Swinburne University of Technology reappoints Vice-Chancellor for second term

The Swinburne University of Technology Council has approved the reappointment of Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pascale Quester, for a second five-year term.

Professor Quester, who commenced at Swinburne in August 2020, will continue as Vice-Chancellor until 2030.

Swinburne Chancellor, Professor John Pollaers OAM, said the University Council’s decision to approve the Vice-Chancellor’s reappointment with two years to go on her first term shows the confidence the Council has in Professor Quester to continue shaping the future of the university.

“Professor Quester’s reappointment provides certainty as we look towards 2030 and beyond, which will no doubt see Swinburne continue its upward trajectory of providing a world class education and giving our graduates a genuine next_gen degree that is more than just a piece of paper,” Professor Pollaers said.

“Swinburne has continued to cement its position as a leading university on the global stage under Professor Quester’s leadership. Horizon 2025, the sector leading strategic plan that Pascale led after a unique co-creation process involving all staff during the pandemic, has propelled Swinburne into the top one percent of universities worldwide.”

In 2021, Professor Quester launched Horizon 2025, and its four ambitious moon shots have enabled Swinburne to focus and invest in areas that will make a real difference in the world. These moon shots are preparing Swinburne graduates for a digital, tech-rich future.

“Swinburne remains in a strong position to further build its reputation as the prototype of global best practice,” Professor Pollaers said.

“At the time of her appointment I said Professor Quester is the type of leader who will meet the challenges and headwinds our world faces with optimism and confidence. She has done exactly that.”

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Professor Quester said she was humbled by this mark of confidence from the Council and is excited to continue Swinburne’s transformation into an institution proudly defined by technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

“My focus remains squarely on our mission of bringing people and technology together to build a better world.”

“For a university of our size and young age, to rise in the rankings to the top 250 universities globally, at the same time as we enjoy some of the best student satisfaction scores ever, shows that bigger is not always better. We know there is merit in having a clear and differentiated position in our sector,” Professor Quester said.

“In close partnership with industry, we are delivering on our Work Integrated Learning guarantee, one of our four moon shots, as well developing the technology solutions our partners need while growing the human capital required to make them work.”

“Advancing the boundaries of knowledge in our flagship research areas of space and aerospace, sustainability and health innovation, also remain a priority,” Professor Quester said.

Professor Quester said she is energised by the boundless creativity and vigour of our academic staff, by the student-centric ethos of our professional staff and is incredibly grateful for the quality of her executive team and the wisdom and insight of the Chancellor and University Council.

“As One Swinburne, we have achieved remarkable progress in the last three years, and have even more to contribute to Victoria, the nation and our world, as we face challenges to our planet’s climate, ecosystem, and aging human population”.

Some of the highlights for Swinburne under Professor Quester include:

Introducing Horizon 2025 and its four ambitious moon shots

Rising in global university rankings
Continued uplift in student satisfaction
Championing Swinburne’s new research ecosystem to deliver on our flagship research areas of MedTech and Health Innovation, Innovative Planet, Space and Aerospace, Innovative Society, Digital Capability and Manufacturing Futures.
Introducing Victoria’s first Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Maintaining Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan status
Expanded the highly successful Children’s University program to Victoria
Continued expansion in Vietnam, opening teaching locations in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang and rising the profile of our Sarawak Swinburne Campus.
As well as being Vice Chancellor and President since 2020, Professor Quester holds a number of positions in the higher education and business sectors, including board member of Universities Australia, Chair of the UA Teaching and Learning, Student Success and Welfare Standing Committee, Deputy Chair of Victoria’s Vice-Chancellor Committee and Governor of AmCham. She recently received one of France’s highest honours, the medal of Officier de l’Ordre National du Merite.