Adelaide University merger shock as co-Vice Chancellors professors Peter Hoj and David Lloyd ruled out of new top job

The chiefs of two South Australian universities have made a call on their future ahead of the new $450m merged higher education institution opening.

Adelaide University co-Vice Chancellors: Professor Peter Hoj and Professor David Lloyd will quit at year’s end. Picture: Dean Martin

The chiefs of two South Australian universities will quit ahead of the opening of the new $450m merged higher education institution they spearheaded to avoid any “conflicts of interest”.

In a surprise decision on Wednesday, Adelaide University co-Vice Chancellors professors Peter Hoj and David Lloyd ruled out a top job move to “remove speculation” about their motives.

They wanted to avoid “any conflicts of interest as aspiring VC candidates” ahead of the merged university opening on January 1, 2026.

In a lengthy note to staff, they said they would not apply for the sole VC role, to focus on change “without any consideration of what it might mean for us as individuals” and “without distractions”.

University of Adelaide vice-chancellor and president Professor Peter Hoj, Premier Peter Malinauskas, University of South Australia vice-chancellor and president Professor David Lloyd. Picture: Paul Starick

Prof Hoj, who earns more than $1m a year as the University of Adelaide boss, and his UniSA vice-chancellor colleague, who was paid at least $1.41m in 2023 including bonuses, said they believed their decision “brings with it a greater degree of clarity”.

“Our firm commitment to one another, as longstanding colleagues, friends and co-VCs since we began this unparalleled journey together more than three years ago, was to ensure the delivery of the new institution, match fit and ready, for passing on,” they said.

They said neither would seek to take on new university’s vice chancellor role but gave no details on future plans.

“That is the foundation of trust which we put in place between us on beginning this journey,” they wrote.

“We recognise that this communication is somewhat unprecedented but hope that it will be taken in the spirit it is intended.”

In a separate statement, Adelaide University Transition Council Chancellor Pauline Carr said it would now conduct a global search for one vice-chancellor would start within weeks.

The pair’s spokeswoman said on Wednesday night they would “see through” the merger transition and stay as VC of their respective organisations until both universities “ceased to exist” early next year.

The contentious merger between the universities of Adelaide and South Australia was given the green light in July 2023 after being backed by both of its councils and almost $450m in taxpayer funds.

Laws allowing the merger passed parliament in November 2023.

Originally published as Adelaide University merger shock as co-Vice Chancellors professors Peter Hoj and David Lloyd ruled out of new top job