Roles and duties
Learn more about the role and duties of our Senate Fellows.
Our Senate Fellows
Our Senate Fellows perform functions of the Senate with due care and diligence, acting in the best interests of the University. They provide valuable contribution in Senate meetings and standing committees.
The constitution of the Senate is set out in Division 1 of the University of Sydney Act 1989, and is currently comprised of:
- Three official members
- Seven external members
- Three elected University staff members (academic and non-academic)
- Two elected University students (undergraduate and postgraduate)
Official members
The three official members, include:
- The Chancellor
- The Vice-Chancellor
- The presiding member or deputy presiding member of the Academic Board
Belinda Hutchinson AC
BEc Sydney, FCA
- Current term as Chancellor: February 2017
- February 2025
- Previous term as Chancellor: February 2013 – February 2017
| Memberships |
|---|
| Chair of Senate Current term: February 2017 – February 2025 |
| Buildings and Estates Committee Current term: February 2017 – February 2025 Previous term: February 2013 – February 2017 |
| Finance Committee Current term: February 2017 – February 2025 Previous term: February 2013 – February 2017 |
| Finance Investment Sub-Committee Current term: February 2017 – February 2025 Previous term: February 2013 – February 2017 |
| People and Culture Committee Current term: February 2017 – February 2025 Previous term: February 2013 – February 2017 |
| Honorary Awards Committee Current term: February 2017 – February 2025 Previous term: February 2013 – February 2017 |
| Risk and Audit Committee Current term: February 2017 – February 2025 Previous term: February 2013 – February 2017 |
| Nominations Committee Current term: February 2017 – February 2025 Previous term: February 2013 – February 2017 |
Professor Mark Scott AO
BA DipEd MA Hon DLitt Sydney, MPA Harvard, Hon DBus UNSW, Hon DUniv UTS, FAICD, FRSN
Professor Mark Scott was appointed as the University’s 27th Vice-Chancellor in 2021. He is a highly respected and successful senior leader of large and complex institutions, across public service, education and the media. Under his leadership as Secretary of the NSW Department of Education (2016 to 2021), the Department:
- secured a record 10-year funding agreement for public schools
- created School Infrastructure NSW to deliver an additional 160,000 classroom places
- established the School Leadership Institute to train and develop aspiring school principals across the state
- established policies around the protection and expansion of Aboriginal languages in NSW schools.
Professor Scott is an accomplished communicator and his distinguished record of strategic leadership includes a decade as Managing Director of the ABC (2006 to 2016), where he led the organisation’s transformation to be a public broadcaster in the digital era. Over that time, the ABC created new services like iview, News 24, ABC3 and digital radio; and expanded online and mobile services, such as podcasting and ABC News online.
Professor Scott has also held a number of senior editorial roles at Fairfax, including Education Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and Editor-in-Chief of metropolitan, regional and community newspapers. His contribution to education reaches back to the start of his career, as a teacher in Sydney. He built on his interest in education with senior policy and leadership positions with two NSW education ministers – Terry Metherell and Virginia Chadwick – and in 2011 he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia.
He is also a proud alumnus of the University and holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma of Education, a Master of Arts (Political Science and Government), an Honorary Doctorate (Letters) and a Professor of Practice (Education and Media) from the University of Sydney, as well as a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has also been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of NSW and University of Technology Sydney.
- Current term as Vice-Chancellor: July 2021 –
| Memberships |
|---|
| Buildings and Estates Committee Current term: July 2021 - |
| Finance Committee (FC) Current term: July 2021 - |
| Finance Investment Sub-Committee Current term: July 2021 - |
| People and Culture Committee (PCC) Current term: July 2021 - |
| Honorary Awards Committee Current term: July 2021 - |
| Risk and Audit Committee Current term: July 2021 - |
| Nominations Committee Current term: July 2021 - |
Professor Tony Masters
BSc(Hons) Melb, PhD ANU, FRACI CChem GAICD
Professor Tony Masters is the current Chair of the Academic Board of the University of Sydney.
He is an academic in the School of Chemistry at the University's Faculty of Science.
He is a member of the National Tertiary Education Union and was awarded the Vice Chancellors’ Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Supervision, the Polyhedron Best Paper Award and the Australian Sports Medal.
