The Chancellor's column

July 2009

Welcome to Professor Ed Byrne

Last month I wrote with sadness to farewell Professor Richard Larkins. This month I am writing with counterbalancing pleasure to welcome Professor Ed Byrne as the eighth Vice-Chancellor of Monash University.

Ed comes to the University with an outstanding record in education, research and leadership experience in senior university management roles. His most recent role was as the Vice Provost for Health at the University College London, where he successfully managed the establishment of a School of Life and Medical Sciences consisting of almost 5000 full time academic and professional staff.

Ed’s immediate prior position was as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University. In that role Ed led his colleagues through the process of identifying ambitious research challenges that ultimately led to a doubling of research income. A number of strategically important educational initiatives in the Faculty were successfully undertaken, including the establishment of the Departments of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at our Malaysian campus. Ed’s management and financial acumen as a senior academic leader is rounded out by his MBA qualification and his roles as a director of Cochlear Pty Ltd, one of Australia's most successful biotech spin-off companies, and BUPA, the UK's leading provider of private health care insurance and health care services (operating in Australia as HBA and MBF).

I know from my discussions with Ed that he has already given considerable strategic consideration to how he will lead Monash University from strength to strength. His challenge is to lead us in further realizing our potential in teaching and research excellence while making the fullest possible contribution to the social, economic and environmental well-being of Australia and our neighbours.

I am sure you will all join me in wishing Ed the very best as he takes on the mantle of Vice-Chancellor of our wonderful University. I will ask Ed to contribute a few words about his vision for the University in one of the upcoming issues of Monash Alumni eNews.

Dr Alan Finkel AM (BE 1976, PhD 1981)
Chancellor
Monash University