Roles and duties
Learn more about the role and duties of our Senate Fellows.
Our Senate Fellows
Our Senate Fellows perform functions of the Senate with due care and diligence, acting in the best interests of the University. They provide valuable contribution in Senate meetings and standing committees.
The constitution of the Senate is set out in Division 1 of the University of Sydney Act 1989, and is currently comprised of:
- Three official members
- Seven external members
- Three elected University staff members (academic and non-academic)
- Two elected University students (undergraduate and postgraduate)
Official members
The three official members, include:
- The Chancellor
- The Vice-Chancellor
- The presiding member or deputy presiding member of the Academic Board
David Thodey AO
BA Anthropology & English Victoria University, Wellington, Hon DBus UTS, Hon DScTech Deakin, Hon DBus Sydney
- Current term as Chancellor: July 2024 - June 2028
| Memberships |
|---|
| Chair of Senate Current term: July 2024 - June 2028 |
| Finance and Audit Committee Current term: July 2024 - June 2028 Previous term: July 2022 - June 2024 |
| Finance Investment Sub-Committee Current term: July 2024 - June 2028 |
| People and Culture Committee Current term: July 2024 - June 2028 |
| Honorary Awards Committee Current term: July 2024 - June 2028 |
| Performance and Risk Committee Current term: July 2024 - June 2028 |
| Nominations Committee Current term: July 2024 - June 2028 |
Professor Mark Scott AO
BA DipEd MA Hon DLitt Sydney, MPA Harvard, Hon DBus UNSW, Hon DUniv UTS, FAICD, FRSN
Professor Mark Scott was appointed as the University’s 27th Vice-Chancellor in 2021. He is a highly respected and successful senior leader of large and complex institutions, across public service, education and the media. Under his leadership as Secretary of the NSW Department of Education (2016 to 2021), the Department:
- secured a record 10-year funding agreement for public schools
- created School Infrastructure NSW to deliver an additional 160,000 classroom places
- established the School Leadership Institute to train and develop aspiring school principals across the state
- established policies around the protection and expansion of Aboriginal languages in NSW schools.
Professor Scott is an accomplished communicator and his distinguished record of strategic leadership includes a decade as Managing Director of the ABC (2006 to 2016), where he led the organisation’s transformation to be a public broadcaster in the digital era. Over that time, the ABC created new services like iview, News 24, ABC3 and digital radio; and expanded online and mobile services, such as podcasting and ABC News online.
Professor Scott has also held a number of senior editorial roles at Fairfax, including Education Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and Editor-in-Chief of metropolitan, regional and community newspapers. His contribution to education reaches back to the start of his career, as a teacher in Sydney. He built on his interest in education with senior policy and leadership positions with two NSW education ministers – Terry Metherell and Virginia Chadwick – and in 2011 he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia.
He is also a proud alumnus of the University and holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma of Education, a Master of Arts (Political Science and Government), an Honorary Doctorate (Letters) and a Professor of Practice (Education and Media) from the University of Sydney, as well as a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has also been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of NSW and University of Technology Sydney.
- Current term as Vice-Chancellor: July 2021 – July 2026
| Memberships |
|---|
| Buildings and Estates Committee Current term: July 2021 - July 2026 |
| Finance and Audit Committee Current term: July 2021 - July 2026 |
| Finance Investment Sub-Committee Current term: July 2021 - July 2026 |
| People and Culture Committee Current term: July 2021 - July 2026 |
| Honorary Awards Committee Current term: July 2021 - July 2026 |
| Performance and Risk Committee Current term: July 2021 - July 2026 |
| Nominations Committee Current term: July 2021 - July 2026 |
Professor Jane Hanrahan
PhD Warwick, GradCertEdStudies(Higher Ed), MRACI CChem
Professor Jane Hanrahan is the current Chair of the Academic Board of the University of Sydney.
She is an academic in Sydney Pharmacy School at the University's Faculty of Medicine and Health.
