Curtin University appoints new Vice-Chancellor

Miri – 17 October 2013 – The Council of Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, has appointed Professor Deborah Terry as its next Vice-Chancellor, commencing in February 2014.

Originally from Western Australia, Professor Terry has had a distinguished career at the University of Queensland since 1990, initially as an internationally recognised scholar, before progressing through a number of senior leadership roles to the position of Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Curtin Chancellor Mr. Colin Beckett said the University conducted an extensive international search for the position of Vice-Chancellor and the Curtin Council was very pleased Professor Terry had accepted the role.

Professor Terry is well positioned to lead Curtin in the next stage of our growth and towards our vision of being a recognised international leader in research and education,” Mr Beckett said.

“Her many years of senior leadership experience at the University of Queensland – a world top 100 university – will place her in an excellent position to strengthen Curtin’s ability as a research-intensive university, to lead in innovative education, and evolve as an agile, responsive organisation,” he added.

Professor Terry said that she was delighted to be taking up the position of Vice-Chancellor at Curtin University.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to have been selected to lead Western Australia’s largest university through the next exciting period of its development,” she said.

“I am very much looking forward to working together with the management team to ensure that Curtin achieves its ambitious vision and is positioned for future success in all domains.”

Professor Terry completed her PhD in Social Psychology at the Australian National University.

Her leadership career commenced in 2000 when she was appointed Head of School of Psychology at the University of Queensland, before moving on to the positions of Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Pro Vice-Chancellor Teaching and Learning, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Teaching and Learning, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

She was Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Queensland from January to October 2012.

Professor Terry succeeds Professor Jeanette Hacket who retired from the position of Curtin Vice-Chancellor in August after seven years in the role and more than 30 years of service at Curtin.

Professor Colin Stirling, who has acted in the position of Curtin Vice-Chancellor since August, will continue to lead the University until Professor Terry commences in 2014.

Mr. Beckett said Curtin had been extremely fortunate to have had excellent leaders in Professors Hacket and Stirling, and the University looked forward to more outstanding and energetic leadership under Professor Terry.

Curtin is a university with a global outlook with well-established campuses in Sarawak and Singapore. It has more than 46,000 students studying all over the world, including over 10,000 international students from 120 countries studying at its Perth, Sydney and other Australian locations.

Professor Deborah Terry, Curtin University’s new Vice-Chancellor.

For more details, contact Julia Nicol, Director Public and Community Relations,
08 9266 7711; 0409 202 134; j.k.nicol@curtin.edu.au