- Current term as Chair of Academic Board: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2021
- Previous term as Chair of Academic Board: 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2019
- Previous term as Fellow of Senate elected by and from the academic staff: 1 December 2003 – 31 May 2007
| Memberships |
|---|
| Buildings and Estates Committee Current term: January 2018 – 31 December 2021 Previous term: January 2016 – December 2017 |
| Nominations Committee Current term: Sep 2020 – 31 December 2021 |
| Honorary Awards Committee Current term: Sep 2020 – 31 December 2021 |
Richard Freudenstein
BEc LLB(Hons) Sydney
Richard Freudenstein is one of two external persons appointed by the Minister and is the current Deputy Chancellor of the University of Sydney. He is the former CEO of Foxtel and has over 20 years’ experience in senior management and board roles in Australia, the United Kingdom and Asia.
A graduate of the University of Sydney, Richard is passionate about education and its importance for the future of Australia and the world.
- Current term as Deputy Chancellor: 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2022
- Previous term as Deputy Chancellor: 14 December 2017 – 31 March 2020
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2017 – 30 November 2021
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Risk and Audit Committee | Current term: Previous term (Chair): |
| Finance Committee (FC) | Current term: Previous term: |
| Finance Investment Sub-Committee | Current term: Previous term: |
| People and Culture Committee (PCC) | Current term: Previous term: |
| Honorary Awards Committee | Current term: September 2020 – May 2022 |
| Nominations Committee | Current term: September 2020 – May 2022 |
Dr Lisa McIntyre
BSc (Hons) Sydney, PhD Cantab
Dr Lisa McIntyre is one of two external persons appointed by the Minister. She is an executive and non-executive director with extensive experience in the governance of large and complex organisations, with a particular interest in biotechnology, medical and health services research.
Dr McIntyre has been a non-executive director or chairman of more than a dozen organisations ranging from not-for-profit foundations to medical research institutes, venture-capital-backed technology companies to listed insurance companies, and private equity-owned health services companies to large public sector organisations.
Her experience includes 20 years as a senior partner at L.E.K. Consulting and 12 years as a director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
- Current term as Pro-Chancellor: 1 June 2021- 31 May 2023
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2019- 30 November 2023
- Previous term as Fellow of Senate: 16 August 2017- 30 November 2019
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Finance Committee | Current term: Previous terms: |
Finance Investment Sub-Committee |
Current term:
|
| Nominations Committee | Current term: Sep 2020- May 2022 |
Jason Yat-sen Li
BA LLB (Hons) Sydney LLM NYU
Jason Yat-sen Li is one of five external persons appointed by the Senate. He has over 20 years of commercial experience in Australia, the United States and Asia. He led the IAG’s China Strategy before moving to China in 2005 on an expat assignment.
Jason has been executive chairperson of Vantage Asia Holdings since 2011, a diversified investment firm with a range of investments in resources, digital technology and agribusiness firms in Asia.
Jason has also been vice-chair of the Australia-China Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, a non-executive director of the Sydney Institute, the National Centre for Volunteering and the Asia-Australia Institute, as well as a governing member of the Smith Family.
- Current term as Pro-Chancellor: 1 June 2021- 31 May 2023
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2017 - 30 November 2021
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| People and Culture Committee (PCC) | Current term: Previous term: |
| Risk and Audit Committee (Chair) |
Current term: |
Kate McClymont AM
BA(Hons) Sydney
Kate McClymont is one of five external persons appointed by the Senate. Kate McClymont graduated from the University of Sydney in 1981 with a BA(Hons) in English Literature.
She joined the Sydney Morning Herald in 1985 as a graduate cadet. She later worked at the National Times followed by a two-year stint as a researcher at the ABC’s Four Corners programme before re-joining the Herald in 1990.
Kate is one of the country’s most respected investigative reporters and is a seven-time winner of the Walkley Award, including the Gold Walkley. She was awarded the 2012 NSW Journalist of the Year for uncovering corruption which embroiled Labor figures Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald in an ICAC inquiry.
Kate is also the recipient of numerous other awards including six Kennedy Awards, the Australian Shareholders' Association Award for excellence in financial reporting in 1992, the NSW Law Society’s Golden Quill Award for excellence in legal reporting in 1990 and 1992, the 1995 Australian Racing Writer of the Year, Australian Sports Commission Media Award in 2002, and the 2012 George Munster Award for Independent Journalism.
