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The Senate oversees all major decisions concerning the conduct of the University.
The University of Sydney Senate is responsible for staff appointments and welfare, student welfare and discipline, financial matters and the physical and academic development of the University. It also awards all degrees and diplomas and is responsible to the Parliament of NSW.
The Senate's primary responsibilities are:
The statutory powers and responsibilities of Senate are defined by section 16 of the University of Sydney Act 1989 (NSW).
Senate committee structure diagram
As per Part 5 of the University of Sydney (Amendment Act) Rule 1999 (pdf, 321KB), Senate will convene six to eight times per year.
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Friday 3 March 2023 | Friday 17 - Saturday 18 March 2023 (Retreat) | All day |
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Wednesday 3 May 2023 | 1pm |
Tuesday 30 May 2023 | Tuesday 13 June 2023 | 1pm |
Friday 14 July 2023 | Friday 28 July 2023 (Mini Retreat) | All day |
Wednesday 6 September 2023 | Wednesday 20 September 2023 (Reserve) | 1pm |
Wednesday 11 October 2023 | Wednesday 25 October 2023 | 1pm |
Monday 27 November 2023 | Monday 11 December 2023 | 1pm |
The constitution of the Senate is set out in Division 1 of the University of Sydney Act 1989, and Senate is currently comprised of:
More information on our Senate Fellows can be found on their profile pages.
A non-financial annual report is prepared by Senate each year, in line with the University's reporting requirements under New South Wales (NSW) legislation.
The University provides our annual report by the end of April each year to the NSW Government and it is then tabled in both houses of NSW Government by the responsible minister.
Our annual report includes:
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Friday 3 February 2023 | Friday 17 February 2023 | 9:30am - 12.00pm |
Friday 26 May 2023 | Friday 9 June 2023 | 9:30am - 12.00pm |
Monday 10 July 2023 | Monday 24 July 2023 | 1.30pm - 4.00pm |
Tuesday 14 November 2023 | Tuesday 28 November 2023 | 12.00pm - 2.30pm |
All submissions to Senate Committees must first be endorsed by the University Executive
The role of the Building and Estates Committee is to monitor and advise Senate on:
Member | Term of office |
---|---|
Chair |
Peter Scott |
Chancellor |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Deputy Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Vice-Chancellor and President |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Fellow of Senate | Dave Burrows |
Fellow of Senate | Professor Jane Hanrahan |
Fellow of Senate | Yinfeng (Benny) Shen |
External Member | Dianne Leeson |
External Member | Terry Williamson |
Position | Attendee |
---|---|
Vice-President (Operations) | Stephen Phillips |
Chief Financial Officer |
Wayne Andrews |
Chief University Infrastructure Officer |
Greg Robinson |
Chief Governance Officer |
David Pacey |
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Tuesday 21 February 2023 | Tuesday 7 March 2023 | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
Wednesday 12 April 2023 | Wednesday 26 April 2023 | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
Wednesday 17 May 2023 | Wednesday 31 May 2023 | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
Monday 10 July 2023 | Monday 24 July 2023 | 3:30pm - 6:00pm |
Wednesday 16 August 2023 | Wednesday 30 August 2023 (reserve) | 3:30pm - 6.00pm |
Tuesday 26 September 2023 | Tuesday 10 October 2023 | 3:00pm - 5:30pm |
Tuesday 14 November 2023 | Tuesday 28 November 2023 | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
The role of the Finance Committee is to monitor and advise Senate on:
Position | Member |
---|---|
Chair |
Karen Moses |
Chancellor |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Deputy Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Vice-Chancellor and President |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Fellow of Senate | Associate Professor Maryanne Large |
Fellow of Senate | Dr Lisa McIntyre |
Fellow of Senate | Peter Scott |
External Member | John Meacock |
External Member | David Thodey AO |
Other members determined by the chair:
Position | Member |
---|---|
Vice-President (Operations) | Stephen Phillips |
Chief Financial Officer | Wayne Andrews |
Chief Internal Audit Officer | Alison Hamill |
Chief of Staff | Darren Goodsir |
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Wednesday 15 February 2023 | Wednesday 1 March 2023 | 9:30am - 11:30am |
Wednesday 24 May 2023 | Wednesday 7 June 2023 | 8:00am - 10:00am |
Thursday 17 August 2023 | Thursday 31 August 2023 | 8:00am - 10:00am |
Monday 20 November 2023 | Monday 4 December 2023 | 8:00am - 10:00am |
The role of the Investment Subcommittee is to monitor and advise the Finance Committee on:
