Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Vice-President

Professor Mark Hoffman is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and a Vice-President of the University of Newcastle.

In this role he is responsible for the academic activities of the University including its education programs, encompassing: enabling and pathways programs; the Wollotuka Institute for advancement and leadership of Indigenous education; and education innovation and technology. His portfolio includes student health and wellbeing, work integrated learning, careers and employment, academic administration and student conduct. Prof Hoffman’s responsibilities include academic promotions and staff and student equity, diversity and inclusion.

About Professor Mark Hoffman

Professor Mark Hoffman is an experienced senior leader in the higher education sector who values a collaborative and global focus. He believes that universities are a catalyst for social and economic advancement, of both individuals and society; universities’ primary purpose is to educate and graduate students equipped to lead that advancement, regardless of background, through a seamless interface with industry and society.

As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Vice-President of the University of Newcastle, Mark Hoffman is leading a transformation of the academic programs of the University focussed on ensuring the University’s highly-regarded graduates are Life-Ready. The goals of this major stream of the University’s Looking Ahead Strategy are to: build technology which provides high quality and accessible education; ensure all students have a workplace experience and; that they are healthy and well, and graduate robust and prepared for the challenges of an innovative, fast-changing and diverse workplace.

Prior to his appointment at the University of Newcastle, Mark Hoffman was UNSW Sydney Dean of Engineering from 2015-20 where he created and led a high-quality leadership team, educating over 16,000 students, with a staff of over 800 and revenue of nearly A$500m. During his tenure, UNSW Engineering rose to be #1 in Australia across all four Rankings (QS, Times, AWRU and US News) and comfortably in the top 50 globally. He was instrumental in the creation of Design Next, the London-based TEDI and the number of female engineering professors increased three-fold.

From 2012-15, Professor Mark Hoffman was Pro-Vice Chancellor Research at the University of New South Wales. He has held the roles of Associate Dean Research in the Faculty of Science (2009-2012) and Head of School of Materials Science and Engineering (2007-12), holding both roles concurrently for three years. He chaired the University Committee on Research (2010-13).

Professor Hoffman completed his Bachelor of Engineering, as a cadet with the NSW Electricity Commission, and PhD from the University of Sydney and Masters of Business and Technology from UNSW. He has broad international experience having studied at UC Berkeley, University of Tokyo and Tokyo Metropolitan University. He has held positions at Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany, and the Indian Institute of Science.

Professor Mark Hoffman is a leading materials scientist and engineer, specialising in the structural integrity of materials including piezoelectric and structural ceramics, composites and biological materials. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers and attained over $11m in competitive research funding and support from industry. Over 30 higher degree research students have completed their studies under his supervision. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academic of Technological Science and Engineering and Engineers Australia.

Professor Hoffman was recently a member of the Excellence Commission for the German Science Foundation and currently chair of the Engineering Panel for the 2020 Hong Kong Research Assessment Exercise. He is a Board Member of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and previously of the International Congress on Fracture.