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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.
The Senate is scheduled to meet eight (8) times in 2022.
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.
The role of the Building and Estates Committee is to monitor and advise Senate on:
- matters of planning, development and general oversight of the management of the University’s real property and physical infrastructure with particular reference to:
- major capital developments;
- infrastructure management;
- operating resource allocation;
- sustainability;
- effective risk management in the areas covered by the Committee’s Terms of Reference; and
- conducting reviews in the areas covered by the Committee’s Terms of Reference.
Full terms of reference (pdf, 91.3KB)
Member |
Term of office |
Peter Scott |
Current term as Chair Previous terms as Chair Aug 2016 – Dec 2017 |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Current term as Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Current term as Deputy Chancellor Previous term as Deputy Chancellor |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Current term as Vice-Chancellor |
Three Fellows of Senate are appointed by Senate after consultation by the chair of the committee with the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor.
Member |
Term of office |
Dave Burrows |
Current term Previous term |
Professor Jane Hanrahan |
Current term |
Gabrielle Stricker-Phelps |
Current term |
A minimum of two and up to three external members with appropriate professional expertise and experience appointed by Senate on the recommendation of the chair of the committee.
Member |
Term of office |
Dianne Leeson |
Current term Previous terms Jun 2019 – May 2021 Jun 2017 – May 2019 Mar 2016 – May 2017 |
Terry Williamson |
Current term Previous term May 2018 – May 2020 |
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:
Stephen Phillips |
Wayne Andrews |
Greg Robinson |
David Pacey |
The role of the Finance Committee is to monitor and advise Senate on:
Full terms of reference (pdf, 99.9KB)
The chair is appointed by Senate from the Fellows of Senate (not a staff or student Fellow).
Member |
Term of office |
Karen Moses |
Current term as Chair Previous term as Chair Jan 2018 – May 2020 |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Current term as Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Current term as Deputy Chancellor Previous term as Deputy Chancellor |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Current term as Vice-Chancellor |
Three Fellows of Senate are appointed by Senate after consultation by the chair of the committee with the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor.
Associate Professor Maryanne Large |
Current term Previous term |
Lachlan Finch |
Current term |
Dr Lisa McIntyre |
Current term Previous term |
Peter Scott |
Current term Previous term |
A minimum of two and up to three external members with appropriate professional expertise and experience appointed by Senate on the recommendation of the chair of the committee.
Member |
Term of office |
Matthew Lunn |
Current term Previous terms Jun 2019 – May 2021 May 2017 – May 2019 August 2015 – May 2017 |
John Meacock |
Current term |
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:
Stephen Phillips |
Wayne Andrews |
Martin McLoughlin |
Darren Goodsir |
The role of the Investment Subcommittee is to monitor and advise the Finance Committee on:
Full terms of reference (pdf, 93.7KB)
Chair appointed by Senate (not a staff or student Fellow).
Member |
Term of office |
Dr Lisa McIntyre |
Current term as Chair 1 Jun 2022 - 31 May 2024 |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Current term as Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Current term as Deputy Chancellor Previous term as Deputy Chancellor |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Current term as Vice-Chancellor |
Karen Moses |
Current term as Chair of the Finance Committee Previous term as Chair of the Finance Committee |
intentionally vacant
Member |
|
A minimum of one and up to two external members with appropriate professional expertise and experience appointed by Senate on the recommendation of the chair of the subcommittee.
Member |
Term of office |
John Livanas |
Current term Previous term |
Gary Brader |
Current term |
Nerida Hall |
Current term |
Senate may, on the advice of the committee, or on its own volition, co-opt additional members as required.
Others determined by the Chair
Stephen Phillips |
Miles Collins |
Wayne Andrews |
The People and Culture Committee monitors and advises Senate on:
Full terms of reference (pdf, 99.9KB)
Chair is appointed by Senate from the Fellows of Senate (not a staff or student Fellow).
Member |
Term of office |
Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew |
Current term as Chair Previous term as Chair |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Current term as Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Current term as Deputy Chancellor Previous term as Deputy Chancellor |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Current term as Vice-Chancellor |
Three Fellows of Senate are appointed by Senate after consultation by the chair of the committee with the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor.
Member |
Term of office |
Kate McClymont AM |
Current term Previous term Previous terms as member of the Nominations and Appointments Committee |
Jason Yat-sen Li |
Current term Previous term |
A minimum of two and up to three external members with appropriate professional expertise and experience appointed by Senate on the recommendation of the chair of the committee.
Member |
Term of office |
Jenni Smith |
Current term Previous term |
Stephen Phillips |
Karen Haywood Chief Human Resources Officer |
David Pacey Chief Governance Officer |
Darren Goodsir Chief of Staff |
The role of the Risk and Audit Committee is to:
The Committee monitors and advises Senate on:
Full terms of reference (pdf, 68.3KB)
Chair is appointed by Senate from the Fellows of Senate (not a staff or student Fellow).
Member |
Term of office |
Jason Yat-Sen Li |
Current term as Chair Previous term as Chancellor |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Current term as Chancellor |
Richard Freudenstein |
Current term as Deputy Chancellor Previous term as Deputy Chancellor |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Current term as Vice-Chancellor |
Three Fellows of Senate are appointed by Senate after consultation by the chair of the committee with the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor.
Member |
Term of office |
Karen Moses |
Current term |
Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew |
Current term |
Professor Renae Ryan |
Current term |
A minimum of two and up to three external members with appropriate professional expertise and experience appointed by Senate on the recommendation of the chair of the committee.
Member |
Term of office |
Vince Graham AM |
Current term Previous term |
Rob Warren |
Current term Previous term |
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:
Martin McLoughlin Acting Chief Internal Auditor |
David Pacey Chief Governance Officer |
Nisha Padmanabhan Chief Risk Officer |
Mike Powell Chief Safety Officer |
Darren Goodsir Chief of Staff |
Olivia Perks General Counsel |
The role of the Nominations Committee is to monitor and advise Senate on:
Full terms of reference (pdf, 60.3KB)
The chair is appointed by Senate from the Fellows of Senate (not a staff or student Fellow).
Member |
Term of Office |
Richard Freudenstein |
Current term as Chair Previous term as Chair |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Current term as Chancellor Previous term as Chancellor |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Current term as Vice-Chancellor |
Professor Jane Hanrahan |
Current term as Chair of Academic Board |
Three Fellows of Senate are appointed by Senate after consultation by the chair of the committee with the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor.
Member |
Term of Office |
Dr Lisa McIntyre |
Current term Previous term |
Peter Scott |
Current term Previous term |
Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew |
Current term Previous term |
Senate may, on the advice of the committee, or on its own volition, co-opt additional members as required.
The role of the Honorary Awards Committee is to advise Senate on:
Full terms of reference (pdf, 58.4KB)
The chair is appointed by Senate from the Fellows of Senate (not a staff or student Fellow).
Member |
Term of Office |
Richard Freudenstein |
Current term as Chair |
Belinda Hutchinson AC |
Current term as Chancellor Previous term as Chancellor |
Professor Mark Scott AO |
Current term as Vice-Chancellor |
Professor Jane Hanrahan |
Current term as Chair of Academic Board |
Two Fellows of Senate are appointed by Senate after consultation by the chair of the committee with the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor.
Member |
Term of Office |
Kate McClymont AM |
Current term |
Professor Renae Ryan |
Current term |
Senate may, on the advice of the committee, or on its own volition, co-opt additional members as required.