Former NSW Premier John Fahey will take up a second term as chancellor of the Australian Catholic University.
ACU vice-chancellor and president Professor Greg Craven announced Mr Fahey’s reappointment on 22 May for another five years beginning from September.
“A natural leader, Mr Fahey has given ACU the same dedication he has committed to public life,” he said in a statement.
“Under his stewardship, the university has undergone considerable changes as we continue to emerge as a national university of stature.”
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Fr Fahey said he was delighted to extend his time working with ACU, particularly with preparations underway to open a new campus in Blacktown.
“This is a new and exciting time for the University,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity for us to provide a service to western Sydney which it deserves.
“We’re at a very interesting and difficult time in the context of our education funding. While we appreciate there is not unlimited funding from the Commonwealth taxpayers, if we are to provide that smart country that we strive to, we certainly need to continue to argue our case.
“These arguments are about the students and not about the university. It is about their needs and not ours.”
Prof Craven said Mr Fahey’s leadership, support and mentoring had been “instrumental” in the continued growth of success of ACU.
Mr Fahey joined the university as chancellor in 2014 after high-profile career at the helm of political, business and sporting organisations.
“His former positions as NSW premier, federal finance minister, chair and member of numerous Australian organisations, and president of the World Anti-Doping Agency put him front and centre of policy formulation, industry growth, industrial relations reform, and an improved approach to drug testing around the world,” said Professor Craven.
Mr Fahey’s reappointment was confirmed at the University’s annual general meeting on Wednesday 1 May.