Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Engagement & Equity)

The University of Newcastle is seeking an outstanding and values-driven leader to join its Executive Leadership Team as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Engagement and Equity (DVC E&E).

This is a distinctive and nationally significant role, quite unlike a traditional Deputy Vice-Chancellor portfolio. It is a uniquely Australian, community-anchored leadership role that brings together equity, civic engagement and regional transformation at scale.

The University of Newcastle is a top 1% global institution, recognised for its leadership in equity, access and community impact. The University is distinctive in its strong commitment to serving its regions, bringing people to higher education who have not traditionally accessed it, and partnering across communities to deliver meaningful, place-based outcomes.

Guided by its Looking Ahead 2030 strategy, the University has a clear ambition to be a world-leading university for its regions, driving opportunity, inclusion and transformation locally and nationally.

Engagement and equity sit at the heart of this mission. With one of the largest cohorts of students from equity backgrounds in Australia, a sector-leading pathways model, and deep partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the University has built a reputation as a national leader in participation and social mobility. The University’s approach is underpinned by the work of the Wollotuka Institute and broader Wollotuka cultural standards, which embed principles of cultural safety, reciprocity, and genuine partnership across all areas of university life.

The Opportunity

The DVC E&E will play a pivotal role in advancing equity, inclusion and engagement, and in strengthening the University’s contribution to its communities across the Hunter and beyond. As a member of the University Executive, the DVC E&E provides strategic, influential and accountable leadership of the University’s engagement and equity agenda.

Importantly, this is not a traditional DVC portfolio. It is an externally oriented leadership role that places the University as an anchor institution within its region, connecting strategy, community, and societal impact in a deeply integrated way.

The portfolio encompasses equity, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, pathways and access, communications, government relations, and community partnerships. It also plays a critical role in shaping how the University engages with its region, its communities and the broader Australian higher education landscape.

The incoming DVC E&E will build on strong foundations while shaping the next phase of impact, strengthening participation, deepening partnerships, and ensuring the University continues to lead nationally in delivering opportunity for diverse communities.

Key Priorities

This role requires a leader who can operate confidently at both strategic and community levels, balancing institutional leadership with a strong external presence across the region and nationally.

Key priorities include:

Embedding equity and participation at scale

• Driving whole-of-institution strategy to increase access, participation and success for students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, regional and low-SES cohorts.

Leading engagement with First Nations communities

• Building trusted, respectful and enduring relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, embedding cultural knowledge, governance and partnership across the University.

Strengthening pathways and access programs

• Sustaining and enhancing the University’s nationally leading pathways model, which provides alternative entry to higher education for thousands of students each year, ensuring strong transition, retention and success outcomes.

Driving community and place-based engagement

• Positioning the University as an anchor institution within the Hunter region, partnering with communities, schools, industry, and local, state and federal government to support social and economic transformation.

Responding to regional transformation

• Playing a key leadership role in supporting the Hunter region’s transition, including workforce reskilling and new industry development, through deep engagement with government, industry and community stakeholders.

Leading societal impact priorities

• Advancing institutional responses to key challenges including disability access, gender-based violence prevention and response, and anti-racism, ensuring alignment with national priorities and best practice.

Enhancing communications, brand and reputation

• Leading a large and established communications and engagement function to strengthen the University’s profile and ensure its impact is clearly articulated to communities, government and stakeholders.

About You

You will be a senior executive leader with a strong track record of impact within a large and complex organisation, ideally in higher education or a related sector.

The University of Newcastle is seeking a leader who combines strategic leadership capability with a genuine commitment to equity, inclusion and community engagement, and who is motivated by the opportunity to lead a non-traditional, externally facing portfolio with real societal impact.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale equity, engagement or social impact portfolios
• Strong understanding of the Australian higher education and policy landscape, particularly in relation to participation, access and student success
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with government, communities, industry and First Nations stakeholders
• Experience leading complex organisations and high-performing, multidisciplinary teams
• Exceptional communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement capability
• A values-driven leadership style, with a strong commitment to inclusion, cultural respect and community impact
• PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant field such as social sciences, humanities, communications, education or business.

Why the University of Newcastle?

The University of Newcastle offers a distinctive executive leadership environment, purpose-driven, community-focused and deeply connected to place.

The University is recognised nationally for its leadership in equity and access, including its sector-leading pathways programs and its strong engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It has one of the highest proportions of students from underrepresented backgrounds in Australia, and a long-standing commitment to creating opportunity through education.

With its Callaghan and City Campuses located in Newcastle, at the heart of the Hunter region, the University is central to one of Australia’s most important economic transitions, from traditional industries to a clean energy future, playing a critical role in supporting communities, workforce transformation and regional development. Our recently expanded campus presence in three locations across the Central Coast – including in the fast-growing hub of Gosford – aligns with our mission of expanding opportunity and access to higher education for our regions.

With a strong physical presence in our regions and a clear commitment to engagement, the University offers a unique opportunity to lead at scale while making a tangible difference to communities.

How to Apply

The University of Newcastle is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

To request a candidate briefing pack or to have an initial discussion, please contact:

Dr Courtenay Atwell

Email: UONDVCEE@kornferry.com

Applications should include a brief cover letter and curriculum vitae and be submitted by midnight on Thursday 25^th June 2026. 

Please do not apply directly to the University of Newcastle.

The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas. We extend that respect to the homelands of our students and staff. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present. We are fully committed to building on our strengths in Indigenous higher education and providing a supportive space for our Indigenous students, staff and communities.

The University of Newcastle is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We value the unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives each person brings to our community and strive to create a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, people with diverse gender identities and sexualities, people living with disability, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.