CDU Vice-Chancellor Simon Maddocks has resigned after more than six years in the role

CHARLES Darwin University vice-chancellor Simon Maddocks has resigned after seven years of leading the education provider.

CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Maddocks

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CHARLES Darwin University Vice-Chancellor Simon Maddocks will resign to be with his family after seven years leading the education provider.

Yesterday, Professor Maddocks announced he planned to leave CDU at the end of the year, after becoming Vice-Chancellor in 2014.

In a video to staff, he said the coronavirus pandemic had made him reassess his priorities.

“In April this year my wife and I welcomed the arrival of two beautiful grandsons,” he said.

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“My wife was lucky enough to cross the border into South Australia just before borders closed. Vicky was then able to offer support to both of our daughters as they each brought their children into the world.

“I stayed in Darwin and we remained separated for five months.

“Recently our family was reunited, and I was able to meet Hamish and Noah for the first time.

“ … the five months I spent alone, separated from my family gave me cause to pause and consider my own priorities. I realised my long term future needed to be a little closer to them. So discussions regarding the precise timing of my departure began.

“It is my honour to step down from the job I love – at the right time – to take advantage of the change across the university sector and allow the recruitment of the highest quality candidate to the position of Vice-Chancellor at CDU.”

Prof Maddocks’ resignation coincides with the beginning of construction on CDU’s $250m Darwin CBD campus, which is part of the three-tier government Darwin City Deal.

CDU Chancellor Paul Henderson thanked Prof Maddocks and said the impact of COVID-19 made the timing appropriate for a new Vice-Chancellor.

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“I want to thank Simon for seven years of hard work that has put CDU in a strong position – he has led a significant restructure of the university which is nearing completion. Simon will leave CDU not long after turning the sod at the site of the new CDU city campus,” he said.

“Simon has a true passion for education and for CDU, and he has set the university up perfectly for its next phase of growth.”

Prof Maddocks has a long career in Higher Education, TAFE and in the public service, and has established an international research reputation in agricultural and biomedical science.

His tenure will end on December 31.