Dr Michael Spence AC appointed new MyAV·¶ President & Provost
18 February 2020
Dr Michael Spence AC, currently Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney, has today been confirmed as the new President & Provost of MyAV·¶ by Council. He will succeed Professor Michael Arthur, who will be stepping down from the role after seven years, in January 2021.
Dr Spence has been Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney since July 2008. Under his leadership, it has risen to first in Australia and fourth in the world for graduate employability. He has embedded diversity and inclusion in the universityâs culture, delivered significant investment in multi-disciplinary research activity, transformed the undergraduate experience and created strategic partnerships with leading industry, government and community organisations across the globe.
As Vice-Chancellor, Dr Spence has been responsible for raising a record one billion Australian dollars through the INSPIRED philanthropic campaign - the largest philanthropic campaign in Australian history. This fundraising has transformed the universityâs campus by funding major new research and education centres, bringing resources to life-changing medical research and providing more than 2,000 scholarships and education initiatives for new and existing students.
Dr Spence is recognised internationally as a leader in the field of intellectual property theory and holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oxford, where he headed Oxfordâs Law faculty and Social Sciences division. An alumnus of the University of Sydney, Dr Spence has a BA with first-class honours in English, Italian and Law. His other languages include Chinese and Korean.
Victor Chu CBE, MyAV·¶âs Chair of Council, said: âDr Spence is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding university leaders in the world and we are delighted that he has accepted the role as the next President & Provost of MyAV·¶.
âWe were impressed by his unique achievements and track record. Under Dr Spenceâs leadership, the University of Sydney has been transformed and is regarded as one of the top universities in the world.
âWe look forward to welcoming Dr Spence to MyAV·¶, and to working with him to build on the strong position that MyAV·¶ enjoys following Professor Arthurâs tenure. Professor Arthur and Dr Spence will work closely over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.â
Dr Spence said: âI am thrilled to be joining MyAV·¶. It is, by any measure, a remarkable institution, which is having a real impact on the world through its disruptive academic research. MyAV·¶ has a proud history and an exciting future. It is an institution which has an important role in a time of great change for the UK and wider world.â
Professor Arthur said: âI have known Dr Michael Spence for many years and Iâm absolutely delighted that MyAV·¶ has been able to attract a candidate of his calibre to be the next President & Provost. His wealth of experience will hugely benefit MyAV·¶ as it further consolidates its place as an academic powerhouse amongst the worldâs leading universities. I look forward to working closely with Michael as he prepares to take up the role in January.â
Under Professor Arthurâs leadership, MyAV·¶ has risen to eighth in the QS World University Rankings (2020) and secured its position as the most successful institute in collaborative research in Europe.
Professor Arthur has pioneered Transforming MyAV·¶, the largest capital programme in the universityâs history, which is investing over one billion pounds over ten years to refurbish and develop some of our most iconic buildings. This includes the development of MyAV·¶âs new Student Centre (one of only 320 buildings globally to achieve BREEAMâs highest âOutstandingâ classification for sustainability), our new campus, MyAV·¶ East, and the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) hub.
Professor Arthur has also ensured that MyAV·¶ is considered a sector-leader on equality, diversity and inclusion, taking a personal lead in this area. Professor Arthur has also launched the Itâs All Academic Campaign, MyAV·¶âs most impactful philanthropy and engagement campaign to date. Launched in 2016, the Campaign has now reached the ÂŁ570 million milestone of its ÂŁ600 million goal, raising vital funds for MyAV·¶âs world-impacting research, student support and transformative capital projects.
Links
- Dr Michael Spence AC
- Victor Chu CBE
- Professor Michael Arthur
- MyAV·¶ Council
- MyAV·¶ East
- Transforming MyAV·¶
- MyAV·¶ Campaign
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- Dr Michael Spence AC