Professor Renée Leon is the University’s fifth Vice-Chancellor and President and commenced in the role on 1 September, 2021.
Professor Leon has extensive experience in Commonwealth and State public administration, covering policy, program management and service delivery. Professor Leon has been the Secretary of two Commonwealth Departments – the Department of Human Services and the Department of Employment – and has served as the CEO of the ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety.
Professor Leon holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the Australian National University and a Master of Laws from the University of Cambridge, which she attended as the Menzies Foundation Law Scholar in 1995.
Professor Leon was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2013 for outstanding service to public administration and law in leadership roles in the Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth.
Professor Leon is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and a member of Chief Executive Women Australia.
Professor Leon is honoured to lead Australia’s leading regional university at a time when the regions are playing an increasingly visible and important national role.