The Honourable Catherine Branson AC QC
Chancellor of The University of Adelaide
The Hon Catherine Branson AC QC is a graduate of the University of Adelaide in both Arts and Law. She is a former Crown Solicitor of South Australia and CEO of the Attorney-General's Department.
She served for more than 14 years as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and for 4 years as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. She received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Adelaide in 2011, a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from Flinders University in 2012, and a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) from Macquarie University in 2014. Catherine Branson is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.
Ms Branson was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2018.
On 13 July 2020, Council appointed Ms Branson as the 17th Chancellor of the University of Adelaide until 12 July 2024.
University Profile
By every measure, the University of Adelaide—a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight research-intensive universities—stands tall among the world’s leading institutions of learning and innovation.
The clearest indication of this is our consistently high rating by the most respected international assessment bodies: QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education and Shanghai Jiao Tong’s Academic Rankings of World Universities (ARWU). All consider us one of the top 1% of universities worldwide, and the top university in our state.
We’re equally proud of the fact that the vast majority of our research is rated ‘above or well above world standard’ by the Australian Research Council’s Excellence in Research Australia program.
We count among our distinguished alumni: five Nobel Laureates; over 100 Rhodes Scholars, including Australia’s first Indigenous recipient; and Australia’s first female prime minister and Supreme Court judge. Many of our staff and teachers are internationally recognised leaders in their fields. And we attract a diverse student body of over 27,000 from more than 90 countries.
Governance
University of Adelaide Council
In accordance with s.9 of The University of Adelaide Act 1971 (SA), the Council is the governing body of the University and has the following as its primary responsibilities:
appointing the Vice-Chancellor & President as the chief executive officer of the University and monitoring his or her performance
approving the mission and strategic direction of the University, as well as the annual budget and business plan
overseeing and reviewing the management of the University and its performance
establishing policy and procedural principles, consistent with legal requirements and community expectations
approving and monitoring systems of control and accountability, including general overview of any entities controlled by the University [within the meaning of section 50AA of the Corporations Act 2001(Cth)]
overseeing and monitoring the assessment and management of risk across the University, including commercial undertakings
overseeing and monitoring the academic activities of the University
approving significant commercial activities of the University.