October 14, 2019

Senior executive appointments

UOW positioned for 2020-2025 Strategic Plan

At its meeting of Friday 11 October 2019, the University of Wollongong Council approved several senior executive appointments and associated organisational changes to position UOW for success as it implements its 2020-2025 Strategic Plan in an environment of rapid change across the higher education sector and industry more broadly.

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Professor Joe Chicharo

Professor Joe Chicharo, previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), has been promoted to the newly created position of Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Chicharo will have particular responsibility for implementation of the University’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, while retaining responsibility for the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students), Library, Strategic Marketing and Communications, Strategic Planning and Academic Quality and Standards.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) – Professor Theo Farrell

The position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) has been established to focus on innovation of the curriculum to align with future workforce needs. This portfolio will encompass Learning, Teaching and Curriculum, the Wollongong Academy for Tertiary Teaching & Learning Excellence (WATTLE), UOW Online, University Education Committee, course portfolio development and quality assurance, and a number of strategic projects to deliver on aspects on the UOW 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.

This position will be filled by Professor Theo Farrell who will vacate his current role as Executive Dean, Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts at the end of December 2019.

Chief Operating Officer – Mr Damien Israel

The position of Chief Operating Officer has been established with responsibility for the corporate services of the University including Accommodation Services, Business Improvement and Assurance, Commercial Development, Governance and Legal Services, Facilities Management, Financial Services, Human Resources, Information Management and Technology, Institutional Research and Government Reporting, and Student Services.

Mr Damien Israel, previously Chief Finance Officer (CFO), will fill this role and the positions of Chief Administration Officer and CFO have been disestablished.

Executive Dean, Faculty Law, Humanities and The Arts – Professor Colin Picker

Professor Colin Picker, currently Dean of the School of Law, has been appointed as Executive Dean, Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts and will commence formally from 1 January 2020.

Structural Changes – Advancement Division

In line with UOW’s strategic goal to improve the depth and range of relationships with its alumni and stakeholders, the Advancement Division will report directly to the Vice-Chancellor.