Alex Zelinsky is the University of Newcastle’s next vice-chancellor

Chief Defence Scientist Alex Zelinsky will be the next vice-chancellor of the University of Newcastle.

Chief Defence Scientist Alex Zelinksy will be the next vice-chancellor of the University of Newcastle.

In today’s Higher Ed Daily brief: Uni of Newcastle’s new vice-chancellor, ANU award, Studiosity’s new hire

Zelinsky selected as VC

Chief Defence Scientist Alex Zelinsky will be the next vice-chancellor of the University of Newcastle after its current leader, Caroline McMillen, steps down in November.

Newcastle’s chancellor Paul Jeans said the Dr Zelinsky had a rare combination of experience in research, education, industry and start-ups which would “help our university further collaborate and connect across the region and the globe”.

“The University of Newcastle is a leader in equity, indigenous education, research and innovation and has risen strongly in key university rankings in a very competitive global environment,” Mr Jeans said. “We’re confident that Dr Zelinsky will continue the university’s successful trajectory in all of these areas and further accelerate our position as a local and global asset.”

Dr Zelinsky, a computer scientist, systems engineer and roboticist, was previously at the CSIRO and, prior to that, at the Australian National University where he was professor of systems engineering. He was also co-founder and CEO of Seeing Machines, a tech company which developed computer vision systems.

Award for Middle East scholar

ANU lecturer Raihan Ismail has been awarded this year’s prestigious Max Crawford Medal for her outstanding scholarly achievement in the humanities. Dr Ismail, who has been a lecturer at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies since 2014, published a highly regarded book The Saudi Clerics and Shi’a Islam, two years ago through Oxford University Press.

Acting ANU vice-chancellor Mike Calford said Dr Ismail had a very bright future ahead of her. “In her short but illustrious career, Dr Ismail has demonstrated immense capacity to analyse and evaluate the issues of the Middle East region and inform and engage the Australian public on these critically important matters,” he said.

Ana Tanasoca from the University of Canberra was named a co-recipient of this year’s Max Crawford Medal.

Studiosity hires ex-Macquarie provost

Former Macquarie University provost Judyth Sachs has joined online study support company Studiosity as chief academic officer. Professor Sachs is notable for founding Macquarie’s PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) program which offers every bachelor degree student at the university a “real-world” learning experience.

Studiosity said that, in her new role, Professor Sachs would be responsible for ensuring the academic support which the company offered students of its partner universities was of the expected academic standards. She will also oversee research collaborations with partner universities.