News

Martin Daubney reappointed as ACU Chancellor

The Hon Martin Daubney AM KC KSG has been reappointed as Chancellor of Australian Catholic University for a second five-year term.

• The Hon Martin Daubney AM KC KSG has been reappointed as Chancellor of Australian Catholic University for a second five-year term
• Mr Daubney is well known in the Australian legal community as a leading barrister, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland and President of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
• Mr Daubney is a Member of the Order of Australia and received a papal knighthood in 2026.

The Hon Martin Daubney AM KC KSG has been reappointed as Chancellor of Australian Catholic University for a second five-year term.

President of ACU Corporation, Brisbane Archbishop Most Rev. Shane Mackinlay, welcomed Mr Daubney’s reappointment following the Corporation’s Annual General Meeting.

“I am delighted that the Members of ACU Corporation have voted to reappoint the Mr Daubney as Chancellor of the University for a further five-year term,” Archbishop Mackinlay said.

“During his first term as Chancellor, he has provided outstanding leadership for ACU, during a time of great challenges for the Australian university sector.

“He is particularly noteworthy for his clear, nuanced understanding of the mission of the Church in higher education and for his commitment to ensuring that this mission is fundamental to all ACU's operations.

“I have great confidence in the leadership and guidance he will provide to ACU over the coming five years.”

As Chancellor, Mr Daubney has led the ACU Senate through a period of substantial governance change and renewal, made significant contributions to the development of the university’s Vision 2033, increased the focus on mission at the Senate level and oversaw the university’s budget recovery program to restore ACU to a strong financial position.

Mr Daubney has also represented ACU on the global Catholic higher education stage, including the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU) and delivering an address to the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) Centenary Conference in Rome. He has played a regular and central role in ACU graduation ceremonies and at key university events.

Mr Daubney is well known in the Australian legal community. Following a career as a leading barrister, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2007, and as president of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2017.

Before his appointment to the bench, he served for many years on the Council of the Bar Association of Queensland, including as vice-president in 2005 and president in 2006. He has also occupied leadership positions in numerous Church, community and cultural organisations.

In 2018, Mr Daubney was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law, and to the judiciary, to education, and to the community. In 2026, he received a papal knighthood for his contributions to the Church and broader community.