Professor Ian Anderson AO

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student and University Experience) provides leadership of strategic initiatives that promote student and staff equity, Indigenous Reconciliation and improve the quality of the student experience.

The portfolio's key roles are:

• Supporting students and staff in the creation of an inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible work and study environment.
• Provide leadership of the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) project.
• Promote Indigenous Reconciliation, including leading initiatives to increase Indigenous student and staff numbers.
• Enhance the quality of the student experience by providing senior leadership of student services and the student residences.
• Ensure high-quality student access and equity policies and procedures, including effective interaction with Student Associations and student representatives.
• Monitor best practice developments in the Australian Learning and Teaching Council. 

Professor Ian Anderson AO is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student and University Experience) at the ANU, a role he took up in March 2020. As DVC, Professor Anderson takes responsibility for delivering an ANU student experience equal to the best in the world. He works closely with the DVC (Academic) to ensure ANU students benefit from the full richness and breadth of an ANU education, and has particular responsibility for pastoral and residential matters. Professor Anderson also leads on improving our broader institutional experience, making sure ANU is the University where talent comes to thrive, and that we are a safe, equitable place to work and study. Professor Anderson reports to the Vice-Chancellor and President.  

Professor Anderson is a Palawa man from the northwest coast of Tasmania with traditional ties to country known as Tebrakunna. He brings to ANU experience in the leadership and delivery of student services at the University of Melbourne and two decades of work in the development of pathways and academic support for Indigenous students in higher education across a range of disciplines but especially medicine. 

He was appointed Deputy Secretary of Indigenous Affairs in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in 2017, and was Deputy Chief Executive of the National Indigenous Australians Agency. He has spent most of his professional life working in Indigenous health and education, and graduated as a doctor in 1989. He was awarded his PhD in 2006.  

Ian’s professional background includes over two decades association with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service as an Aboriginal health worker, doctor, Chief Executive Officer and board member, and a period as Medical Adviser to the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. Professor Anderson has chaired Ministerial Councils such as the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equality Council and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Council. 

Prior to joining the public service, Professor Anderson held successive leadership roles at the University of Melbourne including the Foundation Chair, Indigenous Higher Education and as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement). He was previously the Foundation Chair of Indigenous Health, also at Melbourne. 

Ian became an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2017 and was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, both in 2018.