She succeeds University of South Australia Vice-Chancellor and President Professor David Lloyd.
Professor Evans studied law, first at the University of Melbourne and then as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford. Prior to her appointment at Griffith in 2019, she held senior leadership positions at the University of Melbourne, and she is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
Throughout her career, Professor Evans has promoted the importance of universities combining excellence in teaching and research with a commitment to social justice and inclusion.
She has been a member of the UA Board since 2023.
Today’s AGM also confirmed the appointment of the following new Board members:
- Professor Rufus Black – Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Tasmania
- Professor Harlene Hayne CNZM – Vice-Chancellor, Curtin University
- Professor Andrew Parfitt – Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Technology Sydney
The continuing Board members are:
- Professor Attila Brungs – Vice-Chancellor and President, University of New South Wales
- Professor Renee Leon PSM – Vice-Chancellor and President, Charles Sturt University
- Professor Adam Shoemaker – Vice-Chancellor and President, Victoria University
- Professor Zlatko Skrbis – Vice-Chancellor and President, Australian Catholic University
- Mr Luke Sheehy – Chief Executive Officer, Universities Australia
The Chair and Board appointments are effective immediately.
Attributable to Professor David Lloyd:
“It has been an honour and a privilege to work for our sector as Chair of Universities Australia for the last two years and as a member of the Board for six years before that.
“I’m incredibly lucky to have served with such wonderful colleagues around the Board table. Together, we’ve weathered storms and endeavoured to chart a unified course for the sector.
“Thank you to those who I have served alongside and to our members for placing your trust in me to lead the sector through what has been such a defining period for higher education in Australia.
“The Universities Accord gives me a lot of hope, and I will be watching our future progress as a sector with great interest and optimism. We are now in Carolyn’s very capable hands.”
Attributable to Professor Carolyn Evans:
“It’s both an exciting and challenging time to be taking over the leadership of Australia’s university sector.
“David has done a remarkable job as Chair during what has been a testing couple of years, and I want to acknowledge his significant contribution to Universities Australia and our sector over a long period.
“Universities are critical to Australia’s future, and I am eager to work with our members, industry colleagues and parliamentarians to make our sector stronger for the benefit of all Australians.
“Now more than ever, our sector needs reliable and proper policy and financial settings to continue to provide the skills, knowledge and innovation our country needs to grow and prosper in the years ahead.”
