Southern Cross University
Established in 1994, Southern Cross University is a vibrant multi-campus university, with campuses at the Gold Coast in Queensland and Lismore and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. Each campus has unique characteristics as study locations – from thriving industries and coastal lifestyles to living laboratories of outstanding natural beauty and ecological diversity within easy reach of the campus.
Additionally SCU offers a range of inclusive pathway programs through SCU College and nurture a strong connection with out Indigenous communities and scholarship through the Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples. Thanks to the powerful delivery of online study in a wide range of disciplines, Southern Cross embraces students from all of Australia - geography is no longer a barrier to accessing a distinctive university education of the higher calibre.
Southern Cross 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.
Governance
Southern Cross University is governed by a Council to which its Chief Executive Officer, the Vice-Chancellor, reports. Council is responsible for the oversight of the University's affairs. The major academic body providing advice to Council on academic matters is the Academic Board.
The Chancellor
Ms Sandra McPhee AM
Chancellor of SCU
The Council elected Sandra McPhee AM as the fifth Chancellor of Southern Cross University, commencing on 1 July 2021.
Sandra has extensive experience as a non-executive director and senior executive in a range of major public, Commonwealth and State Government and not-for-profit organisations in the sectors of utilities, energy, health, retail, tourism, and aviation.
During her aviation executive career, most recently with Qantas Airways Limited, she was responsible for commercial operations in a diverse range of international markets and within Australia.
She has served as Chair of the NSW Public Service Commission, a Non-Executive Director of Scentre Group, Westfield Retail Trust, AGL Energy, Kathmandu Holdings, The Coles Group, Fairfax Media Limited, Perpetual Limited, Australia Post, Tourism Australia, the Art Gallery of NSW, Care Australia, and Deputy Chair of South Australia Water.
Sandra is a Director of St Vincent’s Health Australia, a member of the Advisory Council of J.P. Morgan, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a member of Chief Executive Women.
In 2003, she was awarded the Commonwealth Medal for services to the community through business leadership and in 2013 recognized as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to business and to the community through leadership and advisory roles.
Sandra was the author of the 2015 Commonwealth Public Service Commission Workforce Planning Strategy Report, ‘Unlocking Potential’ and was Chair of the Expert Advisory Panel appointed by the Commonwealth Government to review Employment Services. The resultant report ‘I Want to Work – Employment Services 2020’ was accepted for implementation by Government.
Governing body
Council
The Council is chaired by the Chancellor and has 13 members, including the Chancellor, 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.
The Council has overall responsibility to provide leadership, good governance and oversight of the University and are confirmed under the Act.
Membership
Official Members
Chancellor: Ms Sandra McPhee AM
Vice-Chancellor: Professor Tyrone Carlin (ex-officio)
Chair of Academic Board: Associate Professor Desiree Kozlowski (ex-officio)
Members appointed by the Council
Deputy Chancellor: Mr Geoff Stalley
Pro-Chancellor: Professor Anne Simmons AM
Dr Jill Freyne
Mr Peter Lewis
Graduate: Mr Scott Noble
Members elected by the university community
Academic Staff: Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau
Academic Staff: Associate Professor Georgina Dimopoulos
Professional Staff: Prue Berry
Students: Grace Redden