Beleaguered Australian National University vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell has resigned amid a string of controversies surrounding her and the university’s leadership, including deep budget cuts and allegations of staff abuse.
Professor Bell had faced growing calls to step down, including a scathing report on the university’s governance released this week showing most of the institution’s staff, students and stakeholders wanted a “complete overhaul” of leadership.
ANU provost Rebekah Brown is now acting vice-chancellor and is considered a candidate to replace Professor Bell permanently.
On Wednesday, academics met with chancellor Julie Bishop to deliver the ANU Governance Project report, which recommends an overhaul of internal and legislated changes.
“Over 96 per cent of respondents agreed that they believed the ANU needed to reconsider how it is governed,” the draft report, based on an ANU community survey, said.
“More than 50% of respondents stated that they believed the ANU’s governance required ‘a complete overhaul’.”
Ms Bishop, a former Foreign Affairs minister, is also facing calls to resign after allegations she bullied staff and leads a university council that stifles dissent to curate a favourable public image. Ms Bishop has denied the allegations.
On Thursday morning, the ANU released a statement from Professor Bell, which said being Vice Chancellor had been an “extraordinary privilege and also a heavy responsibility”.
“I very much want to see the ANU thrive into the future and for it to continue to be a remarkable place and I don’t want to stand in the way of that,” the statement said.
“So I am stepping down from my role as Vice Chancellor. My plan is to take time off, including a period of study leave, and then return to the School of Cybernetics as a Distinguished Professor where I hope to continue to contribute to our community.”
Professor Bell departs 20 months after she was appointed by the council and amid deep cuts to the university’s budget and personal controversies.
The anthropologist and cybernetics expert was under scrutiny for retaining a role at Silicon Valley chip giant Intel and receiving payment from the company after joining the ANU as a professor and then as vice-chancellor.
Professor Bell’s management of a $250 million ANU restructure was also under scrutiny after she reportedly told senior staff she would “find you out and hunt you down” for leaks of confidential information about the cuts.
University regulator the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency last month appointed former public service commissioner Lynelle Briggs to conduct a wide-ranging inquiry into the issues at the ANU.
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock said he had welcomed Professor Bell’s appointment in 2024 but there had been “serious failures of leadership and governance” in the ensuing restructure, dubbed Renew ANU.
“Renew ANU has caused enormous harm to staff, students and the reputation of our national university,” Senator Pocock said.
“I welcome the announcement that brings to a close the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure but further leadership renewal is needed.
“The Chancellor faces serious bullying and workplace harassment allegations and has presided over a period that saw a significant decline in the university’s financial position and governance arrangements.”
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