Southern Cross University

SCU enjoys connection with its regions, enriching communities through graduate achievements.

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. 

Our network of campuses and partners displays the cosmopolitan nature of 21st century Australia. Our branch campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth welcome international students, while our partnership with Mulpha Australia flourishes through The Hotel School, Australia’s premier hotel and tourism management institution, with campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hayman Island.

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 at Southern Cross University

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.

Ms Sandra McPhee AM

Chancellor of Southern Cross University

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 including utilities, energy, health, retail, tourism and aviation. 

She has served as 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. She was Chair of the Expert Advisory Panel appointed by the Commonwealth Government to review Employment Services. 

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. 

Sandra is the Chair of the NSW Public Service Commission and a Director of St Vincent’s Health Australia. She is also 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 and Women Corporate Directors. 

In 2003, she was awarded the Commonwealth Medal for services to the community through business leadership. 

In 2013, Sandra was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to business and to the community through leadership and advisory roles. She was the author of the 2015 Commonwealth Public Service Commission Workforce Planning Strategy Report, ‘Unlocking Potential. 

As Chair of the Commonwealth Government Employment Services Expert Advisory Panel, Sandra was responsible for the resultant report ‘I Want to Work - Employment Services 2020’, which was accepted in March 2019, and recommendations are being adopted by Government.

The Council

Roles and Responsibilities

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 of La Trobe University’s Council is as follows:

Official Members

  • Chancellor: Ms Sandra McPhee AM

  • Vice-Chancellor: Professor Tyrone Carlin (ex-officio)

  • Chair of Academic Board: Associate Professor Desiree Kozlowski (ex-officio)

Appointed Members

  • Deputy Chancellor: Mr Geoff Stalley

  • Pro Chancellor: Mr Jonathan Rourke

  • Pro Chancellor: Professor Anne Simmons AM

  • Dr Jill Freyne

  • Mr Peter Lewis

  • Graduate: Mr Scott Noble

Elected Members

  • Academic Staff: Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau

  • Academic Staff: Associate Professor Georgina Dimopoulos

  • Professional Staff: Prue Berry

  • Elected Student: Grace Redden

Council Membership