CQUni boss Jodie Duignan-George to lead Charles Darwin University’s new London campus

A Cairns university executive has accepted an international role, spearheading the opening of a new Australian campus in a major capital city.

CQUni associate vice-president Jodie Duignan-George will step down from her role in early 2026 to become associate vice-chancellor at Charles Darwin University’s new London campus. Photo: Nuno Avendano

After a decade as Central Queensland University associate vice-president, Jodie Duignan-George will take on a new role as Charles Darwin University’s associate vice-chancellor at its new London campus set to open in 2026.

“I wasn’t looking for an opportunity, it came to me, and it actually took me a little while to decide to go,” she said.

Ms Duignan-George, who moved to Cairns with her family 30 years ago, was appointed to her CQUni role by then vice-chancellor Scott Bowman at the Cairns campus when it opened in 2014.

CQUni associate vice-president Far North Queensland region Jodie Duignan-George will move to London early next year to become associate vice-chancellor at Charles Darwin University’s new London campus. Photo: Nuno Avendano

“I established the CQU campus in Cairns … and at the time Scott was the vice-chancellor, and I had worked with him at James Cook University, so he recruited me to establish the campus here,” she said.

“(He) moved on to become the vice-chancellor of Charles Darwin University, they decided to open up the campus in London, and he gave me a call and said, ‘I need you to open it for me’.”

Ms Duignan-George, who also sits on community committees, said it took her a while to decide to move given her strong ties to the Far North.

“I ended up going to uni here, got married, raised children and I’ve done a lot. Basically I’m a product of the region,” she said.

“I’ve had so many opportunities in this region from people coming into town who I’ve had the opportunity to learn from, and this town has given me so much, so in the last 10 years or so, I’ve been really focused on trying to give back.”

Among her proudest achievements with CQUni was developing a strong workplace culture and the development of a new, purpose-built campus.

“I’m a social scientist by background, so for me, everything’s about people,” she said.

CQUni associate vice-president Jodie Duignan-George has been with the university since it opened its Abbott St campus in Cairns in 2014. Photo: Nuno Avendano

“It’s about the relationships you develop and staff culture is a very big thing for me, so I was very proud of the culture that we established and … the staff continue to perpetuate that, so I’m proud of them for that.”

While she’s excited about the move to London, Ms Duignan-George said she intended to return to the tropics in a long-term capacity.

“It was just the right time in my life to be able to go and try something different – I’m not selling my home, so I have every intention of returning, and hopefully I will be able to have some learnings that I can bring back with me,” she said.

“But these things tend to only come around once, and I suppose I’ve always lived my life that way, where you’ve got to seize the opportunities while they’re there or if you don’t, are you going to regret it?

“So that’s how I made the decision. Am I gonna regret (turning it down)? Probably.”

Ms Duignan-George will officially leave her role with CQUni in March 2026, before moving to the UK.

“I’m really happy because when we get there it’ll be spring, so we’ll have missed out on winter and gone straight into the lovely, warm weather,” she said.

Originally published as CQUni boss Jodie Duignan-George to lead Charles Darwin University’s new London campus