Professor Dewar – currently a Deputy Chair of Universities Australia – will succeed The University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry AO in the role from 25 May 2021.

Professor Terry welcomed the election of Professor Dewar as the incoming Chair of the sector’s peak body.

“John Dewar is an excellent choice. He brings unrivalled knowledge and leadership to this crucial role at a pivotal time for the university sector.”

“He will be an outstanding advocate for the sector, as we work to play the fullest part in national recovery.”

Professor Dewar thanked Professor Terry for her steadfast leadership of Universities Australia during a challenging two years.

“We were particularly fortunate to have Debbie Terry at the helm.”

“In such challenging times, she has been a compelling and powerful advocate for universities, their staff and students during a period of major upheaval.”

“She has overseen the sector’s response to bushfires, drought, global pandemic, lockdowns and border closures.”

Professor Dewar is an internationally-known family law specialist and researcher. He is a graduate of the University of Oxford, where he was also a Fellow of Hertford College from 1990 to 1995. He taught at the Universities of Lancaster and Warwick in the UK and worked for the London law firms Allen & Overy and Farrer & Co.

Professor Dewar came to Australia in 1995 and held senior leadership positions at Griffith University and The University of Melbourne, where he was Provost, before taking up the position of Vice‐Chancellor of La Trobe University in 2012.

The full Universities Australia Board from 25 May will include new members:

• Professor Attila Brungs
  Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Technology Sydney; and
• Professor Duncan Maskell
  Vice-Chancellor, The University of Melbourne.

Along with reappointed or continuing members:

• Professor John Dewar AO (Chair)
  Vice-Chancellor and President, La Trobe University
• Professor Steve Chapman
  Vice-Chancellor and President, Edith Cowan University
• Professor David Lloyd
  Vice-Chancellor and President, University of South Australia
• Professor Geraldine Mackenzie
  Vice-Chancellor, University of Southern Queensland
• Professor Brian Schmidt AC
  Vice-Chancellor, The Australian National University
• Professor Margaret Shiel AO
  Vice-Chancellor, Queensland University of Technology
• Ms Catriona Jackson
  Chief Executive, Universities Australia.