Professor Nicola Phillips, Provost at University of Melbourne, has been appointed Vice Chancellor and President of the new Adelaide University

A British academic with 30 years’ experience in higher education around Australia and the UK has been unveiled as the boss of the new Adelaide University.

Professor Nicola Phillips has been revealed as the Vice Chancellor and President of the new Adelaide University ahead of its opening next year.

The British academic, who is currently Provost at the University of Melbourne, will begin her role at the new $450m university on January 12.

Her appointment as boss of the new institution – a merger of the University of Adelaide and UniSA – comes after a global search led by the Adelaide University Transition Council and executive search firm, Korn Ferry.

Prof. Phillips has held positions at the Universities of Warwick, Manchester and Sheffield, and was Vice President and Vice Principal at King’s College London.

She said she was looking forward to establishing the new Adelaide University as a “trailblazer for change”.

“I am thrilled to be joining Adelaide University at a time of unmatched potential and possibilities – and to call South Australia home,” said Prof. Phillips who studied at Kings’ College London and Harvard Business School.

Professor Nicola Phillips has been appointed as the new Vice Chancellor of Adelaide University. Picture: Supplied.

Transition council chancellor Pauline Carr described Prof Phillips as a “formidable force” throughout her career.

“We are delighted to announce Prof. Phillips as the new Vice Chancellor of Adelaide University as we boldly take our next steps as Australia’s new comprehensive university for the future,” she said.

Deputy Premier Susan Close said the appointment was another important step for the new institution, which will deliver “unprecedented value to students, staff and our community”.

Founding co-Vice Chancellors, Professors Peter Høj AC and David Lloyd, will continue to lead Adelaide University until Prof. Phillips begins her role.

The contentious merger between the universities of Adelaide and South Australia was given the green light in July 2023 after being backed by both of its councils and almost $450m in taxpayer funds.

The unprecedented deal to explore the possibility of a merger between the two universities was inked in late 2022.

By 2034, Adelaide University is expected to bring in an estimated additional $500m per year for the South Australian economy, educate more than 70,000 students and create 1200 jobs.