Chancellor re-appointed at Monash University

Dr Alan Finkel

Dr Alan Finkel has been re-appointed Chancellor of Monash University. The Monash University Council resolved the re-appointment at its meeting last week. Dr Finkel will serve a third term commencing 1 January 2014 through until December 2016. Dr Finkel said he was honoured to be invited to continue in this role.

“Monash University continues to excel and is maintaining an excellent trajectory in all of its activities,” Dr Finkel said.

“I look forward to my ongoing opportunity to support the development of the strategies that will enable Monash University to be highly innovative with respect to its educational initiatives, research priorities and community engagement.”

Dr Finkel has served as Chancellor of Monash University since January 2008. He is the seventh Chancellor in the University’s 55-year history, and the first Monash graduate to be appointed to the prestigious role.

Dr Finkel is a respected engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He completed his undergraduate and doctoral studies in engineering at Monash University before serving for two years as a neuroscience research fellow at the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University.

In 1983, Dr Finkel established Axon Instruments, a supplier of electronic and robotic instruments and software for use in cellular neuroscience, genomics and drug discovery. In 2000 Axon was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. It was acquired by the US firm Molecular Devices Corporation in 2004.

Post Axon, Dr Finkel co-founded COSMOS and G magazines to promote science awareness and sustainability; led the establishment of the Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience; fostered initiatives to reinvigorate secondary school science education; and co-founded a company distributing educational toys and books for children.

Dr Finkel is a Fellow and President of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering (ATSE). He formerly held governance roles at the ATSE Clunies Ross Foundation in child-abuse research and medical research. Dr Finkel currently serves as the CEO of Stile Education Pty Ltd and as the Chairman of the Australian Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics.