Dr Geoffrey Fox
Geoff Fox, Deputy Chancellor, is an agricultural economist whose professional experience encompasses more than 35 years designing, implementing and monitoring programs and policies to support balanced rural development strategies in developing and transition economies.
During a 27 year career at the World Bank, culminating as Director, Environment and Natural Resources for the East Asia-Pacific region, he developed and delivered more than 70 rural development investment projects totalling US$6billion in more than 25 countries. He was recognised as a highly skilled advisor to governments on formulating policies and programs to achieve equitable growth in the rural sector, an enabling environment for private sector development, sustainable natural resources management, and social development and poverty reduction.
In 2001, he joined Australia’s aid agency, AusAID, as Principal Rural Development Advisor to focus on rural property and program development, enhancing the implementation effectiveness of AusAID’s rural development program, and as a member of the Principal Advisor multi-sectoral team supporting AusAID management to implement Australia’s overseas aid program.
Geoff is a strategic, visionary thinker, adept at analysing and synthesizing disparate technical, economic, environmental, governance and cross-sectional information to strengthen the economic and financial viability of public and private rural enterprises. This longstanding international, domestic and community experience using outstanding problem-solving skills has delivered a track record of revitalising dysfunctional programs and projects to improve implementation and goals achievement.
He joined the University of New England Council in August 2010, and became Deputy Chancellor in October 2012. In addition to his membership of the Standing Committee, the main committees of Council on which he serves are: Finance; Audit & Risk; Infrastructure and Remuneration. Since 2008, Geoff has served as Chairman of the UNE Foundation. In July 2011, he was appointed to the Board of ABRI, a UNE-linked agri-business research institute. From 2001-2008, he was also an Adjunct Professor of Rural Science at UNE.
Geoff owns and manages a cattle property near Armidale.