The Honourable Paul Henderson AO
Chancellor, Charles Darwin University
Early years: Paul Henderson was born in Croix-Chapeau, France, where his father was serving with the United States military. He was educated in the United Kingdom and studied marine engineering through the City and Guilds of London Institute. He worked as an apprentice marine fitter in Southampton before emigrating to Australia in 1982, where he worked as an underground fitter at the zinc mines in Rosebery, Tasmania. He moved to Darwin in the Northern Territory in 1983, working as a marine fitter. In 1985 he began working for the Northern Territory Government as a computer operator, later becoming IT Operations Manager for the Health Department.
Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly: Mr Henderson was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in August 1999, representing the Darwin-based electorate of Wanguri. From 2001 – 2007, he was a senior Government Minister responsible for many portfolios including Education and Training, Business, Asian Relations and Trade, and Regional Development.
Northern Territory Chief Minister: Mr Henderson was elected unopposed as Parliamentary Leader of the Labor Party and Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in 2007 and held those posts until August 2012. As Chief Minister he dealt with a range of issues and challenges and helped guide the Northern Territory on the path to sustainable economic growth. His Government delivered the $34 billion lchthys LNG project for Darwin, the second largest investment in Australia’s history and the largest investment by any Japanese company outside of Japan.
Recognising that economic prosperity must be translated into social benefits, Mr Henderson is committed to the development of Northern Australia. He is equally focused on forging closer economic, social and cultural ties to our Asian neighbours and retains close relations with many leaders across South-East Asia.
As Chief Minister he was instrumental in establishing both the NT Medical Program and the North Australian Centre for Oil & Gas at CDU.
Post political career: Since retiring from politics in January 2013, Mr Henderson has co-founded and been Managing Partner of a Darwin-based consultancy focusing on business development and project facilitation.
Family: Married to Stacey for 30 years with 3 children Alasdair, Liam and Isabel.
Honours:
On 26 June 2013, granted the title "The Honourable" for life by the Governor-General.
Made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Australia Day Honours list for his contribution to the Northern Territory.
Appointed Chancellor of Charles Darwin University in February 2019 and inducted to the position in March 2019.
University Profile
Charles Darwin University is a truly unique institution.
With our home and our heart in the Northern Territory, we embrace the inclusive, resilient, and courageous spirit of the NT in our campuses and delivery sites. Our footprint is diverse - from the capital cities of Darwin, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney to the regional hubs of Alice Springs, Palmerston and Katherine and our remote locations in Jabiru, Tennant Creek and Yulara, and on Country – in community, with the community.
Our multi-campus, dual-sector status, virtual and online expertise, course profile, research activities, delivery methods, and operations result from our commitment to the regions in which we operate.
The Northern Territory spans approximately one-sixth of Australia’s landmass but is home to just one per cent of the population, of whom 30 per cent are First Nations Peoples.
Our location puts us in an important and enviable position to contribute to the future prosperity of Northern Australia and in the Asia Pacific through our innovative and impactful training, education, and research.
The University’s Strategic Plan guides our priorities and the development of our university over the next five years. It provides us a very clear road map to building a bigger, better and stronger university, valuing and empowering our people to make a difference.
CDU believes in the transformative power of training, education and research to change people’s lives for the better. We have a collective responsibility to ensure that our training, education and research are both high quality and delivered by outstanding educators and researchers and accessible and meaningful. What we do matters to our communities.
We are a deeply connected university, working in partnership and collaboration with First Nations peoples, our communities and industries, government, and alumni to address the needs of the Northern Territory and regional, rural, and remote people nationally and globally.
We are committed to contributing to and expanding the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the NT and Northern Australia and to exporting our expertise nationally and globally.
To find out more, visit the Charles Darwin University website www.cdu.edu.au
Governance
Council of Charles Darwin University
Council assumes stewardship of the University through a set of responsibilities set out in Section 8 of the Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (NT). Council works to:
Monitor the performance of the Vice-Chancellor
Approve the mission and strategic direction of the University
Approve the budget and business plan of the University
Oversee the management of the University, including approving significant commercial activities
Regularly review delegations under the Act
Monitor systems of accountability implemented by the University
Review management practices and performance of the University
Oversee risk management across the University.
Membership of Charles Darwin University’s Council is as follows:
Ex-Officio Members
The Hon. Paul Henderson AO, Chancellor – Chancellor (to 20 March 2025)
Professor Scott Bowman AO – Vice-Chancellor (to 4 April 2026)
Professor Louise King – Chair of Academic Board (to 31 December 2024)
Appointed Members – Administrator
Mr Ken Davies PSM (to 29 June 2025)
Mr Dick Guit OAM (to 27 June 2026)
Mr Craig Graham (to 30 July 2026)
Mr Mark Munnich (to 26 February 2027)
Emeritus Professor Charles Webb (to 17 February 2025)
Dr Ruth Schubert (to 17 February 2025)
Elected Members
Associate Professor Jon Mason – Academic Staff (to 31 December 2026)
Mrs Chrissy Zelley - Academic Staff (to 31 December 2026)
Mr Nabin Kandel – Postgraduate Student (to 31 December 2024)
Mr John Bosco Odongo – Undergraduate Student (to 31 December 2024)
Other Governing Bodies
Other Governing bodies within the University include:
Academic Board
Chair – Professor Louise King
Finance and Infrastructure Development Committee
Chair – Mr Amin Islam
Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee
Chair – Mr Roland Chin
Nominations, Honorary Awards and Legislation Committee
Chair – The Hon. Paul Henderson AO - Chancellor