Dawn Freshwater is moving to Auckland

Dawn Freshwater will leave the university in March, to become VC of the University of Auckland. The announcement comes barely two years since she was installed as UWAs 18th vice chancellor, the second woman among them. Prior to that Professor Freshwater was senior DVC to Paul Johnson, in the job for five years.

As DVC to Professor Johnson she had charge of a comprehensive and controversial on campus restructure.  Freshwater and Johnson made their case for change, here.

Professor Freshwater is also chair of the Group of Eight and last night group CEO Vicki Thomson said her departure, was “Australia’s loss and New Zealand’s gain … Professor Freshwater is held in high regard by the Morrison Government and that she has made such a strong international impact on behalf of Australia’s higher education sector.”

Top jobs are now open at two Group of Eight universities, with Peter Hoj announcing last week that he will leave the University of Queensland mid next year,