Vice-Chancellor to conclude his term in 2025

University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor, Professor Duncan Maskell, has announced he will step down in early 2025.

Since joining the University of Melbourne in October 2018, Professor Maskell has led the institution with great distinction through the extraordinary challenge of the global pandemic, guiding the institution towards a position of stability and continuing success.

During this time, the University has continued to thrive under Professor Maskell’s leadership, maintaining its position as Australia’s highest ranked university in the three major global ranking surveys.

Professor Maskell’s tenure has been characterised by many things, built on foundational principles of widening participation, equality of opportunity, and a drive for excellence in teaching and research.

The recently launched Narrm Scholarships program demonstrates Professor Maskell’s determination to increase the number of students from under-represented backgrounds at the University.

He has been a strong advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, and has ensured that the University has committed to transparency and clear, safe processes in tackling sexual misconduct.

His deep engagement with Indigenous knowledges and truth-telling has supported the development of the University’s most comprehensive and ambitious Indigenous strategy to date, and the forthcoming publication of the first volume of the history of the University’s relationship with Indigenous people.

Under Professor Maskell’s leadership, the University is developing the Australian Institute of Infectious Disease (AIID) in Parkville, a $650 million project supported by the Victorian State Government to future-proof the national effort to tackle pandemics and infectious diseases.

Following the launch of the AIID, the University was also the beneficiary of the largest philanthropic donation to medical research for the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics, to be based in Parkville.

Professor Maskell’s commitment to the development of the entrepreneurship system at the University, and in Melbourne more generally, led to the University becoming the first in Australia to introduce an end-to-end funding platform to support research commercialisation.

Chancellor Jane Hansen AO said history will show Professor Maskell led the University with distinction through one of the most challenging periods in the institution’s history.

“The pandemic was the greatest test of any Vice Chancellor’s leadership,” Ms Hansen said.

“Not only did Professor Maskell ensure that the University survived, but he has ensured that it has continued to advance its teaching and research excellence and enhance its world-class reputation.

“Professor Maskell’s advocacy for increasing the number of students from under-represented backgrounds through Narrm Scholarships is a hallmark of his time as the University of Melbourne’s Vice Chancellor, along with his work to support ongoing investment in research.

“I look forward to working with Professor Maskell in his final year at the University and acknowledging his full contribution closer to the end of his term.”

Commenting on his decision to conclude his term at the University of Melbourne, Professor Maskell said:

‘It has been an honour to be the custodian of Australia’s top university through such extraordinary times. I am proud of everyone in the University community who has worked together to ensure that the University of Melbourne remains one of the world’s great universities.

“I still have a lot to achieve this year and I look forward to working with the Chancellor and my colleagues to deliver on the University’s strategic agenda.”

The University will now commence a global search for the next Vice-Chancellor.