The public surge of antisemitism on Australian university campuses has brought the requirements for effective leadership of Australian higher education into the spotlight. The usual defensive responses of chancellors and vice chancellors are now threatening university reputations while not addressing the crisis on their campuses.

According to Jillian Segal, the government-appointed envoy against antisemitism, “The situation is very grave … Universities are in denial about the seriousness of the situation and have failed to recognise the embedded culture of antisemitism causing Jewish students to be traumatised, feel unsafe, stay away from campus.” She concluded that “the culture in important institutions has caused the institutions to deviate from their purposes and not serve society”.