This year the Australian National University (ANU) will mark 80 years serving our community here in Canberra, across the country and around the world. Scores of academics, professional staff and students have given so much of themselves over these eight decades making a powerful contribution to knowledge, to understanding and to the betterment of our society.
ANU was founded in the wake of two world wars as a beacon of hope, of working together and striving for better as a country. After an incredibly difficult few years, now is the time to recommit to that mission, that optimism and that vision for what the ANU can be.
Staff and students at the ANU and our community have stood together in the face of poor leadership and governance in recent times. Many courageous individuals have spoken up seeking to drive change.
Standing up to people in positions of power and privilege is a scary and difficult thing to do. We’ve seen individuals give evidence in front of a Senate inquiry at great personal cost. We’ve seen not one but two elected representatives resign from Council in protest at poor governance. We’ve seen dozens of Professors, Emeriti and Alumni put their name to letters over the years, and as recently as this week, demanding better governance of our national university. We’ve seen the NTEU and ANUSA steadfastly amplifying these calls from staff and students. The bravery of all these people, backed by the support of our broader community, has forced ANU leaders to take responsibility for these governance and leadership failures. In stepping aside, the Chancellor is acting in the best interests of the ANU.
When things go so terribly wrong at the helm of such an important institution, especially one governed by Commonwealth law, there must be accountability. A number of processes including a review by the higher education regulator, TEQSA, are yet to conclude and need to be allowed to run their course. The voluntary undertaking to conduct an independent process to appoint the next Chancellor is very welcome and will hopefully help rebuild trust, confidence and better governance at our national university.
Thank you to all the people who have shown such courage and commitment to a better future for the ANU.