After an extensive recruitment process, undertaken in unprecedented times, Victoria University has today announced its next Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Adam Shoemaker, marking a new era for the new year 2021.
Chair of the Search Committee, Deputy Chancellor Wayne Kayler-Thomson says the committee was pleased with the exceptional field of international and national tertiary education leaders who were considered. Their unanimous decision was to appoint Professor Shoemaker, who presented a compelling vision for VU's next stage of development.
Professor Shoemaker will join VU from Southern Cross University (SCU), where he has been the Vice-Chancellor and President since 2016. He is one of Australia's leading researchers in the area of Indigenous literature and culture and has previously held senior leadership roles at a number of other Australian universities, including Academic Provost at Griffith University, Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Education) at Monash University and Dean of Arts at the Australian National University.
VU Chancellor Gaye Hamilton says that Professor Shoemaker will bring an exciting mix of passion, knowledge and innovation to VU to lead the university in the years ahead and to navigate a post COVID-19 world.
"Professor Shoemaker is described as generous, inclusive and collaborative and he has a reputation as having the confidence of his staff and his peers as well as the communities his university serves.
"He is an ideal fit to build on the firm foundations of VU and to continue our transformational agenda as well as continuing to enact our moral purpose, which is to transform the lives of any student from any background and to transform our communities," said Ms Hamilton.
Professor Shoemaker has significant experience in leading change agendas, including the development of a new strategic plan at Southern Cross University focused on firmly establishing it among the top 50 young universities in the world by 2026. He also delivered a financial turnaround and completed a practical and symbolic rebrand of SCU that acknowledges Indigenous culture, positioning it as a progressive and deeply-engaged institution within the regions it serves.
In addition, he championed a new 6 x 6 model of course delivery-with six flexible study periods a year -as the way of the future for what both students and employers need. He is an experienced dual sector leader and sees developing meaningful pathways for students as a way to achieve enduring success. Professor Shoemaker is also an influential dual sector advocate who recognises its value in delivering work and career ready graduates.
