Office of the Vice-Chancellor

The Office of the Vice-Chancellor (OVC) supports the University’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Brian P. Schmidt AC FAA FRS in his leadership of The Australian National University (ANU).

The OVC takes responsibility for the strategy and agenda of the Vice-Chancellor; for providing advice and support to the Vice-Chancellor, as well as other ANU leaders; for stewarding the business of the University and managing the University’s leadership committees; and, for coordinating the day-to-day work of the Vice-Chancellor.

The OVC is led by the Chief of Staff and Director, Chris Price, who is the senior advisor to the Vice-Chancellor, takes overall responsibility for managing his strategic agenda, represents him in various contexts, and works closely with colleagues on his behalf. He is an advisory member of the ANU Executive and Senior Management Group, and as Director of the OVC, he manages the professional staff and functions of the Office.

The executive officers in the OVC support the Vice-Chancellor and the Chief of Staff, by managing major projects and taking ownership of the business flow of the University’s primary management committee, Senior Management Group, as well as the University Leadership Group. The OVC’s executive officers Sara Rowley (Executive Officer) and Lily Matthews (Executive Project Officer) also engage with counterparts across the University to advance major strategic initiatives.

The Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, Christine Cutting, coordinates the work and schedules of the VC. The Office Manager, Renee Weir, manages a portfolio of responsibilities across the OVC and broader VC Portfolio, including HR, Finance and Operations. OVC Support Officers, Alice Balnaves-Knyvett and Paula Hack, provide support to the Office, as well as EA support to the Chief of Staff and Director OVC and Director ACE.

In addition, the OVC works closely with the Senior Management Group and colleagues in the Vice-Chancellor's Portfolio, which includes:

Our teams & contacts

Functional

Name
Contact details
EA to the Vice-Chancellor 
Executive Officer to the Vice-Chancellor 

People

Name
Contact details
Professor Brian P. Schmidt AC 
Vice-Chancellor
President
Phone +61 2 6125 2510
Christine Cutting 
Executive Assistant – Vice-Chancellor
Phone +61 2 6125 2510
Paula Hack 
OVC Support Officer
Phone +61 2 6125 9824
Ms Lily Matthews 
Executive Project Officer
Phone +61 2 6125 4471
Mr Chris Price 
Chief of Staff
Director, Office of the Vice-Chancellor
Phone +61 2 6125 1523
Ms Sara Rowley 
Executive Officer to the Vice-Chancellor
Phone +61 2 6125 8684
Renee Weir 
Office Manager
Phone +61 2 6125 8485
Page owner: Executive Office