Techno-anthropologist Genevieve Bell to become ANU’s first woman vice-chancellor

Techno-anthropologist Genevieve Bell will replace Brian Schmidt as vice-chancellor.

Genevieve Bell will be the Australian National University’s next vice-chancellor. Picture: Andrew Meares

Techno-anthropologist Genevieve Bell will be the first woman to lead the Australian National University, taking over from Nobel prizewinner Brian Schmidt when he steps down at the end of the year.

ANU chancellor Julie Bishop said Professor Bell, who presently leads the university’s School of Cybernetics, was “a compelling and passionate leader, with a deep understanding of the university’s distinctive mission, remarkable legacy, vibrant culture and tremendous assets”.

Professor Bell built her career in Silicon Valley working at chipmaker Intel where she rose to be a vice president and senior fellow, and brought anthropological expertise to investigating the impact of technology on society.

This led to her seeing an opportunity to build a new applied science to give humans pathways to deal with the rise of artificial intelligence.

In 2017 Professor Schmidt hired her to the ANU where Professor Bell put her ideas into practice by founding the university’s first innovation institute, the Autonomy, Agency and Assurance Institute (3Ai). She expanded the institute into the School of Cybernetics in 2021 and, as well as leading it, she also served as interim dean of the ANU’s College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics in 2022.

Announcing Professor Bell’s appointment as vice-chancellor, Ms Bishop said she had “an extensive and distinguished track record”.

“Genevieve offers great leadership and strategic capabilities, which will be critical as the university addresses its distinctive opportunities and responsibilities as Australia’s national university,” she said.

“It was clear to our selection panel that Genevieve aligns with the university community’s values and vision for ANU. I’m excited that she will be the first woman to hold this position in our history.”

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare welcomed Professor Bell’s appointment, saying that she had positioned the discipline of cybernetics “as a vital tool to help navigate societal transformations”. He said she was an eminent Australian who would lead ANU with distinction.

Outgoing ANU vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt.

Professor Schmidt, who decided to return to teaching and research at the ANU after eight years as vice-chancellor, said it was with “great pleasure” that he was handing over leadership to Professor Bell.

“She is someone who is both a leading intellectual and deeply committed to the values of the university and I know she will do a superb job as vice-chancellor,” he said.

Ms Bishop paid tribute to Professor Schmidt who won the 2011 Nobel prize for physics for his research, performed at ANU, which revealed that the expansion of the universe was accelerating – key evidence for the existence of mysterious dark energy which was driving space apart.

“Across the university, his leadership has strengthened collegiality, championed interdisciplinary practice and reinforced shared values and behaviours. We’re delighted he will resume teaching and research in astronomy, at the ANU Mount Stromlo Observatory,” Ms Bishop said.

Professor Bell will relinquish her seat on the Commonwealth Bank board, where she has been a director since 2019.