Adelaide University Vice Chancellor appointed
A Vice Chancellor has been named for Adelaide University as the merger between the universities of Adelaide and South Australia progresses.
Professor Nicola Phillips has been appointed to the top job following a unanimous decision by the Adelaide University Transition Council.
Co-founding Vice Chancellors Professors Peter Høj AC and David Lloyd will continue to lead Adelaide University until Phillips begins her new position on January 12, 2026.
Adelaide University said Professor Phillips has 30 years of experience in the higher education sector in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Phillips has been Provost at the University of Melbourne since September 2021, where she is currently a Professor of Political Economy.
She has also held senior leadership roles at King’s College London, The University of Sheffield and The University of Manchester.
“I look forward to leading Adelaide University and establishing the institution as a trailblazer for change, where education and research of the highest quality reach into all corners of our society to transform the lives of individuals and communities,” said Phillips.
Adelaide University said Phillips was chosen after a global search led by the Transition Council in partnership with executive search firm Korn Ferry, and was informed by a Recruitment Recommendation Panel made up of internal and expert external members.
“We are delighted to announce Prof. Phillips as the new Vice Chancellor of Adelaide University as we boldly take our next steps as Australia’s new comprehensive university for the future,” said Pauline Carr, who is Chancellor of the Transition Council.
“Throughout her career, Prof. Phillips has been a formidable force, guiding significant step-changes across contemporary academic delivery, student access and equity, Aboriginal knowledges, online education, and cultural inclusivity, with strong alignment to Adelaide University’s strategic direction as a differentiated member of Australia’s Group of Eight.”
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Deputy Premier Susan Close said the Malinauskas Labor government welcomes the appointment of Phillips as the Vice Chancellor and President of Adelaide University.
“The appointment of Professor Phillips is another important step in the new Adelaide University providing world-class tertiary education here in South Australia,” she said.
“I look forward to supporting Professor Phillips in the creation of a leading global university and an institution that delivers unprecedented value to students, staff and our community”
Adelaide University is scheduled to open in January 2026 and is expected to have around 70,000 students, with international students making up roughly 25 per cent of all enrolments.