She is a member of the National Tertiary Education Union and has been awarded two Vice Chancellors’ Awards for Outstanding Teaching.
- Current term as Chair of Academic Board: 1 January 2024 - 31 December 2025
- Previous term as Chair of Academic Board: 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2023
| Memberships |
|---|
| Buildings and Estates Committee Current term: January 2024 - December 2025 Previous term: January 2022 – 31 December 2023 |
| Performance and Risk Committee Current term: January 2022 - 31 December 2023 |
| Honorary Awards Committee Current term: January 2024 - December 2025 Previous term: January 2022 – 31 December 2023 |
| Nominations Committee Current term: January 2024 - December 2025 Previous term: January 2022 – 31 December 2023 |
Richard Freudenstein
BEc LLB(Hons) Sydney
Richard Freudenstein is one of two external persons appointed by the Minister and is the current Deputy Chancellor of the University of Sydney. He is the former CEO of Foxtel and has over 20 years’ experience in senior management and board roles in Australia, the United Kingdom and Asia.
A graduate of the University of Sydney, Richard is passionate about education and its importance for the future of Australia and the world.
- Current term as Deputy Chancellor: 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2024
- Previous term as Deputy Chancellor: 1 April 2022 - 31 March 2024
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2021 – 30 November 2025
- Previous term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2017 - 30 November 2021
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Performance and Risk Committee (PARC) | Current term: Previous term (Chair): |
| Finance and Audit Committee (FAC) | Current term: Previous term:
|
| Finance Investment Sub-Committee (FC IS) | Current term: Previous term:
|
| People and Culture Committee (PCC) | Current term: Previous term:
|
| Honorary Awards Committee (HAC) | Current term (Chair): Previous term:
|
| Nominations Committee (NC) | Current term (Chair): Previous term: |
Professor Tom Calma AO
Associate Diploma of Social Work
Tom Calma is one of two external persons appointed by the Minister. He has previously served as the Chancellor at the University of Canberra, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, and as Race Discrimination Commissioner.
He was awarded an Order of Australia, Officer of the General Division in 2012, was named ACT Australian of the Year in 2013, and Australian Senior of the Year in 2023.
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 June 2024 - 1 June 2028
Dr Lisa McIntyre
BSc (Hons) Sydney, PhD Cantab
Dr Lisa McIntyre is one of five external persons appointed by the Senate. She is an executive and non-executive director with extensive experience in the governance of large and complex organisations, with a particular interest in biotechnology, medical and health services research.
Dr McIntyre has been a non-executive director or chairman of more than a dozen organisations ranging from not-for-profit foundations to medical research institutes, venture-capital-backed technology companies to listed insurance companies, and private equity-owned health services companies to large public sector organisations.
Her experience includes 20 years as a senior partner at L.E.K. Consulting and 12 years as a director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
- Current term as Pro-Chancellor: 1 June 2023 - 31 May 2025
- Previous Term as Pro-Chancellor: 1 June 2021 - 31 May 2023
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2023 - 30 November 2027
- Previous terms as Fellow of Senate: 16 August 2017- 30 November 2019, 1 December 2019 - 30 November 2023
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Finance and Audit (FAC) Committee | Current term: Previous terms: |
Finance Investment Sub-Committee (FC IS) |
Current term: Previous term:
|
| Nominations Committee (NC) | Current term: Previous term: |
Jason Yat-sen Li
BA LLB (Hons) Sydney LLM NYU
Jason Yat-sen Li is one of five external persons appointed by the Senate. He has over 20 years of commercial experience in Australia, the United States and Asia. He led the IAG’s China Strategy before moving to China in 2005 on an expat assignment.
Jason has been executive chairperson of Vantage Asia Holdings since 2011, a diversified investment firm with a range of investments in resources, digital technology and agribusiness firms in Asia.
Jason has also been vice-chair of the Australia-China Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, a non-executive director of the Sydney Institute, the National Centre for Volunteering and the Asia-Australia Institute, as well as a governing member of the Smith Family.
