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.
University Profile
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.
The academic structure of Southern Cross is built upon fur faculties - the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the Faculty of Health and the Faculty of Education.
Additionally we offer 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 is ranked in the top 200 young universities globally by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
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.
The University's research agenda is in regionally relevant and internationally significant fields. In the Excellence in Research for Australia 2018 National Report, Southern Cross achieved a rating of ‘at world standard or above’ in 23 research fields. The highest rating of ‘well above world standard’ was achieved in 14 fields, including geochemistry, oceanography, crop and pasture production, and nursing.
Particular research strengths in the environmental sciences include marine science. The University operates the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour, adjacent to the Solitary Islands Marine Park, a unique marine environment where both tropical and temperate currents meet.
Health sciences are also a particular strength. The University opened a $12 million Health Sciences Building at the Coffs Harbour campus in 2019 to accommodate teaching in occupational therapy, nursing and midwifery, sport and exercise science and psychology.
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:
Official Members
Ms Sandra McPhee AM – Chancellor (to 30 June 2029)
Professor Tyrone Carlin – Vice-Chancellor
Associate Professor Desiree Kozlowski Chair of Academic Board (to 31 December 2027)
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Mr Murray d’Almeida – Deputy Chancellor (to 31 December 2024)
Mr Jonathan Rourke (to 31 December 2025)
Appointed Members – External
Vacancy
Mr Geoff Stalley (to 9 October 2026)
Mr Peter Lewis (to 31 January 2028)
Appointed Members – Graduate
Mr Scott Noble (to 10 June 2024)
Elected Members
Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau – Academic Staff (to 9 September 2026)
Dr Georgina Dimopoulos – Academic Staff (to 9 September 2026)
Ms Prue Berry – Professional Staff (to 9 September 2024)
Ms Grace Redden – Student (to 9 September 2026)
Other Governing Bodies
Other Governing bodies within the University include:
Academic Board
Associate Professor Desiree Kozlowski
Audit and Risk Management Committee
Mr Scott Noble
Finance Committee
Mr Jonathan Rourke
Chancellor’s Committee
Ms Sandra McPhee AM
People and Culture Committee
Mr Geoff Stalley
Honorary Awards Committee
Ms Sandra McPhee AM
Graduate Appointments Committee
Ms Sandra McPhee AM