Mr Henry Smerdon AM DUniv (Griff) BCom BEcom (Qld) FCPA FAICD
Chancellor of Griffith University
Mr Henry Smerdon AM DUniv is the University’s fifth Chancellor.
Mr Smerdon chairs the University Council and is Chair of a number of key University Committees.
Prior to commencing as Chancellor on 1 June 2015, Mr Smerdon was the Deputy Chancellor of the University from September 2000 to May 2015. Mr Smerdon’s association with Griffith dates back to April 1997 when he was first appointed as a Governor in Council member of the University Council. He was Chair of the Finance, Resources and Risk Committee from 2000 to 2015.
Mr Smerdon’s distinguished finance career dates back to the 1980s. He was a senior executive at Queensland Treasury, where he served as Under Treasurer and Under Secretary from 1989 to 1994. He was the Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Investment Corporation from 1995 to 1998. He was also the Government Statistician for Queensland from 1990 to 1995. Mr Smerdon has been a member of and made significant contributions to many boards and committees over several decades, particularly in the finance, education and arts sectors. He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 and his extensive contributions were recognised in 2010 when he was appointed a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM).
His current directorships include Principal of Strategic and Financial Consulting Services; Director, National Trust of Australia (Qld); Chair AustSafe Super Ltd; Chair, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Committee and Chair, Motor Accident Insurance Commission CTP Advisory Committee. Previously, his Board memberships have included Chair, Queensland Performing Arts Trust; Foundation Chair, Q-Invest Ltd; Chair, Government Superannuation Funds; Chair, Flagship Investments Ltd; Chair, Queensland Education Institute Ltd; Deputy Chair, Queensland Industry Development; member, South Bank Corporation; member, Suncorp Insurance and Finance; and board member/CEO, Queensland Investment Corporation, to mention but a few.
University Profile
As one of Australia’s most diverse and inclusive tertiary institutions, Griffith University is committed to creating a future for everyone.
Hosting more than 50,000 students learning across its five South East Queensland campuses and Digital campus, Griffith has long outgrown its humble roots as a single campus of 451 students. Since opening in 1975 with a promise to make education as accessible and egalitarian as possible, the University has evolved into a respected and influential incubator of progressive thought leadership.
Today, the University offers more than 200 undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees in business and government, criminology, law, education, engineering, IT, environment, planning and architecture, health, humanities, languages, music, science, aviation, and visual and creative arts. As well as introducing Australia’s first degrees in important fields such as Asian studies and environmental science, Griffith has become a leader in online education, with more than 20 years’ experience to its name.
With a faculty boasting four Australian University Teachers of the Year and more national awards in the past five years than any other Australian university’s staff, Griffith’s students receive a world-class education informed by the University’s decades of experience in driving innovation and achievement in higher education. Griffith also prides itself on its exceptionally strong industry and community ties, which are fundamental to the University’s learning and teaching philosophy, and provide invaluable partnerships, perspectives and experience for staff and students alike.
As the home of renowned centres such as the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD), Menzies Health Institute Queensland (MHIQ), Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT), the Australian Rivers Institute (ARI), Cities Research Institute (CRI) and many more, the University consistently produces cutting-edge, impactful research focused on making a positive difference for Australia and the world.
These achievements and accolades have seen Griffith routinely recognised on the global stage as a university of excellence, ranking in the top 2 per cent worldwide and top 300 of the major international indices. Griffith also ranks highly as a young university, regularly being featured in the QS University Rankings Top 50 Under 50 and Times Higher Education Top 100 under 50. In the most recent Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) results, Griffith was rated at world standard or above across more than 55 different disciplines.
To find out more, visit the Griffith University website www.griffith.edu.au
Governance
Council of Griffith University
Under the provisions of the Griffith University Act 1998 (QLD), the Council is the governing body of the University. Council provides oversight and leadership, and is responsible overall for the sound and effective governance of the University.
Membership of Griffith University’s Council is as follows:
Ex-Officio Members
Professor Carolyn Evans
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Mr Ian Alderdice (to 30 October 2017)
Mr Clinton Dines (to 30 October 2017)
Mr Mark Gray (to 30 October 2017)
Ms Rachel Hunter DUniv – Deputy Chancellor (to 30 October 2017)
Mr Garry Redlich (to 30 October 2017)
Ms Ann Robilotta-Glenister OAM (to 30 October 2017)
Ms Rhonda White AO DUniv (to 30 October 2017)
Appointed Members – Council
Mr Craig Bassingthwaighte (to 31 December 2020)
The Hon Mr Robert Borbidge AO DUniv (to 31 December 2020)
Mr Joshua Creamer (to 31 December 2022)
Ms Jessica Rudd (to 31 December 2022)
Elected Members
Associate Professor Liz Jones – Academic Staff (to 27 October 2021)
Associate Professor Vallipuram Muthukkumarasamy – Academic Staff (to 27 October 2021)
Dr Naveen Sharma – Professional Staff (to 27 October 2021)
Mr Srinath Chithravelu Poochan – Postgraduate Student (to 27 October 2021)
Mr Liam Baker – Undergraduate Student (to 27 October 2021)
Other Governing Bodies
Other Governing bodies within the University include:
Academic Committee
Chair – Professor Debra Henly, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Audit Committee
Chair – Mr Ian Rodin
Council Nominations Committee
Chair – Mr Henry Smerdon AM DUniv, Chancellor
Finance, Resources and Risk Committee
Chair – The Hon Andrew Fraser
Honorary Degree Committee
Chair – Mr Henry Smerdon AM DUniv, Chancellor
Senior Staff Remuneration Committee
Chair – Mr Henry Smerdon AM DUniv, Chancellor
Griffith University Foundation Board
Chair – Mr Peter Johnstone