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ACU appoints new Chief Infrastructure and Property Officer

Mr Hjalmar Philipp has been appointed Australian Catholic University's new Chief Infrastructure and Property Officer.

Mr Philipp will join ACU from the Yarra Ranges Council where he is currently Director, Built Environment and Infrastructure, managing a combined capital and operating expenditure of $130m across a $1.8b asset portfolio. His leadership at the Council has resulted in an increase in capital delivery rates to 94 per cent and the delivery of a whole-of-Council asset optimisation project.

With qualifications in engineering, economics and the environment, Mr Philipp has worked for large multinational companies internationally and in Australia. In more recent years, he has leveraged his extensive global experience to inform local approaches. He has held senior technical and leadership roles at Oil Search (now Santos), Sinclair Knight Merz (now Jacobs), UTR Consulting and Nillumbik Shire Council.

His technical leadership in sustainability and climate is recognised through his contributions to the development of the Australian Standard for Climate Risk and Infrastructure, and his involvement with the UN Global Compact Network.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Corporate) Patrick Woods said he was pleased to welcome Mr Philipp to the University.

"Mr Philipp brings deep experience across infrastructure, sustainability and community engagement. His practical leadership across complex asset portfolios will be an important asset for ACU as we move to the next stage of maturity under Vision 2033," he said.

Mr Philipp said he was delighted to be joining ACU and excited by the opportunity to add value to the university.

"I look forward to being able to contribute to the care, planning and development of ACU's campuses and assets in a way that supports the university's mission, including the values of equity, wellbeing and sustainability that bring the mission to life," Mr Philipp said.

"I look forward to listening, learning and working closely with the community to deliver practical, sustainable outcomes."

Mr Philipp holds a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering, a Graduate Diploma in Economics and a Master of Environment. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a graduate of Melbourne Business School's Advanced Management Program. He will commence his new role on 9 February and will be based at the university's Melbourne Campus.