Pip was appointed as DVC (People and Community) in April 2022. In this role, and together with the Chief People Officer, Alexis Beckwith, Pip is focused on ensuring the University is a workplace that people aspire to join. Pip led the development of the University’s People Strategy 2023 - 2030 which will see the transformation of the workforce as we embed secure work and workforce strategy and planning; adapt academic and professional roles; foster new and collaborative ways of working; support leadership development of all staff; increase diversity; embed equality of opportunity; and establish agreed values for the institution.
Pip leads the Diversity and Inclusion agenda including anti-racism, gender equity and the disability and LGBTIQA+ implementation plans, alongside work around staff and student sexual misconduct, prevention and response. A key focus in 2024 is the development of its Anti-racism Action Plan, informed by consultation with staff and students.
Pip works with students to escalate their contribution to University of Melbourne affairs, through increasing engagement with the Elected Student Leaders and via the Student Forum established in 2023. Pip also works closely with residential colleges and Melbourne University Sport, each of which play a key role in the life of university students.
Before being appointed as DVC (People and Community) on 26 April 2022, Professor Nicholson served as Dean of the Melbourne Law School (MLS) from 2018 to March 2022, and also previously served as the Director of the Asian Law Centre.
Pip has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the university community, having served as Vice-President and Deputy Vice-President of Academic Board between 2015 and 2017 and Chair of the Respect Taskforce in 2019.
For over 20 years, Professor Nicholson’s research has focused on the Vietnamese legal system and comparative approaches to development aid. A former barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia, Professor Nicholson’s professional experience spans commercial lawyering, legal aid and international consultancy, with a focus on development aid in Asia. Across this period, Pip has consistently taken insights from her research into her teaching at the MLS in the Juris Doctor and the Melbourne Law Masters programs.
Outside of work, Pip is a keen bushwalker (complete with accompanying sticks!), an avid boogie-boarder, loves time with her family, and thoroughly enjoys a fresh food shopping trip on Saturday mornings.