Genevieve Bell has bowed to intense pressure and resigned from her position as Australian National University (ANU) vice-chancellor.<\/p>\n
Professor Bell had been under increasing scrutiny due to forced redundancies and her handling of related concerns from staff and students.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
“This was not an easy decision,” Professor Bell said.<\/p>\n
“As many of you know, the ANU has been a special place for me, ever since I was a child.<\/p>\n
“Like the rest of our community, I believe firmly in our delivering on our national mission \u2014 to create and transmit knowledge through research and teaching of the highest quality.<\/p>\n
“And know that doing this requires a solid financial, cultural and operational foundation.”<\/p>\n
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Genevieve Bell was the 13th vice-chancellor of the Australian National University. (ABC News)<\/p>\n
Professor Bell said achieving that solid foundation had been “difficult” and acknowledged that recently the university had been experiencing “a very hard time”.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“I know there is still more work to do,” she said.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
In a letter to ANU staff, Chancellor Julie Bishop thanked Professor Bell for her service as vice-chancellor and president.<\/p>\n
Professor Rebekah Brown, who has most recently worked as senior deputy to Professor Bell and as ANU Provost, has been appointed interim vice-chancellor.<\/p>\n
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Professor Rebekah Brown has been appointed interim vice-chancellor at ANU. (ABC News: David Sciasci)<\/p>\n
Bishop says she will remain as chancellor<\/p>\n
Ms Bishop addressed a town hall session today alongside Professor Brown.<\/p>\n
Responding to questions from the hundreds of staff in attendance, she said she would remain as chancellor.<\/p>\n
When Ms Bishop told the crowd about the resignation of Professor Bell, there was applause and cheers from some within the crowd.<\/p>\n
“Today, we turn a page,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Bishop said the university would now take the opportunity to “reflect on how we move forward” with current change proposals.<\/p>\n
“I, and the council, will work with you to find options that help us find the best way forward,” she said.<\/p>\n
Professor Brown said “very serious consideration” would be taken about the future of the ‘Renew ANU’ plan and proposed job cuts.<\/p>\n
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Australian National University chancellor Julie Bishop addressed the media on Thursday in the wake of Professor Bell’s resignation. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n
Speaking to media this afternoon, Ms Bishop would not say if she had put pressure on Professor Bell to step down.<\/p>\n
“These are conversations that I’m not going to entertain \u2014 it’s a matter of respect,” she said.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“I think that sends a very powerful message, that she is and remains part of the ANU family.”<\/p>\n
Julie Bishop said the university was “listening” to the ANU community. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
She said she also intended to be part of the process of finding a new vice-chancellor.<\/p>\n
Ms Bishop said the ANU was not alone in facing financial difficulties.<\/p>\n
“The university’s financial situation, as it currently stands, began a very long time ago,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I am aware that when I became chancellor in January 2020 that we had some serious financial challenges.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Pressure to save millions<\/p>\n
Professor Bell was appointed as the institution’s 13th vice-chancellor in January 2024, taking over from Professor Brian Schmidt.<\/p>\n
The cultural anthropologist inherited what she described as an “enormous number of challenges” at the ANU.<\/p>\n
In October of last year, the university announced plans to save $250 million in operating costs by 2026<\/a> \u2014 including $100 million through salaries.<\/p>\n A series of “change proposals” followed \u2014 involving cuts and restructures across the institution.<\/p>\n 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)<\/p>\n A controversial move to axe the renowned School of Music<\/a> garnered particular outrage, sparking campus protests and condemnation from leaders in the arts industry.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Union members supported a vote of no confidence against her and Ms Bishop and have repeatedly called for their resignation.<\/p>\n Professor Bell long resisted that pressure and accused her critics of using her gender as a tactic to undermine her<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Sexism is alive and well and living in Australia,” she told ABC’s Stateline in March.<\/p>\n Australian National University chancellor Julie Bishop was accused of bullying and harassment. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n Accusations and investigations add to turmoilIf you or anyone you know needs help:Suicide Call Back Service<\/a> on 1300 659 467Lifeline<\/a> on 13 11 14Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN<\/a>\u00a0on 13 92 76Kids Helpline<\/a> on 1800 551 800Beyond Blue<\/a> on 1300 224 636Headspace<\/a> on 1800 650 890ReachOut<\/a> at au.reachout.com<\/a>MensLine Australia<\/a> on 1300 789 978QLife 1800 184 527<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a> into university governance.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> into the allegations.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the ANU remains under investigation<\/a> by the higher education regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), over concerns about the university’s operations.<\/p>\n A fortnight ago, Professor Bell announced future savings in the university’s ongoing restructure would not involve forced job cuts<\/a>.<\/p>\n That did not include areas of the university where a savings plan had already been announced.<\/p>\n Loading…<\/p>\n The move failed to remedy the loss of confidence in Professor Bell’s leadership.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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