Dr Michele Allan
Chancellor of Charles Sturt University
Dr Michele Allan AO is a food industry and agribusiness specialist who has held senior executive and director positions in the food and education sector, and has an academic background in biomedical science, management, and law. Dr Allan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2023 for distinguished service to the agricultural, food production and business sectors, and to tertiary education.
Dr Allan is the current Chair of Wine Australia, Smart Sat CRC, Corregeo Ltd and Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence CRC. She is also a non-executive director of the CSIRO, the Food Agility CRC, Terragen Holdings Ltd and Diary Food Safety Victoria. In addition to these appointments, Dr Allan is a member of the 2026 Spatial Industry Transformation and Growth Agenda Leadership Group.
Dr Allan has previously served as Chair of Meat and Livestock Australia, Apple and Pear Australia Limited, the Food and Agribusiness Centre (FIAL) and Nuffield Australia. She has served as a non-executive director of Grain Growers Limited, Tasmanian Irrigation, Innovation and Science Australia, Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation, Callaghan Innovation, Patties Food Limited, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, and Forest and Wood Products Australia. She has also held various executive roles with Amcor Limited, Kraft Foods, Bonlac Foods Limited, ICI, Tasmania’s Bioinformatics Centre of Excellence, Johnson and Johnson, and Nestle.
In 2013, Dr Allan was appointed by the Commonwealth Minister for Agriculture to chair the Wheat Industry Advisory Taskforce. In 2014, she was appointed by the Federal Government to lead the Tasmanian Fruit and Vegetable Taskforce. In 2016, she was appointed by the Federal Governance to the Expert Panel, Driving Innovation, Fairness and Excellence in Australian Higher Education.
Dr Allan has a Bachelor of Applied Science Major - Biomedical Science - Cytology from University of Technology Sydney, Master of Management (Technology) from the University of Melbourne, Doctor of Business Administration from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a Master of Commercial Law from Deakin University. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.
University Profile
Charles Sturt University is the largest regionally-based university in Australia and as such, offers courses delivered through a range of modalities to flexibly support the professions regionally, domestically and internationally.
With campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Canberra, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Parramatta, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga, the University serves the distinct needs of regional communities from northern New South Wales to central Victoria. Additionally, courses offered in Sydney and Melbourne through a partnership agreement, provide on-campus education to international students in a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Charles Sturt delivers programs internationally in collaboration with leading partner institutions in Europe and Asia, as well as through distance education.
Focusing on the current skills shortages, Charles Sturt has created new courses to meet demands – in medicine, accounting, social work and care, engineering, and business. This augments their historical strengths in agriculture, communications, community health and the environment. Charles Sturt continues to graduate more First Nations students than any other Australian university and strives to be at the forefront of delivering what Australians require to work, live and be healthy, as they lead meaningful lives.
With research that is world class and impactful, the University supports communities, industries, and global populations. Its researchers work in consultation and collaboration with end-users, industry, the professions, and communities for the public good. An inherent belief in ‘making a difference’ is evidenced through ground-breaking research outputs across varied disciplines.
Charles Sturt is a university of the land and people of our regions. Its focal ethos is the Wiradjuri phrase, “yindymarra winhanganha”, which means, the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in. This phrase embodies Charles Sturt’s four guiding values which are: Insightful, Inclusive, Impactful, and Inspiring. It is these four principles that guide University decision-making and underpins processes and operations. Charles Sturt strives to understand people and the world, embrace differences, and recognise the strength and value of working together. The University aims to make a difference in society by being at the cutting edge of creating a bright and sustainable future.
To find out more, visit the Charles Sturt University website www.csu.edu.au
Governance
Charles Sturt University Council
The Charles Sturt University Council is constituted to ensure the proper stewardship and strategic direction of the University and is directly accountable to the stakeholders of the University for creating and delivering value and improved performance through effective governance.
Membership of Charles Sturt University’s Council is as follows:
Ex-Officio Members
Dr Michele Allan – Chancellor (to 2 December 2026)
Professor Renee Leon - Vice-Chancellor (to 31 August 2026)
Under recruitment - Chair of Academic Senate
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Dr Robin Williams (to 30 June 2025)
Ms Kristal Kinsela (to 30 June 2027)
Appointed Members – Council
Mr Philip Marcus Clark AO (to 30 June 2027)
Dr Kate Cornick (to 31 January 2026)
Ms Leanne Heywood OAM (Graduate, to July 2025)
Emeritus Professor Joyce Kirk (to 31 January 2026)
Mr John Lloyd (to 30 July 2027)
Professor Roy Green (to 30 July 2027)
Dr Bruce Godfrey (to 30 July 2027)
Dr Kyle Turner (to 30 July 2027)
Elected Members
Dr Saranne Cooke - Deputy Chancellor and Graduate (to 31 December 2025)
Mr Benjamin Fry – Student Member (to 30 June 2024)
Mr Edward Maher – Professional Staff (to 30 June 2024)
Associate Professor Dianne McGrath – Academic Staff (to 30 June 2024)
Other Governing Bodies
Other Governing bodies within the University include:
Academic Senate
Chair – under recruitment
Council Executive Committee
Chair – Dr Michele Allan
Foresighting Committee
Chair – Dr Kate Cornick
Nomination and Remuneration Committee
Chair – Dr Michele Allan
Audit and Risk Committee
Chair – Ms Michelle Beveridge
Finance, Investment and Infrastructure Committee
Chair – Dr Saranne Cooke