18 November 2008
|
| Professor Edward Byrne AO |
University Chancellor Dr Alan Finkel today announced that the Monash University Council has appointed Professor Edward Byrne AO as the eighth Vice-Chancellor of Monash University. He will commence his position on 1 July 2009.
Professor Byrne will succeed Professor Richard Larkins AO, who will retire from this role after being Monash University Vice-Chancellor since September 2003.
Professor Byrne is currently the Vice Provost (Health) at University College London and was previously the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University.
Dr Finkel said Professor Byrne, 56, would be an outstanding asset to Monash University.
"I have no doubt that with Professor Byrne's extensive international experience, combined with his strong research, management and industry skills, he will continue to build on and further strengthen the excellent work by Professor Larkins to develop Monash as one of the region's leading research and education institutions," Dr Finkel said.
"Professor Byrne has a strong track record in medical research as a clinician and teacher, and also has considerable management and corporate sector experience. He possesses all the drive, vision and leadership required to guide Monash University to an even brighter future," he said.
Professor Byrne said he was delighted to return to Monash University and Australia.
"I am enormously excited to have been given this opportunity," Professor Byrne said.
"My ambition for Monash University is to build on the outstanding work carried out by Professor Richard Larkins and his team, ensuring the University continues to make the fullest possible contribution to the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being of communities in Australia and across the world," Professor Byrne said.
"Monash University is a fantastic institution that has made some superb achievements in many fields. The last five years have been a time of immense academic achievement with consolidation and growth of its teaching and research reputation.
"Right now Monash University is well placed to go to the next level and in the years ahead become a new type of Australian university tackling the major problems of our age and distinguished by strong global connections and high-quality multi-disciplinary research.
"Monash University has the potential to become one of the great universities in the world, due largely to the quality and passion of teaching and research staff, and a level of global engagement few others can match," he said.
Professor Byrne is a pioneering neuroscientist, who has combined an active clinical career with an outstanding contribution to research into neuromuscular disorders.
He began his career in Adelaide after graduating from the University of Tasmania in 1974. He was made Neurology Registrar at Adelaide Hospital in 1978. In 1983, he was appointed Director of Neurology at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne at the age of just 31.
In 1995 Melbourne University awarded him a Doctor of Science, a higher degree conferred in recognition of a demonstrated record of research excellence.
Professor Byrne was a founding director of the Melbourne Neuromuscular Research Unit and the Centre for Neuroscience. He was also made Professor of Experimental Neurology at the University of Melbourne.
Professor Byrne has made an outstanding contribution to research into degenerative neurological diseases, particularly as they relate to progressive muscular disease such as myopathies and muscular dystrophy. His ground-breaking research, which contributed to elucidating the role of mitochondrial DNA abnormalities in neurological diseases, is recognised world wide and played a role in the discovery of mitochondrial links to ageing.
Since 2002 he has also been a non-executive director of Cochlear Pty Ltd, one of Australia's most successful biotech spin-off companies, and he was recently appointed to the board of BUPA, the UK's leading provider of private health care insurance and health care services (operating in Australia as HBA and MBF). Professor Byrne has served on a number of charitable trusts and provided advice to several community based organisations in the neurology area.
In 2006 Professor Byrne was admitted as an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Monash University has campuses in Australia, Asia and South Africa with over 55,000 students, 7000 staff and an enviable reputation for teaching and research excellence forged in just fifty years.
It is Australia's largest university and member of the prestigious research intensive Group of Eight universities. | 
