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Professor Belinda Tynan appointed new Provost of ACU

Australian Catholic University (ACU) has appointed Professor Belinda Tynan to be its new Provost from February 2021.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Greg Craven announced the appointment on Thursday 10 December, and congratulated Professor Tynan on her new position.

“It is no secret that the Australian higher education sector has experienced significant change in recent years, during which time some of the most gifted and inspiring leaders have risen to the fore. Professor Tynan’s strong record of delivering innovative strategies with sound judgement will reinforce ACU’s academic position and provide renewed rigor to the digital and innovation strategies underway.”

Professor Tynan joins ACU from RMIT where she is the outgoing Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) and Vice President. She is also a Director of RMIT Online and supervises the Academic Portfolio at RMIT Vietnam. Before joining RMIT in 2016 she was Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning & Teaching at Open University in the UK, and Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning, Teaching and Quality (LTQ), at the University of Southern Queensland.

An accomplished educator, Professor Tynan made a mark on RMIT for transforming both the student and staff experience. She has considerable experience in digital innovation, online education, industry enabled curriculum and technology enhanced practices. 

Her leadership background reaches across school, vocational and higher education sectors in Australia and internationally. Her knowledge and network across multiple sectors will be highly valued as ACU delivers its strategic plan.

Professor Tynan is an ACU alumna and holds numerous qualifications including a doctorate from the University of Western Australia. A graduate of the Company Directors Course (GAICD) from the Australian Institute of Company Directors she is well versed in matters of governance.

Professor Tynan’s professional and research interests are concentrated in the field of education. She has numerous refereed publications and is a frequently invited guest, keynote-speaker and facilitator. Her weekly blog on LinkedIn throughout COVID has provided thought leadership through what many say has been a most unprecedented year. She will be an excellent advocate for ACU, its purpose and aspirations.

She is also the Commonwealth Government’s nominee, Deputy Chair and non-executive director of the Commonwealth of Learning and immediate past President of the International Council of Open and Distance Education. Her passion for inclusive education for all has been a hallmark of her career to date.

The role of Provost at ACU is responsible for maintaining academic quality, overseeing the faculties, and providing the operational delivery of ACU's academic program, delivering the university’s innovation and education strategy, global education pathways, and managing numerous internal and external relationships. The depth of tested experience that Professor Tynan brings to ACU will be welcomed in this role.

Professor Tynan said, “I am delighted to be joining ACU at this time and to be able to contribute to ACU’s next chapter.”

Professor Tynan takes up her role at ACU on 22 February 2021. She will be based at the university’s Melbourne Campus.

She is replacing Professor Zlatko Skrbis, who will become ACU’s fourth Vice-Chancellor and President in January 2021.

Professor Craven thanked Professor Skrbis for his dedication to the university and wished both leaders well in their new roles. “Professor Skrbis had already embarked on a bold agenda with a sense of determination and skill that placed the university in very good stead when the additional challenges of 2020 took hold. This program of innovation, academic and digital transformation will continue to flourish under Professor Tynan’s guidance and direction.

“It is extremely gratifying to know that ACU has such a talented and committed leadership team who will embrace and champion its Catholic mission and identity whilst maintaining the integrity of the university.”