Our academic leaders
Our deans bring expertise from both within and outside academia to their roles. They ensure the highest standards in teaching and research are maintained and lead their academic community’s external engagement.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Dean: Professor Lisa Adkins, BA (Hons) Sussex, PhD Lancaster
Biography: Professor Adkins is an internationally recognized sociologist whose research is in the areas of economic sociology, social theory, and feminist theory. Her current research programme explores the rise and dynamics of the asset economy, and especially the restructuring of social stratification with the growth of asset-based wealth.
Professor Adkins has previously held posts at Goldsmiths, University of London, the University of Manchester, and the Australian National University.
Faculty of Engineering
Dean: Professor Hesham El Gamal
Biography: An information theorist by training, Professor Hesham El Gamal is widely regarded for his work in wireless communications, among the academic community as well as the entrepreneurial and business sectors, for having led 16 US patents, co-founding a successful start-up and influencing wireless standards.
Professor El Gamal obtained a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Maryland and was a key figure in delivering the global aspirations of Ohio State University as the Chair of the Electrical and Computer (ECE) Department and was the Founding Academic Director of the Institute of CyberSecurity and Digital Trust.
During his tenure as Deputy Dean of the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Engineering, Professor El Gamal helped lead the revitalisation of the Faculty’s academic confirmation process and criteria, launched a new mentorship program and introduced a new process for School External Academic Reviews.
The University of Sydney Law School
Interim Head of School and Dean / Professor of Law and Ethics: Professor Rita Shackel BSc LLB GradDipEd MA PhD (Sydney) GradDipLegalPrac (College of Law); Admitted Legal Practitioner (NSW Supreme Court)
Biography: Rita is a graduate of the University of Sydney holding undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in law, science, psychology and education. She has worked as a lawyer, advocate, policy adviser, researcher, academic and consultant in a range of settings including in academe, government and in non-governmental organisations. She has served on numerous government, institutional and professional committees, and delivered professional and continuing education programs to legal practitioners, judicial officers, police, and health and welfare professionals nationally and internationally.
Interim Deputy Head of School and Dean: Professor Jason Harris BA LLB (WSU) LLM (ANU) PhD (Adel) MAICD FGIA FGC FAAL
Biography: Jason teaches and researches in the areas of Corporate Law, Insolvency Law, Commercial Law and Contracts. Jason's research is focused on the public and private regulation of financially distressed companies, including debt restructuring, voluntary administration, corporate governance and directors’ duties during financial distress and the regulation of corporate groups.
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Executive Dean and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Medicine and Health): Professor Robyn Ward AM FAHMS, MBBS (Hons) UNSW, PhD UNSW
Biography: Professor Ward is an academic leader, cancer researcher and medical oncologist. She is a member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), chairs the Commonwealth Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), and serves on the Council and Executive of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
Professor Ward joins us from the University of Queensland, where she was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Executive Dean (Acting) of the Faculty of Medicine. In 2013 she was made Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medical research and patient care in the field of oncology.
Faculty of Science
Dean: Professor Marcel Dinger PhD, Waikato FRCPA
Biography: Marcel Dinger is Professor of Genome Biology and Dean of Science at the University of Sydney. He has 22 years' experience in genomics as both an academic and entrepreneur.
In addition to his research career, Marcel is co-founder of four start-ups in biotechnology and IT. He is a board director of Pryzm Health, a digital health enterprise focused on optimising patient care by empowering physicians with AI-based clinical decision support technology, and GenieUs, a genomics and machine-learning technology start-up dedicated to finding new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. He is President and Executive Committee Chair of the Australasian Genomics Technologies Association (AGTA), the principal body for the promotion of genomics research and technologies in Australasia.
Marcel served as Head of School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences at UNSW Sydney from 2019 to 2022 and is a former Director of the governance board of National Centre for Indigenous Genomics (NCIG), an ANU-based centre focused on using genomics to improve the health and well-being of Australia's First Peoples, and former Director of Scientia Clinical Research, a world-class clinical trials facility with a focus on early stage clinical research.
The University of Sydney Business School
Dean: Professor Leisa Sargent PhD, Toronto GAICD
Biography: With over 30 years of experience, Professor Sargent is a recognised strategic leader who is deeply committed to partnering with the leaders of today to address the urgent need for impact on the critical range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges facing business, from driving productivity through participation, innovation, and entrepreneurship to building healthier, fairer, and more sustainable organisations and industries.
A distinguished scholar in organisational behaviour, Leisa has been published widely in leading journals across the globe and has secured competitive government and industry grants in Australia and overseas.
Leisa previously held concurrent appointments at UNSW, Senior Deputy Dean, Business School and co-DVC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
The University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning
Interim Dean: Professor Donald McNeill MA Glasgow MCD Liverpool PhD Cardiff
Biography: Donald is Professor of Urbanism and an internationally recognised leader in scholarship on the design and governance of cities, with an academic career spanning over 25 years in the UK and Australia.
Appointed to the University of Sydney in early 2020, he served as Associate Dean Research at the School of Architecture, Design and Planning between 2021 and 2024. His teaching specialisms include urban design, urban theory and the history of cities. He has been a Chief Investigator on seven Australian Research Council grants, including a Future Fellowship. He is currently working on ‘The university and the city’ and ‘Indigenising the built environment’ ARC projects.
Donald has previously held academic appointments at Strathclyde, Southampton, King’s College London, and Western Sydney University.
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Head of School and Dean: Professor Anna Reid BMus (Perf) Sydney MA EdAdmin UNE PhD UTS
Biography: An alumna of the University of Sydney, Professor Anna Reid has been a tertiary educator her entire career. She undertakes research in musician identity, creativity theory and practice, cultural heritage and sustainability, and higher education. She is also a cellist and viola da gamba player.