University Council & committees

Council's Terms of Reference should be read in conjunction with the Victoria University Council Regulations 2021.

• 21 March 2024
• 28 May 2024
• 13 August 2024
• 8 October 2024
• 3 December 2024

Council is composed of ex-officio members, internal members and external members.

Chair & Deputy Chair

Chair:

• Steve Bracks - Chancellor.

Deputy Chairperson:

• Kate Roffey – Deputy Chancellor.

Official members

• Steve Bracks
• Professor Tom Clark
• Professor Adam Shoemaker.

Council members

• Elizabeth Beattie
• Peter George
• Janine Mohamed
• Kate Roffey
• Pru Sanderson
• Fiona Schutt
• Mark Toohey
• Felicity Topp
• Gregory Tucker
• Cathy Whelan.

Elected members

• Stuart Martin (staff)
• Danielle Kanatas (student).

The work of Council is built upon a framework of legislation (VU Act, Statutes and Regulations) accompanied by a series of relevant procedures.

• Victoria University Act 2010
• Governance, Academic and Student Affairs Statute 2013
• University Council Regulations 2021
• Vice-Chancellor Regulations 2021
• Conduct of Council Business and Standing Orders Procedure
• Remuneration and Reimbursement of Council Members Procedure
• Titles and Honorary Degrees Regulations 2013

Building on the provisions in the Victoria University Act 2010 (the Act) and the University’s Governance, Academic and Student Affairs Statute 2013 (the GASA), the Victoria University Council Regulations 2021 sets out the principles, roles and requirements that govern the operational framework of the University Council and its Committees.

The Council is also subject to a range of Commonwealth legislation, including for the provision of higher education under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (Cth) and the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021; and for the provision of vocational education and training under the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 and the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015.

On 3 May 2023, Victoria University Council approved the University's response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Victoria University supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart in its entirety. This means we also endorse a coming together under Makarrata to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations, and truth-telling about our history. Therefore, the University Council unequivocally resolves to support the Voice to Parliament.

The state of Victoria enacted Australia’s first-ever Treaty legislation in 2018, followed by the establishment of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. We strongly support the ongoing work of the Assembly and our collective journey to Treaty. 

In the lead-up to the referendum and beyond, we commit to ensuring the information we share is clear, unambiguous, evidence-based, value-driven and respectful. Our communities expect no less.

1. The Council nominates and appoints members of the Finance and Investment Committee. It will have the following membership:
   • up to five external members of Council, one of whom will be the Chair
   • an option of up to two additional independent external members with specialist skills in accounting and finance.
2. All members of the Committee must have:
   • knowledge of the University’s Strategic Plan and associated funding issues
   • financial literacy including the ability to read and understand financial statements including a balance sheet, a profit and loss statement and a cash flow statement.
3. Among the members of the Committee there will be:
   • members with relevant financial qualifications and financial management expertise at a senior level in the public or private sector
   • members with a track record in approving organisational investment strategy and capital projects
   • members with commercial expertise including experience at a senior level in the public or private sector
   • skills, knowledge and experience in areas relevant to the effective use of the University’s resources.

• Fiona Schutt (Chair)
• Mark Toohey
• Peter Day
• Mary Delahunty
• Peter George
• Liz Beattie.

The Nominations Committee will have the following membership:

• the Chancellor, as Chair
• the/a Deputy Chancellor, as Deputy Chair
• the Vice-Chancellor
• three members of Council appointed by the Chancellor.

• Steve Bracks (Chair)
• Liz Beattie
• Professor Tom Clark
• Peter George
• Janine Mohamed
• Kate Roffey
• Adam Shoemaker