Carolyn Evans returns to Uni Melbourne as its 22nd vice chancellor, replacing the late Emma Johnston.
Professor Evans studied undergraduate law there in the early ‘90s and returned to lecture in law in 1997. She spent the next 20 years at the university, culminating in a term as DVC (Graduate) and Vice-Provost before moving to Griffith U as VC in 2019.
Professor Evans is a recent president of the university IR lobby, the Australian Higher Education Industrial Association and became chair of Universities Australia last May.
HE insiders who have worked with her in a range of roles welcomed her appointment yesterday. One described her as reserved and carefully spoken but listening before she acts. Another pointed to her influence in the divisive debate over coalition minister Dan Tehan’s push to impose Robert French’s Free Speech Code on universities.
As Griffith VC, she made it clear that “the adoption of any code requires consultation with academics, students and the university council.”
It is an approach that will be welcomed at Uni Melbourne, supported by her deep knowledge of its culture and higher education in general. During the free speech debate she was co-author of a book, Open Minds: Academic freedom and freedom of speech in Australia.
Professor Evans is the second Griffith U VC to move up to Melbourne, following in the path of Glyn Davis, who is again there, acting as Vice-Chancellor following Professor Johnston’s death at Christmas. She will stay on at Griffith until August 2026, providing breathing room for the Queensland institution to identify a successor.