Academy Fellow

Professor Peter Dawkins became the third Vice-Chancellor and President of Victoria University in 2011.

Peter was born in the UK and holds a BSc and PhD from Loughborough University (of which he became a Distinguished Alumnus in 2012). He also holds a MSc (Econ) from the University of London. He came to Australia in 1984 and became an Australian Citizen in 1988.

Peter was Curtin University’s first Professor of Economics from 1990 to 1995 and the Ronald Henderson Professor and Director of the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research at the University of Melbourne from 1996 to 2005.

From 2005 to 2010 he held senior positions in the Victorian Public Service, including Deputy Secretary of the Department of Treasury and Finance and Secretary of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

As Victoria University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, he has developed and led the implementation of the 2012-2016 strategic plan, in which VU has positioned itself as the ‘University of Industry and Community’, ‘Australia’s Leading Sport University’ and most importantly, the ‘University of Opportunity’ - helping students from diverse countries, cultures, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds, to find true success.

Peter is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Council of Educational Leadership.