In a unanimous decision, Belinda Hutchinson has been re-elected to serve as the University of Sydney (USyd) Chancellor for a third term, beginning in February 2021 and ending in February 2025. She became the University’s 18th Chancellor in 2013.
Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence noted that the Senate did not hesitate to re-elect Hutchinson.
“The respect in which the Chancellor is held both across the University and beyond is evident from today’s decision.”
Whilst the role of Chancellor has always been more of a symbolic figurehead position, Hutchinson said she was “determined to provide some vital stability” in light of the COVID-19 crisis, and as the University searches for a new Vice-Chancellor to replace Spence.
Hutchinson is controversially the chairperson of arms company, Thales Australia. In 2017, the University signed a memorandum of understanding with Thales to collaborate more closely over a five year period.
Last year Honi reported on the Australian company underpaying workers by $7.44million between 2011 and 2018. The University declined to comment at the time on the incident.