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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).
The University Executive is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and reports to Senate on the prosecution and management of initiatives under the University’s strategic plan, and on the academic and financial health of the University.
As part of the University’s vison and values towards developing leadership for good and education for all, the University has committed to an institutional focus on sustainability that includes ambitious targets for contributing to the United Nations (UN) Sustainability Development Goals. The Sustainability Program Control Board (SPCB), chaired by the Vice-Provost, Professor Susan Rowland, reports biannually to UE on the University’s sustainability activities and initiatives.
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 23 February 2024 | Friday 8 March - Saturday 9 March 2024 (Retreat) | All day |
Friday 26 April 2024 | Friday 10 May 2024 | 1pm |
Friday 14 June 2024 | Friday 28 June 2024 | 1pm |
Friday 9 August 2024 | Friday 23 August 2024 (Mini-Retreat) | All day |
Friday 13 September 2024 | Friday 27 September 2024 (Reserve) | 1pm |
Wednesday 23 October 2024 | Wednesday 6 November 2024 | 1pm |
Thursday 28 November 2024 | Thursday 12 December 2024 | 1pm |
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 7 March 2025 | Friday 21 March - Saturday 22 March 2025 | All day |
Friday 2 May 2025 | Friday 16 May 2025 | 9am |
Friday 13 June 2025 | Friday 27 June 2025 | 9am |
Friday 8 August 2025 | Friday 22 August 2025 | All day |
Friday 12 September 2025 | Friday 26 September 2025 | 9am |
Fridat 24 October 2025 | Friday 7 November 2025 | 9am |
Friday 28 November 2025 | Friday 12 December 2025 | 9am |
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 6 March 2026 | Friday 20 March - Saturday 21 March 2026 | All day |
Friday 24 April 2026 | Friday 8 May 2026 | 9am |
Friday 12 June 2026 | Friday 26 June 2026 | 9am |
Friday 7 August 2026 | Friday 21 August 2026 | All day |
Friday 11 September 2026 | Friday 25 September 2026 (Reserve) | 9am |
Friday 23 October 2026 | Friday 6 November 2026 | 9am |
Friday 27 November 2026 | Friday 11 December 2026 | 9am |
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 |
---|---|---|
Wednesday 21 February 2024 | Wednesday 6 March 2024 | 9:30am - 12.00pm |
Friday 24 May 2024 | Friday 7 June 2024 | 9:30am - 12.00pm |
Friday 23 August 2024 | Friday 6 September 2024 | 9:30am - 12.00pm |
Friday 1 November 2024 | Friday 15 November 2024 | 9:30am - 12.00pm |
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:
Position | Member | Term of office |
---|---|---|
Chair | Peter Scott | Current term as Chair: Previous term as Chair: |
Chancellor ex-officio member |
David Thodey AO | Current term as Chancellor July 2024 - June 2028 |
Deputy Chancellor ex-officio member |
Richard Freudenstein | Current term as Deputy Chancellor Previous term as Deputy Chancellor |
Vice-Chancellor and President |
Professor Mark Scott AO | Current term as Vice-Chancellor July 2021 - 2026 |
Fellow of Senate | Rebecca Ward | Current term Jun 2023 – May 2025 |
Fellow of Senate | Professor Jane Hanrahan | Current term Previous term |
Fellow of Senate | Yinfeng (Benny) Shen | Current term Dec 2022 – Nov 2024 |
External Member |
Dianne Leeson | Current term Previous terms |
External Member |
Vacant | |
External Member |
Hugh Wehby | Current term Jun 2023 - May 2025 |
Position | Attendee |
---|---|
Vice-President (Operations) | Professor Stephen Garton (interim) |
Chief Financial Officer |
Wayne Andrews |
Chief University Infrastructure Officer |
Greg Robinson |
Chief, Central Operations Serivces | David Coomber |
Chief Governance Officer |
Michelle Stanhope |
Full terms of reference (pdf, 91.3KB)
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Tuesday 27 February 2024 | Tuesday 12 March 2024 | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
Wednesday 10 April 2024 | Wednesday 24 April 2024 | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
Wednesday 22 May 2024 | Wednesday 5 June 2024 | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
Wednesday 24 July 2024 | Wednesday 7 August 2024 | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
