Mr Nicholas Burton Taylor AM
Chancellor of Southern Cross University
The Council elected Nicholas Burton Taylor AM as the fourth Chancellor of Southern Cross University, commencing on 26 September 2014.
Nick brings to the role a distinguished career in commerce and a passion for the transformational power of education on people’s lives. He has close affiliations with rural Australia, and was instrumental in establishing the Country Education Foundation of Australia, an organisation that financially assists rural and regional students. In 1998 Nick was named a Member of the Order of Australia for services to business through the accountancy profession and to the rural community.
Nick is the Chairman of Delta Agribusiness, a Director of M.H. Premium Farms, and Principal of Hillgrove Pastoral Company which produces beef, wool and grain from properties in New South Wales and North Queensland. He is also the Treasurer and Vice President of the conservation group Bush Heritage Australia. He is a past Chairman of Discovery AG, the Australian Agricultural Company Limited, Airservices Australia, and Australian Topmaking Services Pty Ltd. He is a former Director of Rural Press, Graincorp Limited, Federal Airports Corporation, Sydney Airport Corporation, Hazelton Airlines and the Meat Research Corporation.
Nick started his career with Price Waterhouse Coopers before founding Hays Personnel Services in 1976, where he remained Managing Director until 1989. In 2008 he was awarded Rabobank ‘Agribusiness Leader of the Year’. He has been involved with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia for many years, and was President of the Institute from 1989 to 1991.
University Profile
Established in 1994, Southern Cross University is a progressive, young and vibrant university, with campuses at the Gold Coast in Queensland, and in Lismore and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. These locations have unique characteristics as study locations – from thriving industries and coastal lifestyles to living laboratories of great natural beauty and ecological diversity just outside the classroom. The University operates The Hotel School Sydney and Melbourne and branch campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in collaboration with education partners, and also delivers many degrees in dynamic online form.
Southern Cross University attracts students from all walks of life and backgrounds, and is proud of its Indigenous participation. Students from more than 50 countries study with us in Australia, and we deliver degrees with collaborators in China and Papua New Guinea.
The University is ranked in the top 100 young universities globally by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2018.
Southern Cross University enjoys broad connectivity with the regions it serves, enriching its communities through the achievements of its graduates, many of whom are the first in their families to aspire to, and realise, a university qualification.
The University's research agenda is in fields that are regionally relevant and internationally significant. In the Excellence in Research for Australia 2015 National Report, Southern Cross achieved a rating of ‘at world standard or above’ in 24 research fields. The highest rating of ‘well above world standard’ was achieved in nine fields including geochemistry, oceanography, crop and pasture production, and nursing.
Particular research strengths in the environmental sciences include marine science, and the University operates the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour, adjacent to the Solitary Islands Marine Park, where both tropical and temperate currents meet.
Southern Cross University's Strategic Plan 2016-2020 sets out the University’s goal to produce graduates who are work ready, world ready and digitally literate, and who experience an academic environment distinctive for its personal approach. The University values collegiality and integrity in all aspects of its operations.
To find out more, visit the Southern Cross University website scu.edu.au
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Governance
Southern Cross University Council
Southern Cross University is governed by a Council to which its Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chancellor, reports. Council is responsible for the management of the University’s affairs. The major academic body providing advice to Council on academic matters is the Academic Board.
The Council is chaired by the Chancellor. The Council has 13 members, including the Vice Chancellor, the Chair of the Academic Board, two members appointed by the Minister, four members appointed by Council, three elected staff members and one elected student member.
Membership of Southern Cross University’s Council is as follows:
Ex-Officio Members
Mr Nicholas Burton Taylor AM – Chancellor (to 25 September 2022)
Professor Adam Shoemaker – Vice-Chancellor
Professor Mark Hughes – Chair of Academic Board (to 31 December 2020)
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Mr Murray d’Almeida – Deputy Chancellor (to 1 January 2022)
Mr Jonathan Rourke (to 1 January 2022)
Appointed Members – External
Dr Austin Curtin (to 11 September 2022)
Ms Julie Granger (to 9 November 2022)
Ms Lynda O’Grady (to 16 February 2021)
Appointed Members – Graduate
Mr Scott Noble (to 10 June 2022)
Elected Members
Professor William Boyd – Academic Staff (to 9 September 2020)
Associate Professor Adele Wessell – Academic Staff (to 9 September 2020)
Mr Graham Lancaster – Professional Staff (to 9 September 2020)
Mr Michael Jones – Student (to 9 September 2020)
Other Governing Bodies
Other Governing bodies within the University include:
Academic Board
Chair – Professor Mark Hughes
Audit and Risk Management Committee
Chair – Mr Murray d’Almeida
Finance Committee
Chair – Ms Lynda O’Grady
Chancellor’s Committee
Chair – Mr Nicholas Burton Taylor AM, Chancellor
Remuneration Committee
Chair – Mr Nicholas Burton Taylor AM, Chancellor
Honorary Awards Committee
Chair – Mr Nicholas Burton Taylor AM, Chancellor
Nominations Committee
Chair – Mr Nicholas Burton Taylor AM, Chancellor
Graduate Appointments Committee
Chair – Mr Nicholas Burton Taylor AM, Chancellor