
Prior to entering politics Ms Bishop was Managing Partner of the Perth law firm Clayton Utz.
In 2017, the University of Adelaide awarded Ms Bishop the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University for her contribution to Australian parliamentary service, and in 2020 she was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Edith Cowan University.
In 2020 Julie was awarded a Fisher Family Fellowship for the Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs. In 2021 Julie was awarded the Kissinger Fellowship at the McCain Institute of International Leadership at Arizona State University. In 2021, the UK Government appointed Julie to the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC). She is also a member of the Trilateral Commission Capitalism Task Force.
In 2022 Ms Bishop was awarded the Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop AsiaLink Medal for her contribution to Australian diplomacy, women’s empowerment and Australia’s integration with the Indo-Pacific. In 2023 Julie has joined David Jones as an official Friend of the brand.
Julie is Chair of the Board of Prince’s Trust Australia, Trustee of Prince’s Trust Group Company, Chair of the Board of Telethon Kids Institute, Member of the International Advisory Board of Council on Foreign Relations and Afiniti.
She is the also the Patron of Shooting Stars (an education programme for young aboriginal girls) and an ambassador for Football Australia’s Legacy ’23 program in the lead up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
She has also established a boutique consultancy, Julie Bishop and Partners, offering strategic advisory services.
University Profile
The Australian National University (ANU) is unlike any other university in Australia. Founded in 1946, in a spirit of post-war optimism, our role was to help realise Australia's potential as the world recovered from a global crisis.
That vision, to support the development of national unity and identity, improve our understanding of ourselves and our neighbours, and provide our nation with research capacity amongst the best in the world, and education in areas vital for our future, has been our mission ever since.
It can be difficult work, but it's work we proudly do-because connecting talented people with diverse perspectives, equipping and encouraging them to address the most complex of tomorrow's problems, and ensuring Australia's future is not just our approach-it's also our national role and international responsibility as Australia's national university, and it's a responsibility from which we'll never waver.
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 2026)
Professor Brian P. Schmidt AC FAA FRS – Vice-Chancellor (to 31 December 2023)
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Ms Naomi Flutter – Pro-Chancellor (to 30 June 2024)
Dr Doug McTaggart (to 30 June 2023)
Ms Alison Kitchen (to 30 June 2025)
Ms Anne-Marie Schwirtlich AM (to 30 June 2025)
Professor Sarah Pearson (to 30 June 2026)
Ms Tanya Hosch (to 30 June 2024)
Elected Members
Professor Craig Moritz– Dean/Head of a Research School member (to 29 September 2024)
Dr Liz Allen - Academic Staff (Faculties) (to 29 September 2024)
Professor Lyndall Strazdins – Academic Staff (to 29 September 2024)
Mr Millan Pintos-Lopez – Professional Staff (to 25 May 2024)
Mr William Moisis – (to 29 Sep 2023)
Mr Ben Yates – Undergraduate Student (to 30 November 2023)
Professor Joan Leach – Chair, Academic Board (non-voting) (Ex-officio)
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
COVID-19 Committee
Chair - The Hon Julie Bishop, Chancellor
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
Student Safety and Wellbeing Committee
Chair - Ms Catherine Fitzpatrick