Australian National University appoints Julie Bishop as chancellor, taking over from Gareth Evans

Former foreign minister will be next ANU chancellor, taking over from Gareth Evans.

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop will be the next chancellor of the Australian National University, taking over from Gareth Evans at the end of the year.

Julie Bishop with Gareth Evans at Australian National University.

Announcing the appointment, ANU pro chancellor Naomi Flutter said Ms Bishop’s credentials for the role were exceptional and she praised one of her signature initiatives as Foreign Minister, setting up the New Colombo Plan to support Australian undergraduate students to study and do internships overseas.

Ms Bishop will be the university’s first female chancellor, a position similar to the chairman of a corporate board, and will chair the university’s top governing body, its 15 member council.

She will be appointed for a three-year term from January 1 next year, following Mr Evans (another former Foreign Minister) who has served as ANU chancellor since 2010.

Ms Bishop, who left federal parliament at the election in May after more than 20 years, said she was “delighted and honoured to take on the role’’.

I am delighted and honoured to take on role of Chancellor of Australian National University and look forward to working closely with the University community 👩‍🎓https://t.co/oOk8wP2gfw @ANUmedia pic.twitter.com/wFtOSZFu7K

— Julie Bishop (@HonJulieBishop) August 1, 2019

In an email to staff, Ms Flutter said Ms Bishop knew ANU well and had a deep interest in education.

“In Julie, I know we will have a compelling and effective advocate for our university including with the Australian government,” she said. “As Australia’s foreign minister, she always represented our national interests strongly, navigating often sensitive foreign policy issues.”

Ms Bishop said she was looking forward to working with the university to support and further the national interest.

“The world is facing unprecedented change,” she said in a video message.

“ANU is playing a vital role in the research and development to create a better world, and is equipping our students withthe skills and abilities and knowledge to make a significant contribution to that world.”

Mr Evans has been chancellor of the university since 2010.

The decision to make Ms Bishop his replacement was made after staff were invited to “chancellorship forums” to provide insights into the kind of leader they wanted.

“You highlighted the need for an eminent, distinguished individual, befitting our university’s stature,” Ms Flutter told staff. “It was clear you wanted someone who understands our distinctive role as the national university ... and someone who appreciates the transformative power of universities, through their teaching and research.

“In Julie, we have such a person.”

With AAP