The former public service commissioner Gordon de Brouwer has been named as the new chancellor of the embattled Australian National University (ANU). He replaces Julie Bishop, who resigned earlier this year.
Dr de Brouwer received his PhD in economics from the ANU. He has been a prominent public servant at the highest levels of government, particularly in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury and at the Reserve Bank.
He was expected to take up his post at the top of the ANU this week, working in tandem with the interim vice-chancellor Rebekah Brown.
Dr de Brouwer said he was honoured to return to ANU as chancellor.
"ANU has an extraordinary national mission," he said.
"I am committed to helping ANU build confidence in its future, with strong governance, a compelling shared strategy and a culture in which our people can do their best work.
"The university has an important role to play at a time of profound social, economic, technological and geopolitical change. ANU should continue to be a trusted national institution and a leading voice on the issues that will shape Australia's future."
His task will no doubt be to try to steady the ANU as it tries to recover from crisis after crisis relating to finance and the way it's governed.
The appointment was welcomed by minister for finance Katy Gallagher: "I have been fortunate to work with Dr de Brouwer in recent years and I can't think of a better person to take on this important position at ANU."
"This appointment comes at a pivotal time for the ANU, and I am pleased to see that a Canberran with a clear understanding of the role that the university plays in our city's social and economic fabric will take on this leadership position."
Both top roles at the ANU have been open since the resignation of Ms Bishop as chancellor and of Genevieve Bell as vice-chancellor. Professor Bell was replaced by Professor Rebekah Brown as interim vice-chancellor.
The ANU has hit a series of crises in recent years, particularly with financial difficulties. Professor Bell resigned after intense opposition to her plan to cut $100 million from the salary bill.
It is not clear how Dr de Brouwer and the new vice-chanellor (who may or may not be Professor Brown) plans to address the deficit.
On Friday, Professor Brown vowed to get the institution back on track by 2030 after suffering a series of serious mishaps which severely dented its reputation.
Its strategy, "ANU by 2030", admits that mistakes were made but vows that they will be rectified.
The 15-page document also says that artificial intelligence will take over some of the administrative tasks currently done by human beings.
Professor Brown has been active in trying to shore up the relationship with the federal government, particularly because the ANU is the only truly national university funded by the Commonwealth.
It has a unique role, receiving a National Institutes Grant to (as it puts it in internal documents) "recognise the role the university plays as a national institute in facilitating key activities that are of national significance" like "maintaining and enhancing distinctive concentrations of excellence in research and education, particularly in areas of national importance to Australia".