Postion | Member |
---|---|
Chair | Dr Lisa McIntyre |
Chancellor |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Deputy Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Vice-Chancellor and President |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Chair of the Finance Committee | Karen Moses |
Fellow of Senate | Intentionally vacant given the appointment of three external members |
External Member | John Livanas |
External Member | Gary Brader |
External Member | Nerida Hall |
Vice-President (Operations) | Stephen Phillips |
Chief Investment Officer | Miles Collins |
Chief Financial Officer | Wayne Andrews |
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Friday 3 February 2023 | Friday 17 February 2023 | 2.00pm - 5.00pm |
Wednesday 3 May 2023 | Wednesday 17 May 2023 | 9.30am - 12.30pm |
Monday 3 July 2023 | Monday 17 July 2023 | 9.00am - 12.00pm |
Wednesday 16 August 2023 | Wednesday 30 August (reserve) | 9.00am - 12.00pm |
Wednesday 8 November 2023 | Wednesday 22 November 2023 | 9.00am - 12.00pm |
All submissions to Senate Committees must first be endorsed by the University Executive
The People and Culture Committee monitors and advises Senate on:
Position | Member |
---|---|
Chair |
Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew |
Chancellor |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Deputy Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Vice-Chancellor and President |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Fellow of Senate | Kate McClymont AM |
Fellow of Senate | Jason Yat-sen Li |
External Member | Jenni Smith |
External Member | Susan Ferrier |
Position | Attendee |
---|---|
Vice-President, Operations | Stephen Phillips |
Chief Governance Officer |
David Pacey |
Chief Human Resources Officer |
Karen Haywood |
Chief of Staff | Darren Goodsir |
Any others as determined by the chair when necessary.
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Friday 10 February 2023 | Friday 24 February 2023 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm |
Wednesday 22 March 2023 | Wednesday 5 April 2023 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm |
Friday 30 June 2023 | Friday 14 July 2023 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm |
Friday 13 October 2023 | Friday 27 October 2023 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm |
Friday 10 November 2023 | Friday 24 November 2023 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm |
The role of the Risk and Audit Committee is to:
The Committee monitors and advises Senate on:
Position | Member |
---|---|
Chair |
Jason Yat-Sen Li |
Chancellor |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Deputy Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Vice-Chancellor and President |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Fellow of Senate | Karen Moses |
Fellow of Senate | Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew |
Fellow of Senate | Professor Renae Ryan |
Fellow of Senate | Benjamin Jorgensen |
External Member | Vince Graham AM |
External Member | Rob Warren |
Senate may, on the advice of the committee, or on its own volition, co-opt additional members as required.
Other members determined by the chair:
Position | Attendee |
---|---|
Chief Internal Audit Officer | Alison Hamill |
Chief Governance Officer |
David Pacey |
Chief Health and Safety Officer | Kim Grady |
Chief Risk Officer |
Nisha Padmanabhan |
Chief of Staff | Darren Goodsir |
General Counsel | Olivia Perks |
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Monday 27 February 2023 | Monday 13 March 2023 | 3pm - 4.30pm |
The role of the Nominations Committee is to monitor and advise Senate on:
Position | Members |
---|---|
Deputy Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Chancellor |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Vice-Chancellor and President |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Chair of the Academic Board ex-officio member |
Professor Jane Hanrahan |
Fellow of Senate | Dr Lisa McIntyre |
Fellow of Senate | Peter Scott |
Fellow of Senate | Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew |
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Monday 6 November 2023 | Monday 20 November 2023 | 12.00pm - 1.30pm |
The role of the Honorary Awards Committee is to advise Senate on:
Position | Members |
---|---|
Deputy Chancellor Chair |
Richard Freudenstein |
Chancellor |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Vice-Chancellor and President |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Chair of the Academic Board |
Professor Jane Hanrahan |
Fellow of Senate | Kate McClymont AM |
Fellow of Senate | Professor Renae Ryan |
Senate may, on the advice of the committee, or on its own volition, co-opt additional members as required.