Wednesday 28 August 2024 | Wednesday 11 September 2024 (reserve) | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
Wednesday 9 October 2024 | Wednesday 23 October 2024 | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
Wednesday 13 November 2024 | Wednesday 27 November 2024 | 2:00pm - 4:30pm |
The role of the Finance and Audit Committee is to monitor and advise Senate on:
Position | Member | Term of office |
---|---|---|
Chair |
Karen Moses |
Current term as Chair Previous term as Chair |
Chancellor ex-officio member |
David Thodey AO | Current term as Chancellor July 2024 – June 2028 |
Deputy Chancellor ex-officio member |
Richard Freudenstein | Current term as Deputy Chancellor Previous term as Deputy Chancellor |
Vice-Chancellor and President ex-officio member |
Professor Mark Scott AO | Current term as Vice-Chancellor July 2021 - 2026 |
Fellow of Senate | Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew | Current term Jun 2023 - May 2025 |
Fellow of Senate | Dr Lisa McIntyre | Current term Previous term |
Fellow of Senate | Vacant | |
External Member |
John Meacock | Current term Jun 2024 - May 2026 Previous term September 2021 - May 2024 |
External Member |
Vacant |
Other members determined by the chair:
Position | Member |
---|---|
Vice-President (Operations) | Professor Stephen Garton (interim) |
Chief Financial Officer | Wayne Andrews |
Chief Internal Audit Officer | Alison Hamill |
Chief of Staff | Darren Goodsir |
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Friday 16 February 2024 | Friday 1 March 2024 | 9:00am - 11:00am |
Thursday 16 May 2024 | Thursday 30 May 2024 | 9:00am - 11:00am |
Monday 19 August 2024 | Monday 2 September 2024 | 9:00am - 11:00am |
Monday 18 November 2024 | Monday 2 December 2024 | 9:00am - 11:00am |
The role of the Investment Subcommittee is to monitor and advise the Finance and Audit Committee on:
Position | Member | Term of office |
---|---|---|
Chair | Dr Lisa McIntyre | Current term as Chair
|
Chancellor ex-officio member |
David Thodey | Current term as Chancellor July 2024 - June 2028 |
Deputy Chancellor ex-officio member |
Richard Freudenstein | Current term as Deputy Chancellor Previous term as Deputy Chancellor |
Vice-Chancellor and President ex-officio member |
Professor Mark Scott AO | Current term as Vice-Chancellor July 2021 - 2026 |
Chair of the Finance Committee | Karen Moses | Current term as Chair of the Finance Committee Previous term as Chair of the Finance Committee |
Fellow of Senate | Intentionally vacant given the appointment of three external members | |
External Member |
John Livanas | Current term Previous term |
External Member |
Nerida Hall | Current term Previous term |
External Member |
Vacant |
Vice-President (Operations) | Professor Stephen Garton (interim) |
Chief Investment Officer | Miles Collins |
Chief Financial Officer | Wayne Andrews |
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Monday 19 February 2024 | Monday 4 March 2024 | 9:00am - 12:00pm |
Wednesday 29 May 2024 | Wednesday 12 June 2024 | 9:00am - 12:00pm |
Friday 19 July 2024 | Friday 2 August 2024 | 9:00am - 12:00pm |
Wednesday 21 August 2024 | Wednesday 4 September 2024 (reserve) | 9:00am - 12:00pm |
Friday 8 November 2024 | Friday 22 November 2024 | 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 | Term of office |
---|---|---|
Chair | Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew | Current term as Chair Previous term as Chair |
Chancellor ex-officio member |
David Thodey | Current term as Chancellor July 2024- June 2028 |
Deputy Chancellor ex-officio member |
Richard Freudenstein | Current term as Deputy Chancellor Previous term as Deputy Chancellor |
Vice-Chancellor and President ex-officio member |
Professor Mark Scott AO | Current term as Vice-Chancellor July 2021 - 2026 |
Fellow of Senate |
Jason Yat-sen Li | Current term Previous term |
Fellow of Senate | Professor Tom Calma AO | Current term Aug 2024 - Jul 2026 |
External Member | Shirley Chowdhary | Current term Jun 2024 – May 2026 |
External Member | Susan Ferrier | Current term Aug 2022 - May 2024 |
Position | Attendee |
---|---|
Vice-President, Operations | Professor Stephen Garton (interim) |
Chief Governance Officer |
Michelle Stanhope |
Chief Human Resources Officer |
Sam Liston |
Chief of Staff | Darren Goodsir |
Any others as determined by the chair when necessary.
