Belinda Robinson will leave Universities Australia when her contract expires in October 2018. The six- year veteran of some of the most strident struggles in university funding policy announced her distant departure yesterday. UA says it, “will begin the search for a new chief executive following Belinda Robinson’s decision not to renew her contract.”

CMM understands a UA plenary was advised over a year ago that Ms Robinson planned to go in 2018, and that she confirmed her decision at this week’s meeting.

Last night the organisation’s president Margaret Gardner praised Ms Robinson’s performance.

“Amongst her many achievements, Ms Robinson has advocated successfully against three rounds of major funding cuts to the sector and a proposal to introduce a cap on tax-deductable self-education expenses for those wishing to invest in their own future. She led the world’s first whole-of-sector approach to addressing sexual assault and sexual harassment in student communities, oversaw the development of the sector’s Indigenous strategy and, most recently, the reversal of unhelpful changes proposed to visa conditions,” Professor Gardner said.

Curiously Professor Gardner did not mention Ms Robinson’s greatest achievement to date, albeit in a losing cause – ensuring the public support of all vice chancellors, bar one, for Christopher Pyne’s plan to deregulate undergraduate fees.

As to what will occupy Ms Robinson for her last 12-months policy watchers suggest another argument with government over funding will start before Christmas.