Vice-Chancellors of Murdoch University

HIGGOTT, Professor Richard Andrew (1 August 2011 - current)

Following a global search Professor Richard Higgott was appointed the University's 8th Vice Chancellor and President.

Prior to joining Murdoch, Professor Higgott was Professor of International Political Economy and Pro Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Warwick. He has also held professorial appointments at the Australian National University and the University of Manchester. Early in his career he had positions at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia.

His funded visiting professorships include the Diplomatische Akademie Marie Therese (Vienna), the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (Singapore), Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok), the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (Berlin), the Hungarian Institute for Advanced Study (Collegium Budapest). In 2003 he was the first holder of 'la Chaire Asie' at the Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques in Paris.

He has been National Director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs; President of the Australasian Political Science Association; Vice-President of the International Studies Association (USA); Council Member and Principal Policy Adviser to the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences (UK). Recent board appointments include the Academic Council of the United Nations System, the Council for Asia-Europe Cooperation and the UK Department for International Development's Committee on Economic and Social Research. He is a member of international supervisory boards of university research institutes in Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia.

Professor Higgott's extensive consultancy and policy work includes the Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO), UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Global Development Network (World Bank), Deutsche Stiftung fur Entwicklung, British Telecom, Siemens and Shell. From 1986-93 he was a member of the Australian Minister for Trade's Negotiation Advisory Group (TNAG).

He is author or editor of 20 books, research monographs and edited volumes and more than 120 articles and chapters in many leading journals. He has been editor of The Pacific Review since 1995 and is a member of 10 other international editorial boards.

MARTIN, Professor Gary (1 April 2011 - 31 July 2011)

Professor Gary Martin was appointed interim Vice Chancellor and President following the retirement from academia of Professor John Yovich.

Prior to being appointed as Vice Chancellor, Professor Martin held the position of Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, and before that was the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Faculty, Enterprise and International) a position which he held for five years. Professor Martin has also served as Executive Dean, of the Division of Arts and Executive Dean of the Division of Social Sciences, Humanities and Education at Murdoch University.

Professor Martin's area of academic expertise is human capital development and he has particular expertise in the areas of adult learning and development, action learning, mentoring and competency development.

He has worked closely with government agencies, industry and the professions on a range of consultancy and research projects. These include the Western Australian Departments of Conservation and the Environment; Education; Training; Premier and Cabinet; and Treasury and Finance; and the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia.

Within the international arena Professor Martin has lead consultancy and training projects with the Singaporean Ministry of Finance, DBS Vickers Security (Singapore), Coca Cola (Asia Pacific), SKF (Asia Pacific) and the National Institute of Education, Seychelles.

Professor Martin is the current Chair of Perth Education City (PEC) Board, a peak body funded under a joint industry government initiative which aims to raise the profile of Perth, both as a destination and as a provider of high quality educational services.

YOVICH, Professor John Vincent (1 July 2002 - 31 March 2011)

Professor John Yovich AM was appointed Vice Chancellor and President of Murdoch University in 2002.

Since this time, he has consolidated the University’s strengths in teaching and research to achieve a strong and growing institution. This has been achieved through strategic initiatives such as the securing of targeted additional capital funding from business, government and philanthropic sources and a focus on industry and community engagement.

He was instrumental in the formation of and currently Chairs the Innovative Research Universities Australia (IRUA) group, which comprises Flinders, Griffith, James Cook, La Trobe, Macquarie, Murdoch and Newcastle Universities. This group has provided effective collaboration and developed a significant new voice on the national higher education stage. Professor Yovich is an inaugural Council Member of the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus), a Board Member of the not-for profit organisation the Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) and a member of the Board of Directors of the Australian-American Fulbright Commission (AAFC). He is also a Trustee of both the Murdoch University Veterinary Trust and Murdoch University Foundation, of which he was the inaugural Chair.

Professor Yovich received a Centenary Medal for his service to Australian society through veterinary science and university administration in 2003 and an Order of Australia for service to tertiary education, veterinary science and the community in 2006.

Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor, Professor Yovich was the inaugural Executive Dean for Murdoch University’s Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, during which time he concurrently served a period as Pro Vice Chancellor (Research).

Professor Yovich obtained a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from Murdoch University in 1981, a Diploma in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Guelph (1982-83), a Master of Science (1986) and PhD (1988) from Colorado State University as well as obtaining qualifications as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (1987) and as a Registered Specialist in Veterinary Surgery and Equine Surgery. Professor Yovich has authored more than 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals, several books and electronic publications. He has also received numerous awards for his research and has extensive experience in teaching and supervising postgraduates.

He has been a member of the National Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Equine Research Advisory Committee, Deputy Chair of the Western Australian Totalisator Agency Board, a member of the Racecourse Development Trust, member of the Australian Veterinary Boards Council, Vice Chairman of the Western Australian Turf Club, a member of the Consultative Group for the Federal Review of Rural Veterinary Services, a member of the Board of Future Directions International, Vice President and a member of the Audit and Finance Committees of IDP Education Australia Limited and a member of the Business-Industry-Higher Education Collaboration Council.

Professor Yovich is married with two children.

