CHARLES Sturt University will appoint just its third chancellor in its history when Lawrie Willett retires in December after close to 11 years at the helm.
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The university announced on Monday Meat and Livestock Australia chair Michele Allan would take up the role at the end of the year.
Dr Allan comes to the university with significant pedigree in regional issues, having worked in the meat and dairy industries for the past 23 years.
She said she was coming to the job at an "interesting" time for the higher education sector, with the reforms currently before the Senate potentially set to transform the landscape should they be passed in their current form.
"Some of the state-run organisations have been through a deregulated environment and a contestable market so I do have some background in some of the challenges we might face if the changes mooted go through the parliament," she said.
Away from her role at Meat and Livestock Australia, Dr Allan also chairs the board of the William Angliss Institute of TAFE in Melbourne. The vocational tertiary education sector in Victoria transitioned to a demand-driven system, similar to the current federal unversity reforms, in 2009.
Dr Allan's appointment came after an extensive 18-month search by the university for a new chancellor, with vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Vann labelling her "clearly a standout candidate".
"I found Michele very easy to talk to straight away and I think she'll bring an enormous amount of strength to the governance space," Professor Vann said.
"I'm very much looking forward to working with her."
