Top Adelaide University, UniSA leaders named to new roles as institutions merge
Top staff at both the University of Adelaide and UniSA have been named to the leadership team ahead of the two institutions completing their merger. See the list.
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The leadership team of the new merged South Australian university has been announced, with prominent staff at UniSA and The University of Adelaide taking on new roles.
Adelaide University has announced eight deputy vice chancellors, which UniSA and The University of Adelaide vice chancellors Professors Peter Hoj and David Lloyd said would “provide strong foundational leadership through this time of transition”.
The leadership team, including current University of Adelaide and UniSA provosts Professor John Williams and Professor Joanne Cys, all currently hold roles at the two merging universities.
Prof Cys will take up a role as provost while Prof Williams will serve as deputy vice chancellor academic.
UniSA’s chief operating officer Paul Beard will become deputy vice chancellor corporate and its chief academic services officer Tom Steer will take up the role of deputy vice chancellor student experience and success.
Many of the new leadership team will perform their current roles, some with only minor changes, at the new institution such as University of Adelaide pro vice chancellor indigenous engagement Professor Steve Larkin and deputy vice chancellor (external engagement) Professor Jessica Gallagher.
This is also the case for University of Adelaide deputy vice chancellor research Anton Middelberg and chief people officer Paula Ward.
They were appointed following an independent recruitment process conducted by Boyden Australia.
“We congratulate our newly appointed colleagues who we know will provide the vision, expertise and guidance in realising our collective ambitions for a new university for the future,” Professors Hoj and Lloyd said.
“This leadership group have a tremendous depth of talent and we very much look forward to continuing our important work in creating a world-class contemporary and comprehensive institution.”
The new deputy vice chancellors will commence their roles on October 1 ahead of the new university commencing operations on January 1, 2026.
International student applications are currently open with local students encouraged to apply from August 2025 for the 2026 academic year.
It comes after branding for the new Adelaide University was revealed in July, with a global marketing company Lippincott involved.
The logo is tilted forward to convey momentum, echoing the angles of the Adelaide Festival Centre, with trademarked ‘North Terrace Purple’ colouring part of the branding, said to represent optimism.
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