Legislation Committee

Prof Lucy Johnston

Interim Vice-Chancellor and President

Professor Lucy Johnston is the current Interim Vice-Chancellor at the University of Canberra (UC). She was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise at UC in July 2022. In that role, she oversaw an extensive portfolio including Research Institutes and Centres, Research and Innovation Services, Enterprise Development and Partnerships, Graduate Research, Adjunct Engagement and Advancement.

Prior to joining UC, Professor Johnston was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) at Murdoch University, Dean of Graduate Research at the University of Newcastle, and Dean of Postgraduate Research at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. In 2004, she was a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Connecticut.

Professor Johnston completed her BA (Hons) in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford and her PhD in Social Psychology at the University of Bristol and is a qualified sport psychologist. She is an internationally recognised experimental social psychologist, whose research focuses on the non-verbal behaviour of individuals in social interactions. She has also undertaken research on various aspects of tertiary education.

Ms Anne-Marie Lansdown

Council member

Anne-Marie Lansdown is an experienced executive who has worked in government in the education and research sectors nationally and internationally. As a senior executive in the Education, Industry and Communications departments she developed a deep understanding of higher education and research policy. In the international space, she worked on multiple bilateral science and technology agreements, OECD committees, and UN summits.

Anne-Marie was one of the architects of Australia’s national research infrastructure program, NCRIS, developing three of the national NCRIS roadmaps. These were augmented by the Education Investment Fund and the Super Science funding. The NCRIS is a highly collaborative and distinctively Australian program which maximises Australia’s research infrastructure investments by coordinating open access, targeted specialities, and co-funding across the country.

Over her period in government, she worked with five of the past six Chief Scientists, most recently as Chief of Staff to former Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel.

As Deputy Chief Executive at Universities Australia over seven years, she was responsible for managing the higher education policy agenda for the advocacy group.

She currently sits on the boards of the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC), Cooperative Research Australia (CRA) and the Australian National Imaging Facility (ANIF). As Chair of the Marine National Facility (MNF), she is able to follow the powerful science being generated by Australia’s marine researchers. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

As a lifelong Canberran, she has followed the progress of the University of Canberra over the decades. The university’s important focus on the Canberra community and support for the development of our professional workforce is a source of pride. She is honoured to be part of the University of Canberra enterprise.