# List of Australian university leaders

Since the development of the university sector in Australia and the foundation of the first university (University of Sydney, 1850), a small number of Vice-Chancellors have served for 15 years or more with some portion of this time in office as Vice-Chancellor in Australia. They include:
29 years: Sir Anthony Brownless KCMG KSG (Melbourne 1858–87);
26 years: Sir William Mitchell (philosopher) KCMG (Adelaide 1916–42);
21 years: John Douglas Story (Queensland 1938–59);
20 years: Sir Stephen Henry Roberts CMG (Sydney 1947–67), James McWha AO (Lincoln 2018, Rwanda 2013–15, Adelaide 2002–12, Massey 1996–2001);
19 years: William Barlow (vice-chancellor) CMG (Adelaide 1896–1915); Sir Robert Strachan Wallace KCMG (Sydney 1928–47); Dianne Yerbury AO (Macquarie 1987–2006); Alan Gilbert (Australian academic) AO (Manchester 2004–10, Melbourne 1996–2004, Tasmania 1991–96); Paul Wellings CBE (Wollongong 2012–21, Lancaster 2002–2012); Margaret Gardner AC (Monash 2014–23, RMIT 2005–14);
18 years: Sir Raymond Priestley (Birmingham 1938–52, Melbourne 1934–38); Sir Stanley Prescott OBE (Western Australia (1953–70);
17 years: Sir George Currie (academic) (UNZ 1952–62, Western Australia 1945–52); Michael Birt (biochemist) AO CBE (UNSW 1981–92, Wollongong 1975–80); Brian Wilson AO (Queensland 1979–96); Roy Webb AO (Griffith 1985–2002); Glyn Davis AC (Melbourne 2005–18, Griffith 2002–05);
16 years: Sir Philip Baxter KBE CMG (UNSW 1953–69); Sir Louis Matheson KBE CMG (Monash 1960–76); Alec Lazenby AO (Tasmania 1982–91, UNE 1970–77); Ian Chubb AC (ANU 2001–11, Flinders 1995–2000); Gerard Sutton AO (Wollongong 1995–2011), Peter Høj AC (Adelaide 2021–present, Queensland 2012–20, Uni SA 2007–12);
15 years: Ken McKinnon AO (Charles Darwin 2002–03, JCU 1997, Wollongong 1981–94); Dennis Gibson (academic) AO (QUT 1988–2003); Michael Osborne (La Trobe 1990–2005); John Hay (academic) AC (Queensland 1996–2007, Deakin 1992–95); Steven Schwartz (psychologist) AM (Macquarie 2006–11, Brunel 2002–2006, Murdoch 1996–2002); Janice Reid AC (Western Sydney 1998–2013); Peter Coaldrake AO (QUT 2003–17); Ian O'Connor AC (Griffith 2005–19), Sandra Harding (sociologist) AO (JCU 2007–2021), Michael Spence AC (UCL 2021–present, Sydney 2008–20).
italics: Høj and Spence still in office (as at January 2024).
The current Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors/Presidents are given (as at May 2020 with some subsequent updates).
| University | Chancellor | Vice-Chancellor/President |
| Australian Catholic University | Martin Daubney, AM | Zlatko Skrbis |
| Australian National University | Julie Bishop | Genevieve Bell |
| Bond University | Annabelle Bennett AO, SC | Tim Brailsford |
| Central Queensland University | Graeme Innes AM | Nick Klomp |
| Charles Darwin University | Paul Henderson, AO | Scott Bowman, AO |
| Charles Sturt University | Michele Allan | Renée Leon, PSM |
| Curtin University | Andrew Crane | Harlene Hayne |
| Deakin University | John Stanhope AM | Iain Martin |
| Edith Cowan University | Denise Goldsworthy AO FTSE | Steve Chapman |
| Federation University | Terry Moran AC | Duncan Bentley |
| Flinders University | John Hood | Colin J Stirling |
| Griffith University | Henry Smerdon AM | Carolyn Evans |
| James Cook University | Bill Tweddell | Simon Biggs |
| La Trobe University | John Brumby, AO | Theo Farrell |
| Macquarie University | Martin Parkinson AC PSM | S Bruce Dowton |
| Monash University | Simon McKeon, AO | Sharon Pickering |
| Murdoch University | Gary Smith | Andrew Deeks (from April 2022) |
| Queensland University of Technology | Ann Sherry, AO | Margaret Sheil, AO |
| RMIT University | Peggy O'Neal | Alec Cameron |
| Southern Cross University | Sandra McPhee, AM | Tyrone Carlin |
| Swinburne University of Technology | John Pollaers, OAM | Pascale Quester |
| Torrens University Australia | Michael Mann AM | Alwyn Louw (Vice Chancellor) & Linda Brown (President) |
| University of Adelaide | Catherine Branson | Peter Høj |
| University of Canberra | Tom Calma, AO | Paddy Nixon |
| University of Divinity | Graeme Blackman, AO | Peter Sherlock |
| University of Melbourne | Jane Hansen AO | Duncan Maskell |
| University of New England | James Harris FRSN | Chris Moran |
| University of New South Wales | David Gonski, AC | Attila Brungs |
| University of Newcastle | The Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM | Alex Zelinsky AO, FTSE |
| University of Notre Dame Australia | The Hon. Chris Ellison | Francis Campbell |
| University of Queensland | Peter N Varghese, AO | Deborah Terry AO |
| University of South Australia | The Hon. John Hill | David Lloyd |
| University of Southern Queensland | John Dornbusch | Geraldine Mackenzie |
| University of Sydney | Belinda Hutchinson, AC | Mark Scott, AO |
| University of the Sunshine Coast | Angus Houston, AK, AC (Mil), AFC | Helen Bartlett |
| University of Tasmania | Alison Watkins AM | Rufus Black |
| University of Technology, Sydney | Catherine Livingstone AO FAA | Andrew Parfitt |
| University of Western Australia | Robert French, AC | Amit Chakma |
| University of Wollongong | Michael Still | Patricia Davidson |
| Victoria University | Steve Bracks AC | Adam Shoemaker |
| Western Sydney University | Jennifer Westacott AO | George Williams AO FASSA |