Leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholar joins the University

Professor Michelle Trudgett, Pro Vice-Chancellor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education, Strategy and Consultation

Western Sydney University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Michelle Trudgett as its new Pro Vice-Chancellor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education, Strategy and Consultation.

Professor Trudgett joins Western Sydney University from the University of Technology Sydney, where she was the Inaugural Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Indigenous Knowledges, and instrumental in developing the University’s award-winning Indigenous Graduate Attributes program.

Prior to this, as Head of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University, she established that University’s first Council of Elders and worked to make tertiary education a welcoming and supportive place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, their families and broader communities.

A proud Wiradjuri woman and a national leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, Professor Trudgett’s research has helped shape government policy aimed at increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in postgraduate study.

Her outstanding contributions saw her named the National NAIDOC Scholar of the Year in 2018.

Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO, congratulated Professor Trudgett on her appointment, and said he looks forward to welcoming her to the University when she commences in July.

“Professor Trudgett has developed a reputation as a world-leading expert when it comes to increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in higher education,” said Professor Glover.

“Her leadership and insights will be invaluable not only to this University, but to our Greater Western Sydney region, which has one of the largest populations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.”

Professor Trudgett has been a Chief Investigator on four prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) grants, three as the Lead Chief Investigator, which equates to over $4 million in funding.

She is currently Lead Investigator on two ARC grants – one that is focussed on Indigenous leadership and governance in higher education, while the other is looking at how the sector can best support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early career researchers.

ENDS

12 March 2019

Amanda Whibley, Acting Director, Corporate Communications