Mr John Dornbusch
Chancellor of the University of Southern Queensland
Mr Dornbusch has served on the Council of the University of Southern Queensland for twenty three years, twelve years as Chair of Finance and Facilities Committee and eight years as Deputy Chancellor before he was appointed as Chancellor in March 2014. He was re-elected as Chancellor of the University of Southern Queensland for a further five year term from 7 March 2019 to 6 March 2024.
The Chancellor leads the governing body of the University, the Council. Members of the Council, representing University and community interests, contribute to the overall governance of the University by helping to set strategic directions and develop policy.
Mr Dornbusch was the Founding Chairman of Dornbusch Partners Pty Ltd a financial and corporate services company based in Toowoomba. He is also a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a graduate of the Harvard Business School. He was previously the Queensland Regional Manager for Macquarie Financial Services, a subsidiary of Macquarie Bank. Mr Dornbusch has been actively involved in the promotion of freight rail and other regional development projects and chairs several companies involved in such activities. He has considerable experience in corporate capital raising especially in the infrastructure sector and a long history of community engagement.
University Profile
The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) is recognised leader in online and blended education, renowned for a supportive environment and student-focused commitment to learning and teaching. The University operates across three teaching campuses at Toowoomba, Springfield, and Ipswich in Queensland.
UniSQ fosters a values-driven culture - one that is built around relationships and community, mutual respect, diversity and inclusion, and a strong commitment to ethics and integrity, collaboration, creativity and innovation.
UniSQ has built on its heritage of providing educational excellence, focused research on issues vital to regions and engaged service to the community. The University of Southern Queensland Strategic Plan 2021-2025 articulates the University’s vision to be renowned for innovation and excellence in education, student experience, research and engagement. UniSQ’s aspirations will be achieved by engaging locally and globally to translate ideas and knowledge for the benefit of our communities. Our work will have regional relevance, national significance and global impact.
UniSQ is a member of the Regional Universities Network (RUN), which is made up of seven member universities based in regional Australia, working together to contribute to the growth of regional economies and communities.
UniSQ prioritises innovative educational offerings that are a catalyst for transforming the lives of students, their families and communities. UniSQ successfully blends access with excellence and is a leading university for student experience and graduate outcomes. UniSQ aims to demonstrate leadership and innovation in the quality of the student experience and to be a source of graduates who excel in the workplace and develop as leaders. Degrees are offered over a wide range of discipline areas including:
· Agriculture and Environment
· Arts and Humanities
· Aviation
· Business and Management
· Education and Teaching
· Engineering
· Information and Communication Technology
· Law and Criminology
· Media and Communication
· Nursing and Allied Health
· Psychology and Human Services
· Sciences
· Surveying and Built Environment
· Visual and Performing Arts
UniSQ’s research and research training programs position the University to support Australia’s innovation agenda, play a major role in regional development, and maintain a culture of scholarship and excellence that informs and inspires its learning and teaching program. In 2022, UniSQ was named as one of Australia’s six Trailblazer Universities, leading the Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications, and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) program in collaboration with 20+ industry organisations, the Australian National University, and the University of South Australia. iLAuNCH will invest $180 million into industry research, commercialisation and manufacturing for Australia’s burgeoning space industry.
To find out more, visit the University of Southern Queensland website www.unisq.edu.au
Governance
University of Southern Queensland Council
The Council is the governing body of the University of Southern Queensland and has the following functions-
Provision of strategic direction to the University
Provision of overall leadership to the University
Monitoring implementation of strategy against targets
Appointing and monitoring the performance of the Vice-Chancellor
Appointment of the University’s staff
Management and control of the University’s affairs and property
Management and control of the University’s finances
For more information, please refer to the Council’s charter .
Membership of the University of Southern Queensland’s Council is as follows:
Ex-Officio Members
Mr John Dornbusch – Chancellor (to 6 March 2024)
Professor Geraldine Mackenzie – Vice-Chancellor
Associate Professor Fernando Padro – Chair of Academic Board
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Mr Chris Bazley (to 6 October 2025)
Mr Brett Delaney (to 6 October 2025)
Aunty Lorraine Hatton OAM (to 6 October 2025
Assistant Commissioner Charysse Pond APM (to 6 October 2025)
Appointed Members – Council
Ms Heidi Dugan (to 17 October 2025)
Mr George Fox (to 6 October 2025)
Ms Amanda Kenafake (to 6 October 2025)
Elected Members
Assoc Professor Pauline Collins – Academic Staff (to 6 October 2025)
Miss Rachel Hennessy – Professional Staff (to 6 October 2025)
Ms Olivia Beard – Elected Student (to 5 May 2025)
Other Governing Bodies
Other Governing bodies within the University include:
Academic Board
Chair – Associate Professor Fernando Padro
Audit and Risk Committee
Chair – Mr Brett Delaney
Finance and Facilities Committee
Chair – Mr Chris Bazley
Chancellor’s Committee
Chair – Mr John Dornbusch, Chancellor
Remuneration Sub-Committee
Chair – Mr John Dornbusch, Chancellor
Honorary Awards Committee
Chair – Mr John Dornbusch, Chancellor