Meet our Council members
Photo: as at Dec 2023(L to R) Front Row: Ms Michelle McPherson, Chancellor The Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Alex Zelinsky AO, President of Academic Senate Professor Tania Sourdin.
(L to R) Back Row: Ms Julie Phillips, Associate Professor Brendan Boyle, Mr Jacob Carson, Deputy Chancellor Kevin Young, Mr Michael Di Rienzo.
Not Shown: Ms Jennifer Leslie, Professor Jenny Martin
Official Members
The Chancellor, The Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM
BA, DipEd (Newcastle), FAICD
Patricia Forsythe is a Non-Executive Director and most recently was Australia's High Commissioner to New Zealand (2019 - 22), having previously been Executive Director Sydney Business Chamber (2006 - 2019) and prior to that as a member of the NSW Legislative Council (1991 - 2006).
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Alex Zelinsky AO
BMathSc(Hons), PhD, Hon DSc(UOW), GradDip(AICD), FAA, FTSE, FIEEE, Hon FIEAust, FAICD
Professor Alex Zelinsky AO is the University of Newcastle’s 8th Vice-Chancellor and President and commenced in the role on 19 November 2018. Prior to joining the University, Professor Zelinsky was Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist and leader of Defence Science and Technology within the Department of Defence.
President of Academic Senate, Professor Tania Sourdin
BA, LLB, Grad Dip Leg Prac, LLM, PhD
Tania Sourdin is the Dean of the University of Newcastle Law and Justice School and the President of Academic Senate. Tania has a background as a litigation lawyer and mediator, has a PhD in commercial dispute resolution and is the author of more than 140 publications, that include books, articles and papers.
External members appointed by the Minister
The Deputy Chancellor, Mr Kevin Young
BE(Hons1), MBA(Newcastle), Hon FIEAust, FAICD
Kevin Young is a Non Executive Director and previous Managing Director with extensive experience in leadership within the water industry in Australia and overseas.
Kevin has more than 18 years’ experience as a Director. He is currently on the Board of TasWater and Banlaw Pty Ltd.
For 15 years he was Managing Director of Hunter Water and then Sydney Water.
External members appointed by Council
Mrs Michelle McPherson
BBus(Accounting)(UTS), CA, GAICD
Michelle is the former Chief Financial Officer of IAG. Prior to this appointment, Michelle was the Group Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer as well as Company Secretary of nib holdings limited.
Ms Jennifer Leslie
BCom, FCA(Aust), TFASFA, FGIA, MAICD
Jennifer is a non-executive director with fifteen years of board-level experience and a diverse career forged in the Hunter region.
Mr Jason Darney
Jason Darney is a proud Wiradjuri man from the Central West of NSW and boasts an impressive profile working in education and government with significant long-term contributions to Aboriginal Education and Training. Jason has been part of the TAFE NSW Regional executive teams since 1999 and is currently the Executive Director of TAFE NSW North Region.
Adjunct Professor Michael Di Rienzo
Prof Michael Di Rienzo, Chief Executive of Hunter New England Health, is responsible for all services across the district from small rural community health centres to major tertiary referral hospitals.
Ms Julie Phillips
BPharm, MSc(Sydney), Dip Hosp Pharm, MBA(Macq), MPS, AICD
Ms Julie Phillips is a pharmacist with a strong background in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, having worked as the CEO and Director of start-up Australian biotechnology companies operating in the life sciences sector.
Mr Noel Cornish AM
BSc(Met)(Newcastle), MEngSc, FAICD, FUOW
Noel Cornish has extensive international and Australian business management experience.
He is currently Chair of AML3D Ltd and the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Ltd.
His former roles include Chair IMB Bank, Chair Snowy Hydro Ltd, National President Ai Group, Deputy Chancellor University of Wollongong and Chair University of Wollongong Malaysia. Executive roles included President of Northstar BHP LLC in Ohio USA and Chief Executive Australia and New Zealand Bluescope Steel Ltd.
Elected academic staff members
Associate Professor Brendan Boyle
BBus(DkIT, Ireland), MBS(UCD, Ireland), PhD(Sydney)
Associate Professor Brendan Boyle is currently a lecturer of international management in Newcastle Business School. Brendan completed his Masters of Business Studies Degree in University College Dublin’s Graduate School of Business and completed his PhD within the Discipline of International Business
at the University of Sydney.
Professor Jenny Martin
MBChB, MA (Oxon.), FRACP, PhD, FAHMS, FRSN,GAICD
Professor Martin is a physician and academic healthcare leader with skillsets and experience in complex regulatory and performance environments in both health and education.
Elected non-academic staff member
Elected student member
Mr Jacob Carson
BA(Newcastle), UCTh(Morling)
Jacob Carson is the Student Member of the University Council, and he is currently in his fourth year studying a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.
A native of Newcastle, Jacob attended New Lambton Public School for his primary education and Lambton High School for his secondary education, where he was lucky enough to achieve dux and serve as School Captain in 2020.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.