Mark Scott appointed vice-chancellor of Sydney University

Mark Scott, currently the head of the NSW Department of Education, will take over as vice-chancellor at the University of Sydney in July.

Former ABC boss Mark Scott will take over as vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney in July on a $982,800 salary. Picture: Jane Dempster

Former ABC boss Mark Scott will be the new vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney.

Mr Scott, currently the head of the NSW Department of Education, will take over in July on a $982,800 salary, 40 per cent less than his predecessor Michael Spence’s $1.62m package.

However he will be eligible for a 20 per cent performance bonus which could take his annual remuneration to an upper limit of $1.15m.

The university’s chancellor Belinda Hutchinson said Mr Scott was “a highly effective, respected and successful senior leader of large and complex public facing, public sector institutions”.

Mr Scott, who was originally a teacher ¬ but whose career also included periods as a political adviser, a journalist, a media executive and a bureaucrat – said it was “great privilege to be given this opportunity to come back to the University of Sydney as vice-chancellor at such a critical time”.

Mr Scott did his original arts and teaching qualifications at the university.

“I want our staff and students to know how valued they are, and I look forward to working closely with them and with industry, community and government to secure our future and solve the world’s most pressing challenges,” he said.

Ms Hutchinson said that Mr Scott had demonstrated, including in roles as ABC managing director and secretary of the NSW Education Department, “a deep commitment to serving the Australian community and a strong track record of ‘leadership for good’.”

“When we asked our community what kind of vice-chancellor they wanted, they told us that they wanted someone that could relate to all levels of the institution with a track record of strategic leadership in complex environments, an extensive record in government, industry and community relations, strategic and financial acumen and the demonstrated capacity to lead and dynamically lift the performance of an organisation,” Ms Hutchinson said.

“Mark ticks all those boxes and more. It’s wonderful that after searching the world we found the right person in Sydney who, as an alumnus, already has a special connection to our university.”