Genevieve Bell has bowed to intense pressure and resigned from her position as Australian National University (ANU) vice-chancellor.
Professor Bell had been under increasing scrutiny due to forced redundancies and her handling of related concerns from staff and students.Â
In a letter tendering her resignation as vice-chancellor, she said working in the role had been “an extraordinary privilege and also a heavy responsibility”.
“This was not an easy decision,” Professor Bell said.
“As many of you know, the ANU has been a special place for me, ever since I was a child.
“Like the rest of our community, I believe firmly in our delivering on our national mission — to create and transmit knowledge through research and teaching of the highest quality.
“And know that doing this requires a solid financial, cultural and operational foundation.”
Genevieve Bell was the 13th vice-chancellor of the Australian National University. (ABC News)
Professor Bell said achieving that solid foundation had been “difficult” and acknowledged that recently the university had been experiencing “a very hard time”.
She said she would be taking some time off, including a period of study leave, before returning to the School of Cybernetics as a distinguished professor.
“I know there is still more work to do,” she said.
“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.”
In a letter to ANU staff, Chancellor Julie Bishop thanked Professor Bell for her service as vice-chancellor and president.
Professor Rebekah Brown, who has most recently worked as senior deputy to Professor Bell and as ANU Provost, has been appointed interim vice-chancellor.
Professor Rebekah Brown has been appointed interim vice-chancellor at ANU. (ABC News: David Sciasci)
Bishop says she will remain as chancellor
Ms Bishop addressed a town hall session today alongside Professor Brown.
Responding to questions from the hundreds of staff in attendance, she said she would remain as chancellor.
When Ms Bishop told the crowd about the resignation of Professor Bell, there was applause and cheers from some within the crowd.
“Today, we turn a page,” she said.
Ms Bishop said the university would now take the opportunity to “reflect on how we move forward” with current change proposals.
“I, and the council, will work with you to find options that help us find the best way forward,” she said.
Professor Brown said “very serious consideration” would be taken about the future of the ‘Renew ANU’ plan and proposed job cuts.
Australian National University chancellor Julie Bishop addressed the media on Thursday in the wake of Professor Bell’s resignation. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Speaking to media this afternoon, Ms Bishop would not say if she had put pressure on Professor Bell to step down.
“These are conversations that I’m not going to entertain — it’s a matter of respect,” she said.
“It was a very hard decision for her and I think if you read her statement, you’ll see that she took a very difficult decision in the interests of the university and we accept that decision that she’s made.
“I think that sends a very powerful message, that she is and remains part of the ANU family.”
Julie Bishop said the university was “listening” to the ANU community. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Ms Bishop stated again she had no intention of standing down and that the ANU Council had “confirmed that they have confidence in me to lead this period of transition”.
She said she also intended to be part of the process of finding a new vice-chancellor.
Ms Bishop said the ANU was not alone in facing financial difficulties.
“The university’s financial situation, as it currently stands, began a very long time ago,” she said.
“I am aware that when I became chancellor in January 2020 that we had some serious financial challenges.
“We then went immediately into the lockdown relating to COVID and those dramatic impacts, but the structural flaws in our financial situation date back years.”
Pressure to save millions
Professor Bell was appointed as the institution’s 13th vice-chancellor in January 2024, taking over from Professor Brian Schmidt.
The cultural anthropologist inherited what she described as an “enormous number of challenges” at the ANU.
In October of last year, the university announced plans to save $250 million in operating costs by 2026 — including $100 million through salaries.
A series of “change proposals” followed — involving cuts and restructures across the institution.
The ANU has plans to overhaul the 60-year-old ANU School of Music, including dropping one-on-one instrument lessons. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
A controversial move to axe the renowned School of Music garnered particular outrage, sparking campus protests and condemnation from leaders in the arts industry.
Professor Bell also faced criticism for being paid $70,000 for 24 hours’ work by her previous employer, Silicon Valley technology company Intel, while also taking home her more than $1 million vice-chancellor’s salary.
Union members supported a vote of no confidence against her and Ms Bishop and have repeatedly called for their resignation.
Professor Bell long resisted that pressure and accused her critics of using her gender as a tactic to undermine her.
“Sexism is alive and well and living in Australia,” she told ABC’s Stateline in March.
Australian National University chancellor Julie Bishop was accused of bullying and harassment. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Accusations and investigations add to turmoilIf you or anyone you know needs help:Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Lifeline on 13 11 14Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARNÂ on 13 92 76Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636Headspace on 1800 650 890ReachOut at au.reachout.comMensLine Australia on 1300 789 978QLife 1800 184 527
Uproar over the ANU’s leadership reached fever pitch last month, when academic and former ANU Council member Liz Allen accused Chancellor Julie Bishop of bullying, harassment and hostile behaviour during a Senate inquiry into university governance.
Ms Bishop, who was appointed as chancellor after a career in federal politics, denied any wrongdoing and the university established a group to oversee an investigation into the allegations.
Meanwhile, the ANU remains under investigation by the higher education regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), over concerns about the university’s operations.
A fortnight ago, Professor Bell announced future savings in the university’s ongoing restructure would not involve forced job cuts.
That did not include areas of the university where a savings plan had already been announced.
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The move failed to remedy the loss of confidence in Professor Bell’s leadership.
Among those leading calls for a change in leadership was independent ACT senator David Pocock, who today said “further leadership renewal” was needed in the wake of Professor Bell’s resignation.
“Like many in our community, I welcomed the appointment of Professor Bell as the first woman to lead our national university, however, her leadership over recent months has become untenable,” Senator Pocock said.
Mr Pocock said Professor Bell’s leadership had “become untenable”. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
“While there is a broad understanding of the need to put the Australian National University on a more sustainable financial footing, there have been serious failures of leadership and governance in the implementation of Renew ANU.”
ACT Labor senator Katy Gallagher said the ANU Council now needed to work to rebuild trust with the community.
“The Renew ANU program has been poorly executed and has damaged the university’s reputation, and responsibility for that cannot be placed on one individual,” she said.
Students protesting at the Australian National University. (ABC News: Lily Nothling)
‘Will take time to heal’
The National Tertiary Education Union welcomed news of the resignation.
“The announcement of the vice-chancellor’s departure must also be accompanied by an announcement that all forced redundancies will now cease,” ACT division secretary Lachlan Clohesy said.
“We welcome this development. But we also need to recognise the incredible toll the last two years have taken on the ANU community, and that will take time to heal.”
The student group No Cuts at ANU called the resignation the “outcome of months of campaigning by students, staff and the ANU community against Renew ANU and university management”.Â
“This has demonstrated that the real power lies with students and staff, not the profiteering bosses at the head of this university,” spokeswoman Lucy Chapman-Kelly said.