On behalf of the University of New England I announce that Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Brigid Heywood, has resigned from her position with the University and her resignation has been accepted by Council.
The University Council and Professor Heywood acknowledge the criminal charges laid against her on 1 August 2022, and the widespread attention and concern this has garnered within the University and the broader community.
In this context, Professor Heywood formed the view that it was in the best interests of the University that she resign from her position and University Council has accepted her decision.
Professor Heywood has advised the University Council she strenuously denies there is any truth to the charges and will defend them.
Given the charges are before the Court, the University Council does not intend to make any comment about the charges or their subject matter.
However, both Professor Heywood and the University Council acknowledge the deep hurt felt by many on hearing of the charges, and thank the community for the patience shown as we worked through these matters. The University Council wants to clearly state that it remains deeply committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for its students, staff and community at all times.
I would like to acknowledge the University's appreciation of the significant contribution Professor Heywood has made to the University during her term since July 2019.
In particular I would like to thank Professor Heywood for her strong leadership of the University in navigating a period of tremendous change, including the significant challenges faced by the University and the Armidale community, not least of which have been the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of an extended drought, bushfires, a plague and the Armidale tornado. Professor Heywood's stewardship and guardianship has been called upon during a period defined by this series of unique and special challenges for the University and region.
Professor Heywood has led important work in refocusing the University and creating new pathways for the institution. This has notably included the extensive collaborative effort among Council, staff and students in developing the 'Future Fit' decadal strategy, progressing the University's systems renewal and infrastructure, redesigning academic programmes and activating new research effort. These endeavours will continue, with the active engagement of University Council and the Academic Board, partners and the community.
Professor Heywood considers it a great honour to have been the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer.
I have asked Professor Simon Evans, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, to immediately step in as Acting Vice-Chancellor while Council takes steps to identify and appoint a replacement Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Evans, an experienced University leader with a broad experience base, is well placed to guide the University in the coming months. Prior to joining the University in January 2022, he was Provost of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce at La Trobe University, Melbourne, leading academic culture, strategy and performance across the College and its four Schools. From 2010 to 2018, he served as Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Melbourne. Earlier roles in the University of Melbourne’s Law School include Deputy Dean, Director of Teaching and Director of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies.
Council will be providing support to the acting Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer and the University generally.
Professor Evans will be supported by Professor Michael Wilmore as acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Professor Wilmore has a deep knowledge and understanding of leadership, research and teaching innovation in the Australian higher education sector, having worked in universities since 2004. Professor Wilmore initially joined the University as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education in 2018, and has previously served as Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Development. He is also chairperson of the University’s training and education company, UNE Partnerships, a role he was elected to soon after joining the UNE Partnership Board in November 2020.
These appointments give much-needed certainty to the University community and support the University's smooth continuity of operation at this difficult time.
