THE Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra, Stephen Parker, says he will step down from his position on 1 July 2016.

“It has been a privilege to serve as the Vice-Chancellor of this young, dynamic, world-ranked institution,” Stephen said.

“I will have been in office for over nine years by the time I finish and I am looking forward to spending time with my family and pursuing other interests.

“The tertiary education sector faces challenging times ahead but I am confident that the steady progress we have made at the University of Canberra in the past few years to become a competitive, values-based, outward-looking university will see it thrive in the future.

Chancellor of the University of Canberra and chair of the governing body, Tom Calma, praised Professor Parker’s visionary guidance and leadership to significantly transform the University into a world-ranked institution and thanked him for his relentless drive to revitalise the campus for the benefit of students, staff and the Canberra community.

“Stephen Parker has made an outstanding contribution not only through his role to grow and develop the University of Canberra but to Australian tertiary education in general,” Tom said.

“Although his departure will be a great loss for the University, his legacy has set solid foundations for the University to undertake its next stage of growth and competitiveness and for that we will always be grateful.”

Professor Parker is the fourth vice-chancellor of the University of Canberra. He took up the position on 1 March 2007 and has served two terms.

During his tenure, he has turned an inherited $16 million deficit into a surplus of $5.87 million after adjusting for one-off items in 2014, the third year in a row of positive financial results.

Professor Calma said an international search for a new Vice-Chancellor will begin shortly to ensure a smooth transition in leadership before the departure of Professor Parker by mid-2016.

[Picture by Belinda Pratten]