University of Southern Queensland leader stands down

Just days after staff passed a vote of no confidence in her leadership, a long-serving vice-chancellor has retired.

University of Southern Queensland Vice-Chancellor Geraldine Mackenzie. Picture: Christine Schindler

University of Southern Queensland vice-chancellor Geraldine Mackenzie has quit following staff fury over dozens of job cuts.

Her retirement was announced just days after angry staff passed a vote of no confidence in her leadership at the university, which plans to slash $32m in costs.

Professor Mackenzie, who was paid more than $690,000 last year, said it had been a privilege to lead UniSQ since 2017.

“Guiding UniSQ through the pandemic was a true test of resilience and I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and the broader university community,” she said on Tuesday.

“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together, particularly in strengthening UniSQ’s research and academic offerings, which have positioned us as a leader in key areas like allied health and space innovation.”

UniSQ provost Karen Nelson has been appointed acting vice-chancellor.

The university’s chancellor, John Dornbusch, praised Professor Mackenzie’s leadership in producing “leading research and graduate outcomes”.

The resignation came within days of UniSQ announcing redundancies in a cost-cutting drive, citing financial pressures from rising costs and government cuts to international student enrolments.

The National Tertiary Education Union UniSQ branch passed an unprecedented vote of no confidence in the vice-chancellor and senior executive on Friday.

The branch said the Toowoomba-based university already had cut 72 jobs.

UniSQ’s latest annual report shows it lost $26m last year, despite reaping $44m from international student fees.