Major resignation at top Queensland university

The chancellor at one of Queensland’s biggest universities has handed in her resignation for “personal reasons” after just two years in the top job.

The chancellor of one of Queensland’s major universities has stepped down for “personal reasons” after just over two years in the role.

Queensland University of Technology Chancellor Dr Xiaoling Liu, a former chief executive of Rio Tinto Minerals in the US, has resigned from her role and will step down from the QUT Council on June 30.

QUT vice-chancellor Margaret Sheil made the announcement to students on Tuesday morning, saying Dr Liu was stepping down for “personal reasons”.

Chinese-Australian Dr Xiaoling Liu has stepped down from her role as Chancellor at the Queensland University of Technology.

“Dr Liu is a highly experienced company director with extensive senior executive management and operations expertise in the minerals sector,” Professor Sheil wrote.

“Since her appointment in January 2020, she has provided strong leadership of the Council as we have responded to the challenges and impact of the pandemic, organisational change and most recently the Queensland floods.”

Prof. Sheil said Deputy Chancellor Peter Howes would lead the appointment of a new Chancellor, with the process to begin later this month.

Dr Liu was the recipient of a bombshell open letter from QUT staff last year, who urged her to take action on an alleged “toxic culture” at the university.

Since then executive management have been tasked with “leadership training”, while an internal survey released last October found three quarters of staff didn’t believe senior executives listened to their concerns.