John McVeigh announced as new University of Southern Queensland’s Chancellor
A well-known identity with years of political service and a lifetime of dedication to agribusiness and sustainability has been named the University of Southern Queensland’s new Chancellor.
Toowoomba
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After years of dedication to agribusiness, policymaking and regional development to the Darling Downs, a familiar name has taken up the position of the Chancellor of the University of Southern Queensland.
On Tuesday the university announced Dr John McVeigh will take over the role as Chancellor starting from December 1, 2024.
“I’m thrilled to be elected now and am looking forward to taking on the role in December this year and bringing all of my knowledge and experience to work with the council as a team,” he said.
Hardly an unfamiliar name to the region, Dr McVeigh served 12 years in Toowoomba politics, as councillor, state member and finally federal member, before he stepped down in 2020.
Since then he has taken leadership roles in prominent economic organisations such as the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, Regional Economies of Excellence and the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland and Institute of Resilient regions.
He said he had “big shoes to fill” in taking over after the presiding Chancellor John Dornbush who had seen the university grow in the last 10 years.
He never thought he would end up being Chancellor of the university he first graduated from and he was looking forward to growing the resiliency and sustainability of the region, he said.
“It has been the focus of my entire career, both personally as a kid who grew up on a grain farm out here on the Darling Downs, and professionally, academically, and politically for economic development, health and wellbeing, heritage and culture of regional areas,” Dr McVeigh said.
Vice Chancellor Geraldine Mackenzie said it was both a time of reflection and planning for a vision for the university and to consider opportunities, despite the setbacks of the pandemic.
“It’s a time to reset and look at the university as it is now and where we want to be in the next 10 years, because this is a chance for us to think big,” Ms Mackenzie said.
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Originally published as John McVeigh announced as new University of Southern Queensland’s Chancellor
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