Four council members have resigned from the Australian National University (ANU) following former chancellor Julie Bishop's sudden departure last week. Acting Chancellor Larry Marshall announced that Tanya Hosch, Wayne Martin, Rob Whitfield, and Padma Raman have left the 15-person council.
Another council member, Alison Kitchen, had also recently resigned. In an email to students, Dr Marshall thanked the former members for their service during a challenging period. University secretary Phillip Tweedie has also left his position, with interim arrangements being put in place.
The resignations come amid multiple investigations into the university's governance, finances, and culture. Work has begun to appoint a new chancellor, with Emeritus Professor Peter Coaldrake leading the recruitment process.
National Tertiary Education Union ACT branch secretary Lachlan Clohsey welcomed the resignations but said the governance issues had been damaging. He called for changes to how council members are appointed. Independent ACT Senator David Pocock agreed, describing the situation as an opportunity for reform and emphasizing the need for merit-based appointments.
Dr Marshall stated that nominees to replace the former council members will be submitted to the education minister for consideration.