- Current term as Pro-Chancellor: 1 June 2023-31 May 2025
- Previous Term as Pro-Chancellor: 1 June 2021- 31 May 2023
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2021 – 30 November 2025
- Previous term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2017 - 30 November 2021
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| People and Culture Committee (PCC) | Current term Previous term |
| Performance and Risk Committee (PARC) (Chair) |
Current term (Chair): Previous term: |
Karen Moses
BEc Sydney
DipEd
Karen Moses is one of five external persons appointed by the Senate. A University of Sydney graduate, Karen is the former Executive Director, Finance and Strategy for Origin Energy. She has more than 30 years’ experience as a senior executive and has served on a number of diverse boards.
She is the current Chair of the Audit Committee for Charter Hall Group and Music in the Regions and is a member of this Committee for Boral Limited and Orica Limited. She is Chair of the Human Resources and Remuneration Comittee at Orica, and a member of this Committee at Charter Hall Group and SnowyHydro. She is Chair of the health, Safety and Environment Committee at Boral Limited. She is Chair of the Portfolio Risk Committee at SnowyHydro. Additionally she is Chair of the NSW Artform Board for Dance and Physical Committee. A graduate of the University of Sydney, Karen is passionate about education and its importance for the future of Australia and the world.
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2023 - 30 November 2025
- Previous terms as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2017 - 30 November 2021, 1 December 2021 – 30 November 2023
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Finance and Audit Committee (FAC) (Chair) | Current term: Previous term: |
| FC Investment Sub-Committee (FC IS) | Current term: Previous term: |
| Performance and Risk Committee (PARC) | Current term Previous term |
Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew
BSc (Hons) Sydney, PhD Sydney, DSc (h.c.) Wollongong
Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew is one of five external persons appointed by the Senate. He is a graduate of the University of Sydney and was awarded a BSc(Hons) and University Medal in 1972 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1975.
Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew has held senior academic executive appointments at the Universities of Sydney, Queensland, and New South Wales as well as Vice-Chancellor at the University of New England. From 2001 to 2005 Emeritus Professor Pettigrew was the inaugural CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. Since 2009 he has served as a member of the Commonwealth Cooperative Research Centres Committee (2010-2015), the Council of the QIMRBerghofer Medical Research Institute (2011-2021), adviser to the Chief Scientist of Australia (2011-2014) and consultant to 11 Australian universities.
Emeritus Professor Pettigrew was Chair of the Board of the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute from 2014 to 2021. He has also contributed to international projects supported by the World Bank, the OECD and the Swedish International Development Agency through his Professorial Fellow position at the University of Melbourne (2010-2018).
- Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2023 - 30 November 2025
- Previous term as Fellow of Senate: 9 May 2019 – 30 November 2023
- Current term as Pro-Chancellor: 1 June 2023 - 31 May 2025
- Previous term as Pro-Chancellor: 1 June 2021 – 31 May 2023
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| People and Culture Committee (PCC) | Current term (Chair): Previous terms (Chair): |
| Finance and Audit Committee (FAC) | Current term: 1 June 2023 - 31 May 2025 |
| Nominations Committee (NC) | Current term Previous term |
Peter Scott
BE(Hons) Monash, MEngSc UNSW, HonFIEAust MICE
Peter Scott is one of five external persons appointed by the Senate. He has considerable board and executive experience in both commercial and not-for-profit organisations and extensive property development and facilities management skills with senior roles at LendLease and Civil and Civic.
Peter currently holds the following positions:
- Non-executive director Transurban Group
- Director of O’Connell Street Associates
Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 December 2023 - 30 November 2025
Previous terms as Fellow of Senate: 15 August 2016- 30 November 2019, 1 December 2019- 30 November 2023
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Building and Estates Committee (Chair) | Current term: Previous term: |
| Nominations Committee (NC) | Current term Previous term |
Professor Ben Saul
BA (Hons) LLB (Hons) Sydney, GDLP DPhil Oxon
Professor Ben Saul is one of two persons elected by and from the academic staff.
Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 June 2023 – 31 May 2025
| Memberships | |
| Performance and Risk Committee (PARC) | Current term: 1 June 2023 - 31 May 2025 |
Professor Renae Ryan AM
BSc (Hons) Sydney, PhD Sydney, GAICD
Professor Renae Ryan is one of two persons elected by and from the academic staff.
Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 June 2023 - 31 May 2025
Previous term as Fellow of Senate: 1 June 2021 – 31 May 2023
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Performance and Risk Committee (PARC) | Current term: Previous term: |
| Honorary Awards Committee (HAC) | Current term: Previous term: |
Rebecca Ward
BA, BPhil, MCrWrit
Rebecca Ward has been elected by and from the University's non-academic staff.
She always dreamt of working at the University of Sydney. As a Low SES and First in Family student, she initially pursued tertiary qualifications to feed her mind while she supported herself in predominantly casual roles across multiple sectors, including live theatre venues, call centres, wine sales and customer service, barista and waitressing in regional NSW, civil construction payroll and accounts receivables/payables, student services and student recruitment, nannying and petsitting, plus a short-lived stint in the funeral industry.
She initially enrolled at the University of Sydney as a research student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, commencing as a casual administration officer in the Faculty office and the Strategic Partnerships and Engagement team. She realised how intellectually rewarding a non-Academic career could be, and how well it suited her varied life experiences and skillset, discovering a sense of purpose and belonging previously unimagined.
She is passionate about expanding tertiary opportunities for young people in hardship and ensuring all who seek higher learning will feel welcome and supported.
She is currently the Teaching & Curriculum Coordinator within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Education Portfolio.
Current term as Fellow of Senate: 1 June 2023 – 31 May 2025
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Building and Estates Committee (BEC) | Current term: June 2023 – May 2025 |
Benjamin Jorgensen has been elected by and from the undergraduate student body.
He has held various roles across the university, participating vivaciously in the student culture. He steered clubs through the pandemic and was the Ethnocultural Officer for the Sydney Arts Student Society in 2022. Also a Director of Student Publications of the Student Representative Council in 2020.
As a strategic communication professional with experience in both grassroots to national-level campaigns, he has helped shape education and health outcomes in Australia through public affairs.
Current term as Fellow of Senate: December 2022 – 30 November 2024
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Performance and Risk Committee (PARC) | Current term: December 2022 - November 2024 |
YinFeng (Benny) Shen
BCom, MMGT Sydney, MiM CEMS
Yinfeng (Benny) Shen has been elected by and from the postgraduate student body.
Graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master’s in International Management (CEMS), he is currently pursuing a PhD in collaboration with local government, focusing on the role of businesses in advancing social cohesion. A committed advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), he has served as Global Lead for DEI and led anti-racism campaigns in Australia and internationally.
On campus, he has held several leadership roles prior to joining the senate, serving as the Honorary Secretary of the University of Sydney Union (USU) and Education Officer at the Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA). His dedication to fostering an inclusive campus environment was recognized with the Convocation Medal for Undergraduate Leadership in the 2021 Alumni Awards.
He is also actively involved in the Australia-China community, contributing to multiple research groups and as a member of the University’s China Studies Center. In 2023, he led and co-edited the report, "Coo-ee from Chinese Australians: Echoing the Long Connections with Indigenous Communities."
He has held advisory roles in higher education and public policy and has been involved in branding and digital strategies across various industries. He has provided consulting services to major global fashion and luxury brands, specializing in customer journey, rebranding strategies, and omni-channel development tailored to Gen-Z audiences.
Current term as Fellow of Senate: December 2022 – 30 November 2024.
| Memberships | |
|---|---|
| Building and Estates Committee (BEC) | Current term: December 2022 - November 2024 |