Agenda items due | Meeting date | Meeting time |
---|---|---|
Wednesday 3 April 2024 | Wednesday 17 April 2024 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm |
Wednesday 17 July 2024 | Wednesday 31 July 2024 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm |
Friday 4 October 2024 | Friday 18 October 2024 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm |
Friday 6 November 2024 | Friday 20 November 2024 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm |
The role of the Performance and Risk Committee is to:
The Committee monitors and advises Senate on:
Position | Member | Term of office |
---|---|---|
Chair | Jason Yat-Sen Li | Current term as Chair Previous term as Chair |
Chancellor ex-officio member |
David Thodey AO | Current term as Chancellor July 2024 - June 2028 |
Deputy Chancellor ex-officio member |
Richard Freudenstein | Current term as Deputy Chancellor Previous terms as Deputy Chancellor |
Vice-Chancellor and President ex-officio member |
Professor Mark Scott AO | Current term as Vice-Chancellor July 2021 - 2026 |
Chair of the Academic Board ex-officio member |
Professor Jane Hanrahan | Current term as Chair of the Academic Board Jan 2023 - Dec 2025 Previous term as Chair of the Academic Board Jan 2022 - Dec 2023 |
Fellow of Senate |
Karen Moses | Current term Previous term |
Fellow of Senate | Professor Ben Saul | Current term
|
Fellow of Senate | Professor Renae Ryan AM | Current term Previous term |
Fellow of Senate | Benjamin Jorgensen | Current term Dec 2022 - Nov 2024 |
External Member | Vince Graham AM | Current term Previous term |
External Member | 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:
Position | Attendee |
---|---|
Vice-President (Operations) | Professor Stephen Garton (interim) |
Chief Internal Audit Officer | Alison Hamill |
Chief Governance Officer |
Michelle Stanhope |
Chief Health and Safety Officer | Kim Grady |
Chief Risk Officer |
Nisha Padmanabhan |
Chief of Staff | Darren Goodsir |
General Counsel | Olivia Perks |
The role of the Nominations Committee is to monitor and advise Senate on:
Position | Members | Term of office |
---|---|---|
Deputy Chancellor Chair ex-officio member |
Richard Freudenstein | Current term as Chair Previous term as Chair |
Chancellor ex-officio member |
David Thodey AO | Current term as Chancellor July 2024 - June 2028 |
Vice-Chancellor and President ex-officio member |
Professor Mark Scott AO | Current term as Vice-Chancellor July 2021 - 2026 |
Chair of the Academic Board ex-officio member |
Professor Jane Hanrahan | Current term as Chair of the Academic Board Jan 2023 - Dec 2025 Previous term as Chair of the Academic Board Jan 2022 - Dec 2023 |
Fellow of Senate | Dr Lisa McIntyre | Current term Previous term |
Fellow of Senate |
Peter Scott | Current term Previous term |
Fellow of Senate |
Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew | Current term Previous term |
The role of the Honorary Awards Committee is to advise Senate on:
Position | Member | Term of office |
---|---|---|
Deputy Chancellor Chair |
Richard Freudenstein | Current term as Chair Previous term as Chair |
Chancellor ex-officio member |
David Thodey AO | Current term as Chancellor |
Vice-Chancellor and President ex-officio member |
Professor Mark Scott AO | Current term as Vice-Chancellor July 2021 - 2026 |
Chair of the Academic Board ex-officio member |
Professor Jane Hanrahan | Current term as Chair of the Academic Board Jan 2023 - Dec 2025 Previous term as Chair of the Academic Board Jan 2022 - Dec 2023 |
Fellow of Senate | Professor Renae Ryan AM | Current term Previous term |
Fellow of Senate | Vacant |
Senate may, on the advice of the committee, or on its own volition, co-opt additional members as required.