When her term as chancellor of the Australian National University expires this year, former foreign minister Julie Bishop will no longer be entitled to name her replacement.
The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) has taken an unprecedented action after months of unrest at ANU, characterised by issues with leadership, internal culture, and governance.
Since taking office in January 2020, Bishop has been the focus of persistent criticism.
The appointment of a university chancellor has never seen such direct intervention from the higher education authority, which is commonly seen as a criticism of Bishop’s leadership.
Consequently, Bishop will no longer be able to choose the future chancellor, which is against the university’s long-standing custom.
TEQSA announced last week that it had received a voluntary pledge from Canberra’s ANU to closely monitor Bishop’s successor’s hiring process. December 2026 marks the end of her mandate.
The reorganisation comes after a year of intensifying controversy, which included the sudden resignation of vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell, public accusations of intimidation and bullying brought up in a Senate investigation, and growing scepticism about the university’s council’s ability to make senior appointments on its own.
In accordance with the agreement, the search for the next chancellor will be supervised by a selection panel consisting of a majority of independent members, who will then suggest their chosen candidate to the ANU Council, which still has the official authority to appoint under the Australian National University Act of 1991.
During her tenure as ANU Chancellor, Bishop (pictured) has received harsh criticism from workers.
In what some have described as a direct response to “a breakdown in governance and trust at the university,” TEQSA itself will actively participate in the process’ design and oversight.
“We are satisfied the terms of the undertaking will ensure the selection process has the integrity and independence required to have the trust and confidence of the ANU community and other stakeholders,” the regulator stated, cautioning that action must be taken quickly as Bishop’s term ends later this year. “The next Chancellor will have a key role in setting the strategic direction and culture of the ANU.”
For ANU’s leadership, the intervention is just the most recent development in a disastrous run.
Bishop, who was appointed in 2020, has been under fire from employees, unions, and some politicians for her leadership during a $250 million cost-cutting initiative that resulted in widespread layoffs, extensive reorganisations, and a sharp decline in employee morale.
When vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell resigned in September 2025 after just 18 months in office due to strong resistance to the “Renew ANU” restructuring, tensions escalated.
Bell resigned a few days after a Senate investigation into university governance heard accusations of bullying and poisonous leadership, some of which specifically named Bishop.
Bishop has consistently refuted all accusations and declined to resign, claiming she has the ANU Council’s complete trust and must complete her term.
In December of this year, Julie Bishop’s six-year time as ANU Chancellor (shown with spouse Stephen Grey) will come to an end.
However, a new regulatory compliance review was prompted by Education Minister Jason Clare referring the ANU to TEQSA due to persistent discontent.
The voluntary project has ended a deadlock that halted the chancellor search while governance shortcomings were investigated, even though that review is still ongoing.
In order for the selection panel to comprehend the personal and professional qualities that the next chancellor should have, the new framework mandates that staff, students, and other stakeholders be consulted.
The industry views TEQSA’s action as unprecedented.
The regulator has never overseen or directly intervened in the process of choosing a university chancellor in its 14-year existence.
ACT Senator Katy Gallagher, a senior Albanese frontbencher, stated that the government supported the regulator’s ruling.
“ACT federal Labour representatives want to make it clear that we support the voluntary undertaking to appoint a new chancellor, as agreed between the ANU and the independent higher education regulator, TEQSA,” Gallagher said in a statement on Tuesday. “While reviews and enquiries into the ANU continue, the University needs stability while those processes run.””
