Mr Paul Jeans – BE(UNSW), FRSN, FIEAust, FAICD
Chancellor of The University of Newcastle
The University Council elected Mr Paul Jeans as the seventh Chancellor of the University, with his term commencing on 1 July 2013. Mr Jeans is also a non-executive director of the Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre Ltd.
Mr Jeans is a fourth-generation Novocastrian with a senior leadership career spanning more than four decades.
Mr Jeans completed a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at the Newcastle University College at Tighes Hill, the antecedent institution to the University of Newcastle. He undertook senior management development at the University of New South Wales’ Australian Graduate School of Management and the University of Hawaii. He is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Past Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Mr Jeans’ executive career spanned more than 40 years with BHP and included a number of Chief Executive roles, including Executive General Manager and CEO of its Ferrous Minerals Business, three of its Steel Businesses, which included responsibility for both Newcastle and Port Kembla Steelworks, and its Service Companies (Engineering, IT, Transport, Power and Insurance). Earlier, Mr Jeans had a long career in BHP Engineering, ultimately leading that organisation.
Mr Jeans has also had extensive experience as a Director on a number of BHP Joint Venture and Subsidiary Companies, often as Chairman. He has also been a Director of Fosters Brewing Group, Energy Australia, Ausgrid and Newcastle Port Corporation, the latter of which he chaired from 2008 to 2013.
He is a Fellow and Past Councillor of the University of Wollongong and a Past Director and Honorary Governor of The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering at Sydney University. He was also a Director of Wollongong University’s Illawarra Technology Corporation. He is a Past President of the Australia-Korea Business Council and a Past Councillor of the Australian Minerals Council.
A passionate advocate for regional development and the community, Mr Jeans has served on the Chambers of Commerce and Manufacturers as well as Regional Development Boards for the Australian and NSW governments in both the Hunter and Illawarra regions. Mr Jeans chaired the Illawarra Advisory Board of The Salvation Army and was Area President of both the Hunter and Illawarra Scout Associations.
University Profile
At the University of Newcastle, our students and researchers are working to solve the world’s great challenges.
In our relatively short history, we have developed a strong reputation as an institution dedicated to outstanding education and research. Currently ranked 207th in the world by QS World University Rankings 2020, we are consistently ranked within Australia’s top 10 universities, and we have 10 subjects recognised in the top 200 in the world.
Our degrees are shaped around global learning, work placements and entrepreneurial opportunities. We offer more than 250 undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs and over 150 research masters and PhD programs across five faculties – Business and Law, Education and Arts, Engineering and Built Environment, Health and Medicine, and Science.
We are proud to be the largest provider of enabling programs in Australia, and through the work of our Indigenous staff, communities and Elders, we have led Indigenous education for more than 30 years.
DISCOVERIES WITH GLOBAL IMPACT
Through world-class research and strong partnerships with government and industry, the University drives innovation that challenges conventional thinking and changes lives. The University of Newcastle is the number one university in Australia for Innovation Connections for ‘industry collaboration’ (League table 2014- 2019 Innovation Connections Report, Ausindustry) and top nine in Australia for research ‘well-above world standard’ (Excellence in Research Australia, 2018).
Our Engagement Priorities build on the significant track record of success and the strengths of our University that reflect the issues and opportunities relevant to the future of our regions and our world. The priorities address the challenges our partners are committed to, such as tackling climate change, transforming industries, building a culture of regional entrepreneurship that sparks new industries, creating and educating future workforces, finding practical ways to build stronger and more inclusive communities, and improving the health and wellbeing of people here and around the world.
Our research institutes, the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources and the Hunter Medical Research Institute, are unrivalled in their impact.
SHAPING TOMORROW’S LEADERS
The University of Newcastle is a pioneer in university education, with degrees designed around global learning, work placements and entrepreneurial approaches to bring innovative and relevant teaching to our diverse student body. With a focus on developing the world’s next generation of socially-oriented leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators, our problem-based learning approach, which underpins many of our key degree programs, shapes real-world skills for over 37,000 students from 115 nations.
Our Work Integrated Learning programs are forged on strong partnerships with leading local and global organisations. For example, our Newcastle Law School has a strong history of providing students with the opportunity to gain real-world experience by working in free legal advice clinics through the University of Newcastle Legal Centre programs, such as Law on the Beach. Our programs challenge and inspire students to acquire practical, real-world workplace skills; enriching theoretical learning and enhancing employability.
NEW ENVIRONMENTS TO ACCELERATE INNOVATION
With state-of-the-art facilities, the University of Newcastle offers innovative and inspiring approaches to delivering education across all of our locations: Newcastle, Central Coast, Sydney, Port Macquarie and Singapore. Our $95 million NUspace facility in the heart of Newcastle’s CBD harnesses cutting-edge educational technology to deliver a world-class student experience. Our New Honeysuckle Campus development will establish and nurture an innovation ecosystem in the Hunter region.
To find out more, visit the University of Newcastle website newcastle.edu.au
Governance
University of Newcastle Council
Council is the University’s executive governing body. It is the most senior decision-making body of the University and is responsible for the oversight, management and development of strategic plans and key policies. Council monitors the overall performance and accountability of the organisation and is subject to standards of corporate governance.
For more information, refer to the University of Newcastle’s Council Charter .
Membership of the University of Newcastle’s Council is as follows:
Ex-Officio Members
Mr P.E. (Paul) Jeans – Chancellor (to 30 June 2021)
Professor Alex Zelinsky AO – Vice-Chancellor and President (from November 2019)
Professor Victoria Haskins – President of Academic Senate (to 31 December 2022)
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Conjoint Professor Geoff Lilliss (to 31 August 2021)
Mr Robert Kennedy AM (to 31 January 2023)
Appointed Members – Council
Ms Dianne Allen – Deputy Chancellor (to 31 December 2020)
Ms Jann Gardner (to 31 December 2020)
Ms Michelle McPherson (to 31 December 2021)
Mr John Bowers (to 13 August 2022)
Mr Doug Dean AM (to 13 August 2022)
Ms Julie Phillips (to 12 August 2022)
Professor Peter Coaldrake AO (to 28 February 2021)
Elected Members
Associate Professor Brendan Boyle – Academic Staff (to 31 August 2020)
Dr Roslyn Larkin – Academic Staff (to 31 August 2020)
Dr Kylie Twyford – Professional Staff (to 31 August 2020)
Ms Helena Qian – Elected Student (to 31 December 2020)
Council Committees
The Committees of the Council are:
Nominations and Governance Committee
Chair – Mr Paul Jeans, Chancellor
Controlled and Associated Entities Committee
Chair – Mr Bob Kennedy AM
Chancellor’s Committee
Chair – Mr Paul Jeans, Chancellor
Risk Committee
Chair – Ms Michelle McPherson
Finance Committee
Chair – Ms Dianne Allen, Deputy Chancellor
Strategic Development Committee
Chair – Conjoint Professor Geoff Lilliss
People and Culture Committee
Chair – Ms Jann Gardner
Academic Senate
Chair – Professor Victoria Haskins, President of Academic Senate