Academic Staff Representative Election

Nominations are now open!

Elections for Academic Staff Representatives to Academic Board

Nominations are called from eligible academic staff for the following elected positions on the Academic Board:

Following external legal requirements, the Standing Orders – Academic Board and Committees, and the Academic Board Terms of Reference, to be eligible for election as an academic staff representative, staff:

• must be a current academic staff member within the specified Faculty at the requisite level;
• must not be an Executive Dean, Dean, Deputy Dean, Associate Dean or member of the Senior Executive;
• must be employed half-time or greater than half-time;
• must be employed on a continuing or on a fixed-term basis with sufficient service remaining to fulfil their period of office (30 June 2029);
• will need to have arranged a supporting 'nominator' and 'seconder' from among the eligible academic staff within the same Faculty and of the same academic Level group as the nominee (i.e. B/C, D/E,  or E), and identify these staff on the nomination form;
• need to request their supporting 'nominator' and 'seconder' to email returning_officer@une.edu.au to confirm their support of the nominee; and
• will be asked to make a declaration that they are a fit and proper person under the TEQSA Act.

The Academic Board is the University's peak academic governance body, responsible under Section 21 of the University of New England By-law 2005 for reporting to Council and advising '… the Council and the Vice-Chancellor on all developments and initiatives relating to and affecting the University's teaching and research activities and its educational programs.

The call for nominations is now open and the nomination form (and confirmation emails of the nomination from the nominator and seconder) are requested by 5 pm AEST Tuesday, 09 June 2026 . Nominations may not be withdrawn after these dates.

If the number of valid nominations received does not exceed the number of available positions, the Returning Officer will declare the nominee(s) elected. If valid nominations exceed the number of available positions, an election will be called following the close of nominations.

If eligible staff would like to discuss their nomination and potential role on the Board, please contact the Chair of Academic Board, Professor Adrian Walsh chairacbd@une.edu.au or x2657 prior to the close of nominations. Questions may also be directed to the Deputy Returning Officer, Jenny Croaker returning_officer@une.edu.au or x4359.

Terms of current elected Academic Staff Members

Level E academic staff 

Professor Ljiljana Brankovic (term commenced 17 March 2023 and ends 30 June 2026)

Professor Adrian Walsh (term commenced 03 April 2023 and ends 30 June 2026)

Professor Rikki Jones (term commenced 17 June 2025 and ends 30 June 2028)

Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law - Academic, Level D/E (term commenced 15 August 2024 and ends 30 June 2027)

Associate Professor Eric Ghosh

Professor Mark Perry

Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education - Academic, Level D/E

Professor Pep Baker (term commenced 19 November 2025 and ends 30 June 2026)

Associate Professor Finex Ndhlovu (term commenced 02 May 2023 and ends 30 June 2026)

Faculty of Medicine and Health - Academic, Level D/E

Associate Professor Ida Twist (term commenced 01 December 2025 and ends 30 June 2027)

Associate Professor Adam Rock (term commenced 15 August 2024 and ends 30 June 2027)

Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law - Academic, Level B/C

Associate Professor Tanveer Hussain (term commenced 01 July 2025 and ends 30 June 2028)

Associate Professor Jonathan McLachlan (term commenced 24 April 2025 and ends 30 June 2028)

Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education - Academic, Level B/C

Dr Catherine Volpe Johnston (term commenced 01 July 2025 and ends 30 June 2028)

Associate Professor Tristan Taylor (term commenced 26 June 2023 and ends 30 June 2026)

Faculty of Medicine and Health - Academic, Level B/C (term commenced 15 August 2024 and ends 30 June 2027)

Associate Professor Shahid Islam

Dr Elaine Gilbody Towner