Meet our Council members
Photo: as at Dec 2024(L to R) Front Row: Mr Michael Di Rienzo, Ms Shireen Syed, Mr Jacob Carson, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Alex Zelinsky AO, Chancellor The Hon. Patricia Forsythe AM, Associate Professor Brendan Boyle, Ms Laura Dowling, Mr Noel Cornish AM.
(L to R) Back Row: The Hon. John Della Bosca AM, Mr Jason Darney, Dr Annika Westrenius, President of Academic Senate Assoc Professor Marcus Rodrigs, Ms Julie Phillips, Ms Liz Nicol.
Not Shown: Deputy Chancellor Mr Kevin Young, Ms Jennifer Leslie
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
Alex Zelinsky 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, Associate Professor Marcus Rodrigs
BCom, MCom, MPhil, PhD, MAICD, MICDA, CPA
Associate Professor Marcus Rodrigs is currently the President of Academic Senate and Associate Professor of Accounting. Marc is a nationally award-winning accounting academic at the Newcastle Business School, where he has served since 2008. Over the past 18 years, he has held multiple leadership roles across the University of Newcastle, complemented by his external experience as a Risk Management Consultant with KPMG Singapore.
External members appointed by the Minister
The Hon. Dr John Della Bosca AM
PhD, MLitt (USyd), BA (UNSW)
Throughout his professional career and personal life, John has maintained a strong interest in evidence based, research driven policy development and social justice. He has demonstrated this through his
leadership of large progressive organisations such as the General Secretary of the ALP, as an educational, health and industrial reformer while a Minister in the NSW Government.
Ms Liz Nicol
MBA (Newcastle), Grad Dip OHS (Newcastle), FAICD, FGIA
Liz is a non-executive director, with extensive governance, leadership, risk and organisational culture change expertise. With over 15 years’ experience as a non-executive director, Liz has held directorships that have crossed health, education, aged care, disability and community services. She is currently Deputy Chair of Uniting NSW.ACT and a non-executive director of Hunter New England Local Health District, chairing its Health Care Quality Committee.
External members appointed by Council
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, and is currently on the Board of TasWater. For 15 years he was Managing Director of Hunter Water and then Sydney Water.
Ms Elizabeth Crouch AM
MCSec, BEc (MQ), CertClimGov (AICD), FAICD
Elizabeth is a seasoned company director with experience across the public and private sectors. She chairs a number of Boards including the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, the Customer Owned Banking Association, Ochre Health, Hearing Australia and Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese. Elizabeth is the Emerita Deputy Chancellor of Macquarie University and she sits on the boards of the NSW Institute of Sport and Hunter Water Corporation.
Mr Jason Darney
B.SocSc, Grad Dip(Education), Grad Cert(Mgmt)
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 Agribusiness, Transport and Manufacturing Faculty of TAFE NSW.
Adjunct Professor Michael Di Rienzo
BCom (Newcastle)
Professor Michael Di Rienzo, former Chief Executive of Hunter New England Health, was 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, MAICD
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, the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Ltd and is a director of Whiskey Project Group Limited. 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
Professor Brendan Boyle
BBus (DkIT, Ireland), MBS (UCD, Ireland), PhD (Sydney)
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.
Dr Annika Westrenius
B.Mgmt, B.Bus(Hons1), PhD(Management) (Newcastle)
Annika Westrenius is one of two academic staff representatives on the University Council and lectures in management within Open Foundation and the Newcastle Business School. Prior to coming to higher education, Annika was engaged in the running of businesses in Sweden and Australia.
Elected non-academic staff member
Ms Wendy Taggart
BBus (UTS), MTeach (Newcastle), AARE
Wendy Taggart is the Executive Officer of the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre (TTRC) in the School of Education, where she manages the Centre’s operations, finance and governance. She previously worked as Senior Project Manager for the Centre, managing several large randomised controlled trials and evaluations, and teacher professional development events. As a part-time secondment, she recently managed the Future Students 2.0 project, which explored increasing student participation in our region.
Elected student members
Ms Ivana Pedruco-Aniceto
Ivana Pedruco-Aniceto is the Undergraduate Student Member of the University of Newcastle Council. She is currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Criminology / Bachelor of Laws (Honours).
Ms Laura Dowling
BBioMedSc(Hons1), DipLang(French) (Newcastle) MAICD
Laura Dowling is the elected postgraduate student member of the University of Newcastle Council and was re elected for the 2026 term. Laura brings a strong research, teaching and student representation perspective to Council deliberations, with a focus on research excellence, student engagement and inclusive governance.
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.