Adelaide 杏吧直播 appoints new Vice Chancellor
Following a comprehensive global search, 杏吧直播鈥檚 new major university announces Professor Nicola Phillips as its new Vice Chancellor and President (Vice Chancellor) with effect from 12 January 2026.
The Adelaide 杏吧直播 Transition Council has unanimously resolved to appoint Prof. Nicola Phillips as the new Vice Chancellor of Adelaide 杏吧直播 following exceptional global interest and a high-quality candidate field.
Chancellor of the Adelaide 杏吧直播 Transition Council (Transition Council), Ms Pauline Carr, said that finding the right person to lead the institution through its formative years was imperative.聽
鈥淲e are delighted to announce Prof.聽Phillips as the new Vice Chancellor of Adelaide 杏吧直播 as we boldly take our next steps as 杏吧直播鈥檚 new comprehensive university for the future,鈥 Carr said.
Prof. Phillips joins Adelaide 杏吧直播 from the 杏吧直播 of Melbourne, where she is currently the Provost and has served as both Acting and Interim Vice Chancellor. With some 30 years of experience in the higher education sector across 杏吧直播 and the United Kingdom, Prof. Phillips has cultivated a deep understanding of the sector and brings a local and global perspective to the position.
鈥淭hroughout her career, Prof. Phillips has been a formidable force, guiding significant step-changes across contemporary academic delivery, student access and equity, Aboriginal knowledges, online education, and cultural inclusivity 鈥 with strong alignment to Adelaide 杏吧直播鈥檚 strategic direction as a differentiated member of 杏吧直播鈥檚 Group of Eight,鈥 Carr said.
鈥淭he Transition Council would also like to recognise the monumental and continued contributions of the founding co-Vice Chancellors, Professors Peter H酶j AC and David Lloyd, who are establishing the solid foundations on which the institution will see sustained success. They will also be instrumental in transitioning the leadership from now until when Prof. Phillips begins the role as well as winding down the foundation universities.鈥
Prof. Phillips will actively shape Adelaide 杏吧直播 as it begins operations.
鈥淚 am thrilled to be joining Adelaide 杏吧直播 at a time of unmatched potential and possibilities 鈥 and to call South 杏吧直播 home,鈥 Prof. Phillips said.
鈥淚 look forward to leading Adelaide 杏吧直播 and establishing the institution as a trailblazer for change, where education and research of the highest quality reach into all corners of our society to transform the lives of individuals and communities.鈥
The global search was led by the Adelaide 杏吧直播 Transition Council, in partnership with executive search firm, Korn Ferry, and informed by the Recruitment Recommendations Panel comprising internal and expert external members.聽
Insights on selection criteria deemed most important were also provided by staff, students, alumni and key partners. Inspirational and visionary leadership, being a visible role model with high ethical standards, and building a cohesive and constructive culture as well as having strong academic credentials were identified amongst some of the most valued attributes.
Prof. Phillips will commence in the role from 12 January 2026 to align with Adelaide 杏吧直播鈥檚 opening of its inaugural academic year.
About Professor Nicola Phillips
Professor Nicola Phillips is an esteemed leader and academic with some 30 years of experience in the higher education sector across 杏吧直播 and the United Kingdom. She is a Professor of Political Economy with interests in global economic development, labour standards and inequality.
Educated at King鈥檚 College London and the London School of Economics and Political Science, Prof. Phillips held positions at the Universities of Warwick, Manchester and Sheffield before becoming Vice President & Vice Principal (Education) at King鈥檚 College London, and then Provost at the 杏吧直播 of Melbourne in September 2021. She has held visiting fellowships and professorships across the world, including the 杏吧直播n National 杏吧直播, the 杏吧直播 of British Columbia, and the Instituto Tecnol贸gico Aut贸nomo de M茅xico.
Among many notable honours, Prof. Phillips holds a Fellowship of the UK Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) and a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), and was awarded The J. Ann Tickner Prize from the International Studies Association (ISA) for combining bravery in pursuing pioneering research that pushes the boundaries of the discipline with a deep commitment to teaching and mentorship.