John Roskam, a fellow of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) and its former executive director, has been appointed the new president of Campion College.
Campion, located in the Western Sydney suburb of Toongabbie, is Australia’s first and only liberal arts college.
Roskam has been an honorary fellow of Campion College since 2020. He has a son who is currently a student at the College. He is married with three children, all of whom received a Catholic education.
He was educated at Xavier College in Melbourne and holds honours degrees in law and commerce from The University of Melbourne. From 2005 to 2022, he was the Executive Director of the Institute of Public Affairs.
Roskam brings significant leadership experience and a strong understanding of education policy to the role. He has advised federal and state education ministers and written widely on education policy.
In his time at the IPA, he established “Generation Liberty,” a non-partisan initiative dedicated to helping students understand how free markets and individual liberty can contribute to social change and human flourishing. He has also lectured in political theory at The University of Melbourne.
He is currently working on a book explaining “the enduring relevance of the work of George Orwell.”
The outgoing president, Dr Paul Morrissey, will conclude his service at the end of 2026.
Reverend Deacon Adam Walk, chairman of the Campion’s board of trustees, paid tribute to Morrissey’s leadership. “For more than 11 years, Campion College has benefited from the steady and faithful leadership of its outgoing president, under whose tenure the College has experienced significant growth in reputation, institutional stability, student numbers, and its beautiful campus.
“The Campion College community will always be incredibly grateful for Dr Morrissey’s service to the College and to Catholic higher education in Australia.”
In commenting on his departure at the end of 2026, Morrissey said: “It has been an enormous privilege to lead Campion College over the past 11 years. I believe it is a good time to hand over the reins and am delighted that someone of John’s stature and experience has agreed to be the next president.”
Campion is now in its 20th year. Its students receive a pre-vocational education that encourages critical thinking and the development of transferrable skills for success in all spheres of life. Alongside a BA in liberal arts, it offers postgraduate programs in religious education for teachers in Catholic schools.