See also:
"Energetic leader chosen as Murdoch University's new Vice Chancellor", On Campus, May 2002.

NAIRN, Professor Malcolm (4 February 2002 - 30 June 2002)

Malcolm Nairn was born in Guildford, Western Australia, in 1937. He served as Murdoch University’s Vice Chancellor from December 1984-January 1985 and from February 2002-June 2002.
Malcolm Nairn completed his secondary school education at Wesley College and Muresk Agricultural College, Western Australia, where he graduated with an M.D.A. with Honours in 1955 (also Dux of College). In 1956 he entered the University of Western Australia for the first year of the Veterinary Science course. He completed his veterinary degree at the University of Queensland from 1957-1960.
Malcolm Nairn was employed by the WA Department of Agriculture from 1960-1975 where he worked principally as a diagnostic pathologist. He was appointed Chief Veterinary Pathologist in 1973. During this time, as an external student, he completed a Master of Science degree at the University of Western Australia in 1966 and from 1966-1969 he took study leave to complete a doctorate in Veterinary Pathology at the University of Minnesota, USA. In 1968 he obtained a Diploma by examination from the American College of Veterinary Scientists. Malcolm Nairn was also a member of the Veterinary School Committee (from 1970) that formulated the early plans for Murdoch University’s Veterinary School .
In 1975 Malcolm Nairn joined Murdoch as the inaugural Professor of Clinical Pathology and Head of the Division of Applied Veterinary Medicine in the School of Veterinary Studies. He was Dean of the Veterinary School from 1980-83. In 1983 Professor Nairn was appointed Murdoch University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor and Business Manager, a position he occupied until 1989.
After 14 years at Murdoch University, Professor Nairn moved to Darwin as the inaugural Vice Chancellor of Northern Territory University and served in that capacity until 1995. In 1996 he was invited to chair the Australian Quarantine Review Committee, a position that drew upon his veterinary pathology background, strategic policy skills and experience having previously led a quarantine review while at Northern Territory University.
Professor Malcolm Nairn was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1997 for service to tertiary education, particularly as Foundation Vice Chancellor at Northern Territory University, and to Veterinary Science through the Australian Veterinary Association. He was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 for service to quarantine and exports through the Quarantine Review Committee and QEAC. He was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of the University) by Murdoch University in 2004 for his significant contribution to Australian higher education and the agricultural industries (citation).

SCHWARTZ, Professor Steven (21 February 1996 - 28 February 2002)

Steven Schwartz was Vice Chancellor of Murdoch University from 1996-2002. He is an internationally-acclaimed psychologist and was born in New York City,USA in 1946.
Steven Schwartz was educated at the City University of New York completing a Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) in 1967. He completed a Master of Science at Syracuse University in 1970 and his doctorate at the same university the following year.
Steven Schwartz began his academic career at the University of Northern Illinois as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, a position he held from 1971-1975. He then worked as a Research Scientist at the University of Texas from 1975-1978 before taking up a Senior Lecturer position in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Australia in 1978.
In 1980 Steven Schwartz moved to the University of Queensland as a Reader in the Department of Psychology. He was promoted to Professor in 1986 and then Head of the Department of Psychology before being appointed President of the Academic Board in 1991. During this period Steven Schwartz also held Visiting Professorships at Stanford and Harvard Universities. He returned to Perth in 1994 to take up his appointment as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Western Australia. He was the first non-medical doctor to be appointed a Dean of Medicine in Australia.
In 1996 Steven Schwartz became Vice Chancellor of Murdoch University. During his Vice Chancellorship Professor Schwartz was noted for his dynamic and entrepreneurial management style that saw the University open a private secondary college and a retirement village - both of these helping to secure the University’s financial future. The University also recorded its highest research income, student enrolments and postgraduate student numbers during this time.
Steven Schwartz left Murdoch University in 2002 to take up an appointment as Vice Chancellor of Brunel University, England, a position he held until 2005. While at Brunel Steven Schwartz was recognised as a leading authority on the UK education system and chaired high profile government committees including a national taskforce to produce a set of guidelines on university admissions.
Steven Schwartz returned to Australia in 2005 to take up the Vice Chancellorship at Macquarie University in Sydney from 2006.
During his highly distinguished career Steven Schwartz has authored many books as well as a significant number of scientific, magazine and newspaper articles. His books are used as standard texts at hundreds of universities around the world and he is among the most frequently cited researchers in the world. He has been the recipient of management awards and academic prizes, elected a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and continues to serve on the Boards of government, private and non-profit organisations.
See also:
Inaugural Address by Professor Steven Schwartz, 28 February 1996
Installation Address by Professor Geoffrey Bolton AO 28 February 1996
Professor Steven Schwartz to be next Murdoch Vice Chancellor, Murdoch News, Spring 1995.

