The former foreign minister Julie Bishop has resigned as chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), stepping down early amid ongoing governance challenges. Bishop tendered her resignation on Thursday evening, a university spokesperson confirmed.
The ANU Council has appointed pro-chancellor Dr Larry Marshall as acting chancellor until a permanent replacement is selected through an independent process, in line with recommendations from the higher education regulator. The spokesperson thanked Bishop for her six years of service, noting she raised the university’s profile domestically and internationally and strengthened global connections, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finance minister Katy Gallagher said on Friday that the embattled institution must continue rebuilding trust and confidence. “The challenges facing ANU did not arise overnight, and rebuilding trust and confidence across the university community will take time and careful work,” she stated. “I have consistently said the university leadership and Council need to work openly and constructively with staff, students and the broader community to rebuild confidence and agree on a path forward.”
Independent ACT senator David Pocock, a vocal critic of Bishop’s leadership, praised staff and students for standing up against poor governance. “After an incredibly difficult few years, now is the time to recommit to that mission, that optimism and that vision for what the ANU can be,” he said. Pocock noted that Bishop’s resignation was in the best interests of the university and welcomed the independent process for appointing her successor.
Bishop’s departure comes less than a year after the exit of vice-chancellor Professor Genevieve Bell, and caps a tumultuous period marked by redundancies, proposed course closures, and allegations of a toxic work culture. At least 399 staff have been made redundant since a restructure began in 2024, though forced job cuts have since been walked back under interim vice-chancellor Rebekah Brown.
The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is currently reviewing ANU’s governance, financial sustainability, and institutional culture. The National Tertiary Education Union and National Union of Students welcomed Bishop’s resignation, with ACT NTEU secretary Dr Lachlan Clohesy calling it a “chance for calm and stability.”
Bishop has been approached for comment. She previously vowed to stay on as chancellor despite pressure from unions, students, and academics, insisting there were “no grounds” for her to step aside.
