Dr Michael Spence reappointed as Vice-Chancellor at Sydney

Dr Michael Spence has been reappointed for another five-year term as Vice-Chancellor. [Image: Brendan Esposito]

The Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, today announced the reappointment of Dr Michael Spence as the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney.

Her announcement follows the decision of the University's Senate to offer Dr Spence another five-year appointment. His second term will commence on 1 July 2013.

"I am delighted that the University of Sydney has secured the services of Dr Spence for a further period," Professor Bashir said. "He has made a significant contribution to the University and even in a time of fiscal challenge has brought about major improvements, successfully leading our new strategic direction and collaboratively driving change for the better in many areas."

"He has personally guided and supported the development and implementation of an Indigenous education strategy and the social inclusion policy, the launch of a new MBA in the Business School, and brought in record levels of philanthropy for an Australian university," the Chancellor said.

"Under his leadership, the University is increasingly dynamic and repositioned to be a key player in Australian life, proceeding to an even brighter future."

In his first term as Vice-Chancellor Dr Spence initiated a number of significant changes including the development and implementation of a new five-year strategic plan for which he was commended in an independent audit by the federal government's Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) in 2012.

Dr Spence, who took up his position in July 2008, is the University's 25th Vice-Chancellor. He had previously held one of four senior positions at the University of Oxford as head of the Social Sciences Division.

He is a graduate of the University of Sydney with First Class Honours in English, Italian and Law (BA (Hons)'85 and LLB (Hons)'87). He is internationally recognised as a leader in the field of intellectual property theory.

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Media enquiries: Andrew Potter, 02 9351 4138, 0414 998 521, andrew.potter@sydney.edu.au