BOYCE, Professor Peter (1 February 1985 - 20 February 1996)

Peter John Boyce was born in Western Australia in 1935. He was Murdoch University’s third Vice Chancellor from 1985-1996 and was a leading academic in his field of political science, having made a significant contribution to the scholarly literature in the fields of international diplomacy and Australian politics.
Peter Boyce graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in History from the University of Western Australia in 1957 and a Master of Arts (in History) the following year. He earned his PhD in Political Science from Duke University, USA, in 1961.
When he returned to Australia in 1962 Peter Boyce was appointed Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Tasmania. From 1964-1966 he was a Research Fellow, later Fellow, in the Department of International Relations at the Australian National University. He undertook postdoctoral research on a Nuffield Dominion Fellowship at St Antony’s College, Oxford University from 1966-1967 and returned to the University of Tasmania in 1967 as Senior Lecturer in Political Science, a position he held until 1969, and from 1970-1975 was Reader at the same university. In 1976 Professor Boyce was appointed Professor of Politics and Head of Department of Government at the University of Queensland and held this position until 1980 when he was appointed Professor of Politics and Head of Department at the University of Western Australia. He became Murdoch University’s third Vice Chancellor in 1985 and served the University in that capacity until 1996.
During Professor Boyce’s Vice Chancellorship student enrolment more than doubled from 4,000 to over 9,000 and Murdoch University became a truly international university, not only in terms of its international student numbers but also in terms of the number of exchange agreements and its research performance. The University’s pace of growth was reflected by the number of new buildings that were built during these years including the Economics, Commerce and Law building, Science and Computing building, Administration building (The Chancellery), Loneragen science building, Amenities building, Gymnasium, and major extensions to the Library. In 1988 the School of Economics and Commerce was established, the School of Law established in 1992, and in 1995 Murdoch University announced plans for a satellite campus at Rockingham.
After leaving Murdoch University Peter Boyce took up a Visiting Professorship in Political Science at the University of Tasmania and he was also honoured with a three-year Professorship Emeritus at Murdoch University and two Visiting Fellowships to Oxford University.
Peter Boyce was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995 for his contributions to education, international relations and to the community. He was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of the University) by Murdoch University in 1996 (citation).
See also:
Inaugural Address by Professor Peter J Boyce, 27 February 1985
“Murdoch farewells Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Boyce", Murdoch News, Summer 1995.

WILLSON, Professor Francis Michael Glenn (20 December 1978 - 14 August 1985)

Francis Michael Glenn Willson, the University’s second Vice Chancellor from 1978-1985, was a political scientist with wide ranging experience in the administration of higher education. He was born in Carlisle, England in 1924.
After war service in the merchant navy and RAF Bomber Command, Glenn Willson studied at the University of Manchester from 1947-1950 for a Bachelor of Arts (Admin) with Distinction in Public Administration. He studied for his doctorate at Oxford University from 1950-1953, his thesis focusing on administrative developments in Great Britain in the 19^thand 20^thcenturies.
From 1953-1955, Glenn Willson worked as a Research Officer at the Royal Institute of Public Administration. He held appointments at Oxford University as a Research Fellow of Nuffield College and as a Lecturer in Politics before becoming Foundation Professor of Government at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, from 1961-1964. From 1965-1974 he was Foundation Professor of Government and subsequently Professor of politics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA. During his ten years at Santa Cruz Glenn Willson was also Provost of Stevenson College and Vice Chancellor for College and Student Affairs.
In 1974 Glenn Willson returned to England to take up his appointment as Principal and Warden of Goldsmiths’ College, London. Prior to taking up his appointment with Murdoch University he was Principal of the University of London for three years from 1975-1978. He served as Murdoch University’s Vice Chancellor from 1978-1985.
After nearly 20 years in university administration, Glenn Willson intended to return to research and writing in his field of government and administrative history.
See also:
“Political Scientist to be Murdoch’s Vice Chancellor”, Murdoch News, October 1978.

GRIEW, Professor Stephen (12 April 1973 - 14 October 1977)

Murdoch University’s first Vice Chancellor, Stephen Griew, was born in London, England, in 1928. He was appointed by the Murdoch University Planning Board in 1971 and served as Vice Chancellor from 1973-1977.
Stephen Griew was educated at the University of London (B.Sc. 1949) and the University of Bristol(Ph.D. 1958). He was a Research and (later) Lecturer at the University of Bristol from 1955-1963. From 1964-1968 he held the Chair of Psychology at the University of Otago, New Zealand, and for two of those years (1967-1968) was the Dean of the Faculty of Science. Prior to taking up the Vice Chancellorship at Murdoch University he was Professor of Psychology at the University of Dundee, Scotland, from 1968-1973.
Before taking up his appointment at Murdoch University Stephen Griew was also a visiting Professor and Lecturer at San Diego State College, California, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Chicago, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Southern California, Washington University and Duke University.
As with the foundation professors, much of Vice Chancellor Stephen Griew’s first two years with the University were spent articulating an ethos for the new university and in detailed academic planning for when the University admitted its first students in 1975.
Stephen Griew resigned from the University in October 1977 to take up an appointment at the University of Toronto, Canada.
See also:
“Many hopes and expectations", Vice Chancellor Griew’s Orientation Day address to the University’s first students in 1975.
Return to Historical Information Page

* These photographs are reproduced with the kind permission of the University Photographer, Mr Brian Richards.

Records Management & Archives

Vice-Chancellors of Murdoch University