Genevieve Bell, the high-profile new boss of Australian National University, allegedly told senior staff she would “find you out and hunt you down” if they leaked confidential information about planned $250 million budget cuts amid deep unease in the prestigious institution’s ranks over her proposed restructure.

Senior ANU staff said Professor Bell, a cultural anthropologist-turned Silicon Valley intellectual who took over as vice chancellor in January, is presiding over “a culture of fear”, with people too scared to voice their opinions about her overhaul of the university in case of retribution.