Embattled ANU vice chancellor resigns amid staff fury

4 days ago 7

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Embattled Australian National University vice chancellor Genevieve Bell is expected to announce her resignation on Thursday, after a tumultuous period for the institution.

Sources with knowledge of the situation, but not authorised to speak about it, said Bell had tendered her resignation to the council on Wednesday night. The university was expected to announce it on Thursday.

ANU’s council, headed by former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, appointed Bell as vice chancellor in September 2023.

The university has been racked by a year-long public relations nightmare, which began when it revealed plans to axe scores of jobs in a bid to put it on track to financial sustainability.

Revelations of poor management decisions and failures to disclose conflicts of interests have created a reputational crisis at the once-prestigious institution.

In March, hundreds of ANU staff passed a vote of no confidence against the leadership of Bell and Bishop over job cuts and leadership issues.

Pressure on the vice chancellor escalated two weeks ago, when five of the six college deans delivered an ultimatum to the council that either Bell went, or they would, according to reports in The Australian Financial Review.

More to come