The University of Newcastle
The Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM – BA, DipEd(Newcastle), FAICD
Chancellor of The University of Newcastle
The University Council elected The Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM as the eighth Chancellor of the University, with her term commencing on 1 January 2024.
Patricia Forsythe is a non-Executive Director and most recently was Australia's High Commissioner to New Zealand (2019 - 2022), having previously been Executive Director Sydney Business Chamber (2006 - 2019) and prior to that as a member of the NSW Legislative Council (1991 - 2006).
Patricia served on a number of boards in the Government and Not-for-Profit areas after 2006.
In 2019 Patricia was awarded as a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to business and to the people and Parliament of NSW. In 2020, Patricia was appointed City of Newcastle Ambassador and given a key to the city.
Patricia was born and educated in Newcastle.
University Profile
Guided by our values of equity, excellence, sustainability and engagement, the University of Newcastle has built a strong reputation as a world-leading university making an impact within our own regions, in Australia and across the globe. We’re proud to be ranked in the top 175 universities in the world and in the top 30 universities globally for impact.
Across our campuses in Newcastle, the Central Coast, Sydney and Singapore, the University of Newcastle enrols more than 37,000 students from 106 countries, with a focus on equity and developing our next generation of socially oriented leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators.
We are fully committed to supporting and providing a safe space for our Indigenous students and communities. Since the 1970s, we have made an unparalleled contribution to Indigenous higher education in Australia. This vital work continues today with our Wollotuka Institute and our Indigenous Health Unit. We’re proud to be the top university in Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Enrolments, and we continue to provide even more pathways to university for Indigenous students. Last year we celebrated 40 years of our Wollotuka Institute, and this year marks our 50th anniversary of creating pathways to higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Our University has long been known as a champion of innovative approaches to teaching and learning. All of our undergraduate courses are designed to integrate theory with practice, offering rich opportunities for real-life, hands-on experiences through career-ready placements to give our students a head start in their careers.
We are also a research-intensive university and have achieved great things in collaboration with our partners in industry, business, government and the community here and around the world. Our sights are set firmly on the future, as we continue to build on our research strengths and maintain our position as a destination for the world's best researchers and global innovation leaders.
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
The Hon Patricia Forsythe AM – Chancellor (to December 2027)
Professor Alex Zelinsky AO – Vice-Chancellor and President (from November 2019)
Professor Tania Sourdin – President of Academic Senate (from January 2023)
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Mr Kevin Young - Deputy Chancellor (to August 2024)
Appointed Members – Council
Mr Michael Di Rienzo (to August 2024)
Mr Noel Cornish (from 1 March 2024)
Ms Michelle McPherson (to December 2024)
Ms Jennifer Leslie (to August 2024)
Ms Julie Phillips (to 12 August 2022)
Elected Members
Associate Professor Brendan Boyle – Academic Staff (to August 2024)
Professor Jennifer Martin – Academic Staff (to August 2024)
Mr Jacob Carson – Elected Student (to December 2024)
Council Committees
The Committees of the Council are:
Nominations and Governance Committee
Chair – The Hon Patricia Forsythe AM, Chancellor
Controlled and Associated Entities Committee
Chair – Mr Michael Di Rienzo
Chancellor’s Committee
Chair – The Hon Patricia Forsythe AM, Chancellor
Risk Committee
Chair – Ms Jennifer Leslie
Finance Committee
Chair – Ms Michelle McPherson
Development Committee
Chair – Mr Kevin Young, Deputy Chancellor
People and Culture Committee
Chair – Ms Julie Phillips
Academic Senate
Chair – Professor Tania Sourdin – President of Academic Senate