The Vice Chancellor of the University of Notre Dame Australia, Professor Francis Campbell, is stepping down later in the year to work as the president of a renowned philanthropic foundation in the Bahamas.
Professor Campbell, who joined Notre Dame from St Mary’s University in London in January 2020, announced the change in late January.
Professor Campbell said that with the first phase of Notre Dame’s current strategic plan concluding this year, the timing is right for new leadership to guide the University into its next chapter.
Chancellor Paul McClintock AO paid tribute to Professor Campbell’s transformative leadership. He noted his role in expanding Notre Dame’s disciplines and course offerings, establishing its research agenda and capability, increasing student enrolments to record levels, and broadening its national and global impact. These achievements have contributed to strong financial performance and long-term institutional stability.
Campbell will stay on until the latter part of 2026, ensuring stability and continuity during the transition period.
Campbell rose through senior diplomatic and policy roles in the UK, including the UK’s Ambassador of the Holy See. As a policy advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair and later as head of the policy unit at the Foreign Office, he worked at the intersection of faith, politics, and international affairs.
The Templeton World Charity Foundation’s mission is to fund interdisciplinary research and innovations on what it means to be human to unlock our full potential.
