March 31, 2021

Professor Valerie Linton appointed University of Auckland Provost

International search to begin for new Executive Dean for the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences Professor Valerie Linton has announced her resignation to take up her appointment as Provost of the University of Auckland. She will depart UOW on 9 July 2021.

As Provost, Professor Linton will be the senior deputy to the Vice-Chancellor of New Zealand’s highest ranked university. University of Auckland ranked 81^st in the 2021 QS World University Rankings.

Since taking the reins of EIS in January 2018, Professor Linton has guided and supported the Faculty’s many research and industry collaboration achievements including renewed Steel Research Hub funding, the Sustainable Building Research Centre’s recognition as Australia’s most sustainable building, the SMART Infrastructure Facility’s support for the South West Illawarra Rail Link (SWIRL), and the launch of a spinout company by Distinguished Professor Anatoly Rozenfeld and his team at the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics.

Opportunities have also been created for future industries with the establishment of the Facility for Intelligent Fabrication and the Industry 4.0 Hub in the Shoalhaven.

She has supported EIS students to achieve great things, particularly the design and construction of the dementia-friendly Desert Rose house, which earned second place in an international sustainability competition in Dubai as well as accolades in Australia.

In announcing her departure, UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE acknowledged Professor Linton’s contribution to the University and congratulated her on her appointment.

“Professor Linton has made an outstanding contribution to UOW. She has helped shape the work and strategic direction of Engineering and Information Sciences and made a demonstrable impact on the culture of the Faculty.

“She has influenced the medium-term horizon of UOW through her efforts around Industry 4.0, the future of our research on energy and in refreshing our interactions with major industries. These will form the basis of UOW’s efforts in these areas into the future.

“I wish her well in her new senior leadership role,” Professor Wellings said.

UOW will conduct a global search to identify a suitable successor as Executive Dean EIS.