Professor John Pollaers OAM
Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology
Professor John Pollaers OAM became Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology in February 2019.
Professor Pollaers has had a distinguished international career in the consumer products and advanced manufacturing industries. He has been chief executive and director of major companies, including Pacific Brands and Foster’s Group Limited.
Professor Pollaers is Chairman of the Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council, Chairman of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee and Chair of the Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce for the Federal Government. He was also a member of the Prime Minister’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce.
Professor Pollaers holds an MBA from INSEAD and Macquarie University, as well as degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2018, for service to the manufacturing sector, to education, and to business.
University Profile
Swinburne is a world-class university focused on creating social and economic impact through science, technology and innovation.
Our institution was founded in 1908 to serve a section of society otherwise denied further education. More than 110 years later, we continue in our commitment to transform education through strong industry engagement, social inclusion, innovation and the creation of positive change.
We have demonstrated a depth of expertise in teaching and research, both in Australia and internationally, that has secured our place as a leading university.
We are committed to transforming the future of education by giving students the knowledge, adaptability and experience they need to make a lasting impact on the workplaces of tomorrow.
We are internationally recognised for producing quality, cutting-edge research that solves real-world problems and connects science and technology with business and the community.
Swinburne has three Melbourne-based campuses: Hawthorn, Wantirna and Croydon. Internationally, we have a campus in Sarawak, Malaysia, which connects us to one of the fastest-growing regions in the world.
We develop future-ready graduates by providing career-oriented education and taking our students outside of the conventional classroom, introducing them to new and different ways of learning and thinking. They gain experience in the workplace, from industry leaders, the world around us and from each another.
We have created a space where ideas are made and the future is imagined, where the brave and the adventurous from local communities and from around the world are supported to push the boundaries of what is into what can be.
Swinburne has secured its place among the world’s leading universities. We are ranked within the top three per cent of universities globally by the world’s leading higher education league tables, including the Academic Ranking of World Universities, Times Higher Education and QS. Our students award us a ‘5-Star Overall Experience’ rating in the Good Universities Guide.
Both as an early leader in international education and through our expertise in online education, Swinburne is making educational opportunities available to a new generation of learners through Swinburne Online and Open Universities Australia.
At Swinburne, we put our students at the centre of everything we do. We ensure their time at Swinburne is an experience worth having and ensure they graduate with an entrepreneurial and enterprising mindset, confident and ready to stride into the future.
To find out more, visit the Swinburne University of Technology’s website www.swinburne.edu.au
Governance
Swinburne University of Technology Council
Council oversees the general direction and superintendence of the University and its powers and functions include:
Approving the mission and the strategic direction of the University
Overseeing and reviewing the management of the University and its performance
Managing the University’s resources
Establishing policy and procedural principles, consistent with legal requirements and community expectations
Approving and monitoring systems of control and accountability
For more information, please refer to the Council’s charter.
Membership of Swinburne University of Technology’s Council is as follows:
Ex-Officio Members
Professor John Pollaers OAM – Chancellor (to 31 January 2029)
Professor Pascale Quester – Vice-Chancellor (to 2 August 2030)
Professor Tara Magdalinski – Chair of Academic Senate (to 16 April 2025)
Appointed Members – Governor-in-Council
Dr Leonie Walsh (to 3 June 2026)
Mr John Chambers (to 31 December 2026)
Ms Rae Johnston (to 20 September 2025)
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Professor Tien Kieu (to 30 June 2026)
Appointed Members – Council
Mr Anthony Mackay AM (to 31 December 2026)
Mr William Lye OAM KC (to 30 June 2025)
Mr Richard Simpson (to 28 February 2026)
Ms Karen Clarke (to 30 September 2025)
Elected Members
Mr Kishaun Thiruchelvam – Student (to 31 December 2024)
Ms Bronwyn Smith - Staff (to 31 December 2025)
Other Governing Bodies
Other Governing bodies within the University include:
Academic Senate
Chair – Professor Tara Magdalinski
Audit and Risk Committee
Chair – Ms Karen Clarke
Executive, Remuneration and Nominations Committee
Chair – Mr Anthony Mackay
Technology, Innovation and Value Creation Committee
Chair – Mr John Chambers