Academic governance

Academic governance

The Policy: Academic Governance Framework sets out the broad principles, structures, systems and responsibilities for academic governance at the university.

Academic Governance Framework

Academic Council

The Academic Council, as the primary academic body of the university, has responsibility to oversee academic risk; and monitor assurance processes and policy to uphold standards, quality and excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, research and research training. It plays a key role in providing competent advice to the Vice Chancellor and Board of Directors on academic matters.

Chair: Professor Aron Murphy
Deputy Chair: Professor Cate Thill
Deputy Chair: Professor Renee Kohler-Ryan 
Executive Officer: Ms Amy Goswell
Contact: academic.council@nd.edu.au

Academic Council Membership | View Charter | Meeting Dates

Meeting summaries

  • Sub-committees

    University Research Committee

    Chair: Professor Alex Frino
    Executive Officer: Ms Vanessa Tallowwood
    Contact: research.committee@nd.edu.au

    View Charter | Meeting Dates

    University Learning and Teaching Committee

    Chair: Professor David Sadler
    Executive Officer: Ms Lyn Marks
    Contact: ltc@nd.edu.au

    View Charter | Meeting Dates

    University Academic Quality and Standards Committee

    Chair: Professor Cate Thill
    Executive Officer: Dr Stephanie Lu
    Contact: uaqsc@nd.edu.au

    View Charter | Meeting Dates

    University Program and Courses Committee

    Chair: Professor David Sadler
    Executive Officer: Ms Amy Goswell
    Contact: upcc@nd.edu.au

    View Charter | Meeting Dates

  • Standing Committees

    Research Degrees and Scholarships Committee

    Chair: Dr Rosemary Hancock
    Executive Officer: Ms Vanessa Tallowwood
    Contact: rdsc@nd.edu.au
    View Charter

    Human Research Ethics Committee

    Chair: Professor Gerard Hoyne
    Executive Officer: Ms Renee Hawkins
    Contact: renee.hawkins@nd.edu.au
    View Charter

    Faculty of Arts, Sciences, Law and Business

    Chair: Professor Martin Drum
    Executive Officer: Ms Anastasia French
    Contact: anastasia.french@nd.edu.au

    Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology

    Chair: Professor Jessica Mantei
    Executive Officer: Ms Sarah Hanly
    Contact: sarah.hanly@nd.edu.au

    Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences

    Chair: Professor  Aron Murphy
    Executive Officer: Ms Kate Hamilton
    Contact: kate.hamilton@nd.edu.au

    Faculty Boards

    View Charter | Meeting Dates

    Faculty and School Advisory Boards

    View Charter

  • Elections

    Elections 2025

    Results of the Academic Council and Faculty Board elections held in July and August 2025 are provided as follows.

    For the contested electorate, a ballot was conducted online which concluded at 5 pm WST on 24 August 2025.

    Where the number of valid nominations did not exceed the number of vacancies, the candidate was elected unopposed (indicated below by *).

    Positions indicated below as vacant will be filled as casual vacancies in accordance with committee charters.

    Academic Council

    Elected positions

    Elected by and from

    Level requirements

    Term

    Elected candidates

    Two

    Faculty of Arts, Science, Law and Business

    Level A-D

    2 years

    Laura Fitzgerald

    Robyn Creagh

    Two

    Faculty of Arts, Science, Law and Business

    Level E

    2 years

    David Carter*

    Kirsty Beilharz*

    Two

    Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences

    Level A-D

    2 years

    Raoul Oehmen

    Katrina Reynolds

    Two

    Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences

    Level E

    2 years

    Sadie Geraghty

    Lynne Madden

    Two

    Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology

    Level A-D

    2 years

    Timothy Smartt

    Shyam Drury

    Two

    Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology

    Level E

    2 years

    Lauren Stephenson*

    Matthew Ogilvie*

    Faculty Board

    Elected positions

    Elected by and from

    Level requirements

    Term

    Elected candidates

    Faculty of Arts, Science, Law and Business

    One

    School of Arts and Sciences

    Level E

    2 years

    one vacancy

    Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences

    One

    School of Medicine

    Level E

    2 years

    one vacancy

    One

    School of Nursing and Midwifery

    Level A-D

    2 years

    Erin Reynolds*

    One

    School of Health Sciences

    Level A-D

    2 years

    Dave Parsons

    One

    School of Health Sciences

    Level E

    2 years

    Tawanda Machingura*

    The elections were run in accordance with the Election Regulations.

    If you have any questions, please contact elections@nd.edu.au.