Hon John von Doussa QC named new Chancellor

Monday, 26 July 2004

The University of Adelaide Council today announced that The Hon John von Doussa QC, President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, would succeed Mr Robert Champion de Crespigny AC as the University's Chancellor.

Addressing a media conference at the National Wine Centre today, Deputy Chancellor Mr Brian Croser AO said Mr von Doussa, who will be the University's 14th Chancellor in its 130-year history, assumes his new role on 26 July 2004.

"The University Council is delighted that Mr Von Doussa has accepted the position," Mr Croser said. "He is highly regarded in the broader community given his current position and he joins an impressive list who have served in this role."

Mr de Crespigny, meanwhile, announced in June this year his intention to hand over the reins after four years as Chancellor.

"It has been a privilege to serve the third oldest university in Australia, especially during a period of enormous change," Mr de Crespigny said at the time.

"The University has made significant strides in numerous areas such as leadership, its financial position and funding. It is for this reason I believe it is the appropriate time for new blood and fresh ideas," he said.

Mr Croser praised and thanked Mr de Crespigny for his outstanding contributions.

"We were extremely fortunate to have had Mr de Crespigny as our Chancellor. His outstanding business experience, his strong leadership and unique position within the community have been invaluable over the past four years.

"Mr de Crespigny not only strengthened the University's position in the city and state, but he added a new global dimension.

"In addition, he guided the University through the modernization of its Act, paved the way for the purchase of the National Wine Centre and the creation of the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics at the Waite Campus."

Mr Croser also noted Mr de Crespigny's contribution to the formation of the Institute for International Business, Economics and Law (IIBE&L) and his influence in attracting Federation Fellows to the University.

A University of Adelaide graduate, Mr von Doussa has served 17 years as a judge, which includes the Supreme Court of South Australia (1986-1988) and the Federal Court of Australia (1988-2002). He is currently a judge on a part time basis to the Supreme Court of Fiji and the Court of Appeal of Vanuatu.

Well known in business circles, he is a past president of the Australian Competition Tribunal and a Judge in the Industrial Relations Court of Australia.

The Adelaide-based Mr von Doussa, whose family has been a part of the Adelaide community since 1847, said he is looking forward to not only returning to his alma mater, but to serving one of the finest universities in Australia.

"This is a great honour and I am truly humbled by this appointment," he said.

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