Mr William Tweddell
Chancellor of James Cook University
Mr William (Bill) Tweddell BA, BEc JCU MAICD was elected as Chancellor by the James Cook University Council for a five-year term, commencing on 26 March 2016. In March 2020 Mr Twedddell was re-elected for a further two-year term which will end on 25 March 2023. Mr Tweddell is the University’s fifth Chancellor, and the first alumnus to be elected to the role having graduated from JCU with a Bachelor of Arts (English Language and Literature) in 1972 and a Bachelor of Economics in 1976.
In 2010, he was recognised as one of JCU’s Outstanding Alumni.
Mr Tweddell has enjoyed a distinguished career in Australia’s diplomatic service spanning four decades. Most recently he served as Australia’s Ambassador to the Philippines from January 2012 to January 2016.
Mr Tweddell was a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has previously served as Head of the Americas and Africa Division of the Department in Canberra, as Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Consul General, Hong Kong and Macau, High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and Deputy High Commissioner, India, with earlier postings to Greece and Bangladesh. He was also Chief of Staff to the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer.
University Profile
One of the world’s leading institutions focusing on the tropics, James Cook University is surrounded by the spectacular ecosystems of the rain forests of the Wet tropics, the dry savannas, and the iconic Great Barrier Reef. Its unique location enables students from Australia and overseas to study in a diverse physical environment unparalleled by any university in the world. JCU is ranked in the top 2 percent of the world’s tertiary institutions by the respected Academic Ranking of World Universities produced by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
JCU is a leader in research addressing the critical challenges facing the tropics, world-wide. A defining feature of JCU is its tropical location and its research excellence in disciplines of particular relevance to the tropics. JCU conducts nationally significant and internationally recognised research in areas such as marine sciences, biodiversity, tropical ecology and environments, global warming, tourism, and tropical medicine and public health care in under-served populations. JCU’s aim is to position itself as a national and international leader in teaching and research addressing critical challenges facing the tropics world-wide. As a comprehensive university in the tropics, JCU is well placed to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations to meet these challenges.
Born of the traditional model of excellence in teaching and research, James Cook University has become a modern and dynamic university of truly global standing. JCU graduates hold top-level positions around Australia and the world, and our research has earned us a world class reputation. Since its establishment in 1970, JCU has expanded into a multi-campus institution with its main campuses in the tropical cities of Cairns, Singapore and Townsville, with smaller study centres in Mount Isa, Thursday Island and Mackay. There is also a Russo Higher Education operated campus in Brisbane.
JCU’s students come from many backgrounds, promoting a rich cultural and experiential diversity on campus. JCU’s undergraduate and postgraduate courses span the Arts, Biomedical Sciences, Business, Creative Media, Dentistry, Education, Engineering, Healthcare Sciences, Information Technology, Law, Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, Pharmacy, Planning, Psychological Science, Science, Social Work, Sustainability and Veterinary Science. JCU aims to give graduates the qualifications and skills they need for the global workforce.
As set out in its Statement of Strategic Intent, James Cook University is dedicated to creating a brighter future for life in the tropics world-wide, through graduates and discoveries that make a difference.
JCU is a comprehensive University. Its teaching and research focuses on four themes:
Tropical Ecosystems and Environment
Industries and Economies in the Tropics
Peoples and Societies in the Tropics
Tropical Health, Medicine and Biosecurity.
An international University as reflected in its people, places, and research, JCU takes quiet pride in being recognised as a leading tertiary institution in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and among the universities of the world.
One university | Two countries | Three tropical campuses
To find out more, visit the James Cook University website www.jcu.edu.au
Townsville campus photographer: Andrew Rankin.
Governance
James Cook University Council
Consistent with the James Cook University Act 1997 (QLD) and its function as the prime instrument of University governance, the Council of James Cook University has primary responsibility for:
appointing the vice chancellor as the chief executive officer of the University, and monitoring his/her performance;
approving the mission and strategic direction of the University, as well as the annual budget and business plan;
overseeing and reviewing the management of the University and its performance;
establishing policy and procedural principles, consistent with legal requirements and community expectations;
approving and monitoring systems of control and accountability, including general overview of any Controlled Entities (as defined in 50AA of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth));
overseeing and monitoring the assessment and management of risk across the University, including commercial undertakings;
overseeing and monitoring the academic activities of the University;
approving significant commercial activities of the University.
Membership of James Cook University’s Council is as follows:
Ex-Officio Members
Mr Bill Tweddell – Chancellor (to 25 March 2021)
Professor Sandra Harding – Vice-Chancellor (to December 2021)
Professor Stephen Naylor – Chair of the Academic Board (to 18 August 2018)
Appointed Members – Governor-in-Council
Mr Bruce Martin (to 19 April 2022)
Ms Marjorie Pagani (to 19 April 2022)
Ms Angela Toppin (to 19 April 2020)
Additional Members
Ms Jayne Arlett (to 19 April 2022)
Judge Gregory Lynham (to 19 April 2022)
Mr Campbell Charlton (to 19 April 2020)
Dr Ryan Haddrick (to 19 April 2020)
Mr Peter Phillips (to 19 April 2020)
Elected Members
Associate Professor Allison Craven – Academic Staff (to 19 April 2022)
Professor Lee Stewart – Academic Staff (to 19 April 2022)
Dr Jonathan Strauss – Professional and Technical Staff (to 19 April 2022)
Mr Lennon Stathoulis – Student (to 19 April 2020)
Other Governing Bodies
Other Governing bodies within the University include:
Academic Board
Chair – Professor Stephen Naylor
Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee
Chair – Mr Campbell Charlton, Deputy Chancellor
Awards and Ceremonies Committee
Chair – Ms Angela Toppin
Chancellor’s Committee
Chair – Mr Bill Tweddell, Chancellor
Finance Committee
Chair – Mr Peter Phillips
Human Resources Committee
Chair – Mr Bill Tweddell, Chancellor
Sub-Committees Include:
Estate Sub-Committee
Chair – Judge Gregory Lynham
Health, Safety and Environment Sub-Committee
Chair – Dr Ryan Haddrick
Education Committee
Chair – Professor Tarun Sen Gupta
Research Committee
Chair – Professor Chris Cocklin, Provost