Australian National University Chancellor Julie Bishop and other members of the ANU executive have been accused of bullying, harassment and hostile behaviour by a former member of the university’s council.

Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing

Dr Liz Allen, a demographer at the ANU, appeared before a Senate committee hearing investigating higher education governance and financial accountability.

She accused the chancellor of being “hostile and arrogant” to staff and suggested the previous Vice-Chancellor, Brian Schmidt, “kept the chancellor’s behaviour in check”.

Dr Allen said that since 2024, she had experienced “threats, intimidation and bullying, because I sought greater probity of council conduct”. 

“I was bullied into near suicide. I miscarried a much-wanted baby,” she said.

“I’ve lost the opportunity of a promotion. I fear for my job and my career has been derailed.

“I felt threatened and became extremely fearful. I believed my job was at risk.”

Dr Allen, who was the staff-elected member of the ANU Council until her resignation in April, also accused Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell of misleading council on “numerous” occasions.

“ANU leaders behave with impunity, keep council in the dark and fail to adequately disclose conflicts,” Dr Allen said.

‘Blocked me leaving the room’ 

Dr Allen used her testimony to note a two-hour meeting in February, in which she alleges Chancellor Bishop “made significant allegations of improper and illegal activity relating to the leaking of confidential matters — specifically naming me and the undergraduate student representative”.

“At no time have I leaked confidential council business,” she said.

Julie Bishop wearing a red dress, speaking on stage while sitting

Julie Bishop has been chancellor of the Australian National University since 2020. 

 

  (AP: Kamran Jebreili)

Dr Allen further stated that after this meeting, Chancellor Bishop met with her and another person in a private room, and “further berated me, suggested commencing a legal investigation and calling a journalist to confirm I wasn’t leaking”.

“Chancellor Bishop laughed incredulously at my emotional response and at one point blocked me leaving the room. I was so distressed I couldn’t breathe and struggled walking,” she recalled.

She said the meeting has had ongoing consequences.

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“I’ve received a threatening letter from a legal office. ANU media delayed publication of a piece I worked on. I was excluded from coordinated media during the election — something I would usually participate in,” she said.

“Colleagues are afraid to collaborate with me fearing the leadership.

“My online and work activities are monitored and I recently received numerous emails from the Vice-Chancellor’s head of public affairs and the senior advisor noting they were ‘watching my public comments’.”

Dr Allen went on to explain the emotional toll was so great she intended to take her own life, and that she suffered a miscarriage two weeks after the alleged incidents with Chancellor Bishop took place.

“I cannot tell you just how traumatising this was for me,” she said.

“A call from my husband stopped me taking my life.”

A man with short light hair and glasses wearing a navy blazer smiles.

Australian National University Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Churchill appeared at the Senate inquiry. (LinkedIn: Australian National University)

Jonathan Churchill, the ANU’s Chief Operating Officer, fronted the committee later in the day and addressed Dr Allen’s statement.

“We take what has been said very seriously,” he told the committee. 

“On a preliminary view a number of the statements don’t appear to be correct and we will examine all of the statements made and will respond with particularity, in writing, to those assertions.

“In relation to Dr Allen, I draw the committee’s attention to the fact there is a current grievance procedure against the university…that has been initiated by Dr Allen, that makes it impossible for me to comment whilst the grievance procedure is on foot without compromising those current proceedings.”

He said Professor Bell was not present at the inquiry because she is on sick leave with the flu, and Ms Bishop is engaged on separate business in her capacity as the UN Secretary General and Special Representative on Myanmar.

Another ANU Council member resigns  

It has also emerged that another ANU Council member, Francis Markham, resigned overnight.

Dr Markham also appeared before the Senate committee today and said he stepped down due to what he described as “concerns about governance practices within the council”.

His term was meant to expire in September 2026.

A man with round glasses, short hair and stubble smiles at the camera.

Francis Markham resigned from the ANU Council overnight.  (Supplied)

The ANU remains under a cloud as it pursues a controversial restructure with significant job losses to save $250 million by 2026.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare referred concerns about governance at the ANU to the country’s tertiary education regulator. He also wrote to the Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell in June after hearing “significant concerns” about the university.

The referral also included a letter from Independent ACT Senator David Pocock, who had previously accused ANU executives of “trashing an amazing institution.“

The Senate committee is investigating the quality of governance at Australian higher education providers, and the transparency, accountability, and financial safeguards of their governance bodies.

The committee is also looking into university compliance with workplace laws and regulations, employment practices, the use of external consultants and salaries paid to executives.