- Current term as Pro-Chancellor: 1 June 2021- 31 May 2023
- Previous terms as Pro-Chancellor: 1 June 2019- 31 May 2021, 14 December 2017- 31 May 2019
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2019 – 30 November 2021
- Previous terms as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2017- 30 November 2019; 1 December 2013 – 30 November 2017
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| People and Culture Committee (PCC) | Current term: Previous Terms: |
| Honorary Awards Committee (HAC) | Current term: June 2021- 31 May 2023 |
Karen Moses
BEc Sydney
Karen Moses is one of five external persons appointed by the Senate. A University of Sydney graduate, Karen is the former Executive Director, Finance and Strategy for Origin Energy. She has more than 30 years’ experience as a senior executive and has served on a number of diverse boards.
She is the current Chair of the Audit Committee for Charter Hall Group and State Super Trustee and is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee for Boral Limited, Orica Limited, Sydney Dance Company and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. A graduate of the University of Sydney, Karen is passionate about education and its importance for the future of Australia and the world.
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2017 – 30 November 2021
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Finance Committee (FC)(Chair) | Current term: Previous term: |
| FC Investment Sub-Committee | Current term: Previous term: |
| Risk and Audit Committee | Current term: Sep 2020 – May 2022 |
Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew
BSc(Hons) Sydney, PhD Sydney FAICD
Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew is one of five external persons appointed by the Senate. He is a graduate of the University of Sydney and was awarded a BSc(Hons) and University Medal in 1972 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1975.
Emeritus Professor Pettigrew has held senior academic and executive appointments at the Universities of Sydney, Queensland and New South Wales. He was Vice-Chancellor and chief executive officer of the University of New England from 2006 to 2009 and the inaugural CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia from 2001 to 2005.
Emeritus Professor Pettigrew also has extensive experience on national government advisory boards as well as international higher education and research training projects.
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 9 May 2019 – 30 November 2023
- Current term as Pro-Chancellor: 7 November 2019- 31 May 2021
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| People and Culture Committee (PCC)(Chair) | Current term: Previous terms: |
| Risk and Audit Committee (RAC) |
Current term: |
| Nominations Committee | Current term: Sep 2020 – May 2022 |
Peter Scott
BE(Hons) Monash, MEngSc UNSW, HonFIEAust MICE
Peter Scott is one of five external persons appointed by the Senate. He has considerable board and executive experience in both commercial and not-for-profit organisations and extensive property development and facilities management skills with senior roles at LendLease and Civil and Civic.
Peter currently holds the following positions:
- Chairman of Perpetual Limited
- Non-executive director of Perpetual Limited
- Chairman of Perpetual Equity Investment Limited
- Non-executive director Transurban Group
- Director of O’Connell Street Associates
Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2019- 30 November 2023
Previous term as Fellow of Senate: 15 August 2016- 30 November 2019
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Building and Estates Committee (Chair) | Current term: Previous terms: |
| Finance Committee (FC) | Current term: Previous terms: |
| Nominations Committee | Current term: Sep 2020 – May 2022 |
Associate Professor Maryanne Large
BSc (Hons) Sydney, PhD Trinity
Associate Professor Maryanne Large is one of two persons elected by and from the academic staff.
Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 June 2021 – 31 May 2023
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Finance Committee (FC) | Current term: June 2021 – May 2023 |
Professor Renae Ryan
BSc (Hons) Sydney, PhD Sydney, GAICD
Professor Renae Ryan is one of two persons elected by and from the academic staff.
Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 June 2021 – 31 May 2023
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Risk and Audit Committee | Current term: June 2021-May 2023 |
| Honorary Awards Committee | Current term: June 2021-May 2023 |
Dave Burrows
BA Sydney
Dave Burrows has been elected by and from the University's non-academic staff.
Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 June 2021 – 31 May 2023
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Building and Estates Committee | Current term: June 2021 – May 2023 |
Lachlan Finch has been elected by and from the postgraduate students. He is studying a Master of Commerce in Finance, having graduated from the University of Sydney in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.
Lachlan is a previous Board Director and Vice President of the University of Sydney Union and works in global financial markets.
Current term as Fellow of Senate: November 2020 – 30 November 2022
Gabrielle Stricker-Phelps has been elected by and from the undergraduate student body. She is a full-time student studying a combined Bachelor of Economics and Law.
In 2019 Gabrielle served as a councilor and the Women’s Officer on the University of Sydney Student Representative Council.
Current term as Fellow of Senate: December 2020 – 30 November 2022.
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