Latest VC Fellows announced
Former Federal MP and leading Australian social policy expert Jenny Macklin and internationally renowned clinician scientist Professor Sir John Savill have been appointed Vice-Chancellor’s Fellows at the University of Melbourne.
Vice-Chancellor Duncan Maskell praised the former Federal Minister for her commitment to Australian politics and service to the community through life-changing social policy reform.
“Jenny has been a passionate leader for equity and justice throughout her life. She has helped so many people through the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme which has been one of the most significant reforms to Australia’s system of social protection,” Professor Maskell said.
“Jenny’s deep commitment to delivering social policy change makes her an outstanding choice as a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow. Her unique experiences at the interface of academia, government and politics will ensure that she makes a significant contribution to research excellence at the University.”
Sir John Savill has been a leading figure in the global medical research community for more than 20 years and was highly influential in promoting research excellence. Earlier this year Sir John was appointed Executive Director of the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health.
”Sir John’s proven track record in guiding large institutions through changes in the funding of health research in the UK is very similar to the challenges on the horizon in Australia,” Professor Maskell said. “Sir John’s experience in aligning health research with funding priorities is something that will benefit the entire University.”
As a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, Ms Macklin will collaborate across various University faculties to create and support interdisciplinary research, hosted by the Melbourne School of Government. Ms Macklin will support the Melbourne Disability Institute to build its position as a global leader in disability research and policy advice.
Sir John’s role as a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow will involve acting and advocating for the University, fostering multidisciplinary research, mentoring leaders and providing advice on major innovation and infrastructure initiatives.
The Vice-Chancellor's Fellow program provides distinguished leaders with access to a scholarly environment and the opportunity to make a distinctive contribution to the University and the wider community.
Ms Macklin and Sir John will take up their positions later this year.
About Jenny Macklin
During her 22-year political career, Ms Macklin was the Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs – helping to deliver Australia’s formal Apology to the Stolen Generations and create the Closing the Gap Strategy – and was the Minister for Disability Reform. In Opposition, her portfolios included health, aged care, education, training and science, social security, families and community services, indigenous affairs and the status of women.
Prior to entering Federal Parliament, Ms Macklin led two major policy reviews: the National Health Strategy, a three-year review of Australia’s health system, and the national Urban and Regional Development Review.
About Professor Sir John Savill
From 2002-2018, Professor Sir John was Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Alongside this role, he was also Chief Executive at the Medical Research Council UK from 2010-2018 where he was responsible to the UK Parliament for expenditure of around £800m per year.
Sir John was knighted in 2008 for services to clinical science and was appointed a Founding Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and was elected as a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Society. He has received honorary degrees from six universities.
Sir John was appointed as the Executive Director of the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health, commencing July 2019. In this role, he will provide strategic oversight to the Centre’s work of marrying world-leading health research with cutting-edge clinical practice, to improve healthcare delivery, enhance patient and community outcomes and develop the healthcare leaders of the future.