Voluntary undertaking accepted 24 April 2026
Report on acceptance of a voluntary undertaking from Australian National University (ANU)
On 24 April 2026, TEQSA accepted a voluntary undertaking from the ANU regarding its process for recruiting its next Chancellor.
The voluntary undertaking is attached.
Main reasons for the decision
The reasons TEQSA made this decision are contained within the voluntary undertaking.
Attachment - Voluntary Undertaking
Introduction
- TEQSA has, via a letter to the University dated 20 October 2025, raised concerns in relation to the following governance matters at the University:
- the culture of ANU's Council;
- whether the Council is obtaining and satisfactorily considering information needed to deliver effective governance;
- the adequacy and effectiveness of governance oversight by the Council, including:
- the extent to which the Council appropriately identified and addressed potential risks associated with Renew ANU;
- the Council's awareness or oversight of the management of conflicts of interest;
- findings by Professor Nixon about inflexible work practices, unfair workloads, bullying, discrimination and lack of effective systems and accountability to address these issues;
- uncertainty about ANU's strategic direction and operating environment, including as a result of the recognition of the need to revise previous decisions about organisational change relevant to Renew ANU, and in light of concerns about ANU's culture;
- the extent to which ANU's Council has effectively overseen, or shown the capacity to effectively oversee, delegated functions, including functions delegated to the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, particularly in relation to the recruitment of senior officials and council members; and
- the extent to which the current Council is in a position to specify the selection process for a new Vice-Chancellor, including the leadership characteristics that should focus a recruitment and selection process,
(the Governance Matters).
- The term of the Hon Julie Bishop as Chancellor of the University is due to expire on 31 December 2026.
- In light of the Governance Matters, the University proposes to enter into this Voluntary Undertaking (Undertaking) in order to provide a mechanism to progress arrangements for the recruitment of a Chancellor, while:
- taking measures to address TEQSA's concerns;
- meeting the skills and capabilities needs of the University;
- being sufficiently independent to meet the regulatory expectations and requirements of TEQSA, and wider community expectations of good governance in a council selection process; and
- incorporating the views of members of the ANU Council so as to ensure the confidence of the community of the University.
- The University is committed to cooperating with TEQSA and addressing its concerns. This Undertaking, which was considered and approved by Council at its meeting on 20th April, is given by the University to TEQSA to formalise that commitment on this issue.
- The University acknowledges that, should TEQSA accept this Undertaking, TEQSA intends to publish the Undertaking on the National Register of Higher Education Providers.
Voluntary Undertaking
- The University commits to the following:
- The Council will appoint a Selection Advisory Panel (Panel).
- The Panel is proposed to consist of:
- an independent Chair nominated by TEQSA; and
- two independent experts nominated by TEQSA, who have relevant expertise and experience in higher education and in university governance;
- to the extent that none of the individuals nominated under clauses 6.b.i or ii are members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, an independent person who is a member of that community;
- two members of the ANU Council, nominated by the ANU Council, who are accepted by TEQSA in writing.
- The Panel will be responsible for:
- the specification of selection criteria; including the key skills, characteristics, behaviours and experiences required with regard to the Chancellor's roles and responsibilities; the weighting placed on these; and any other considerations;
- the specification of a merit-based and rigorous process for the recruitment of a Chancellor, which is to be provided to the Pro-Chancellor and to the CEO of TEQSA;
- the selection of an independent executive search and recruitment firm, to support the advertisement of the role, communication with prospective candidates, advice to the Panel and arrangements for interviews and other aspects of the selection process;
- shortlisting potentially suitable candidates for interview;
- interviewing candidates;
- administering such other steps necessary to assess the suitability of candidates;
- making a recommendation to the Council about the preferred candidate, including the terms on which the Council should consider the preferred candidate for appointment; and
- documenting the steps taken in relation to [i]-[vii] above in a report provided to Council and TEQSA.
- Within 30 days of receiving a recommendation of a preferred candidate from the Panel, the University will:
- notify TEQSA of the recommendation;
- provide TEQSA with minutes and papers of the Council meetings in which the recommendation was considered; and
- notify TEQSA that the Council proposes to appoint the candidate that is the subject of the recommendation; or, if it does not, provide written reasons why the Council proposes not to appoint the candidate.
- The University acknowledges that, by appointing the Panel on the terms set out in this Undertaking:
- The Council may provide feedback or advice to the Panel on matters relevant to its functions (whether on its own initiative or at the Panel's request). Any feedback must be provided in writing and the Panel must maintain a record of any feedback or advice. The Panel may consider (but is not required to adopt) this feedback or advice;
- Without limiting clause 7a, the University is undertaking targeted engagement across the ANU community, and the outputs of that engagement will inform written advice by ANU's Council to the Panel on the role specification.
- The Panel may seek such feedback or advice from the University community or from such other sources as it considers necessary to perform its responsibilities. Without limitation, TEQSA and the University expect that this will include:
- Consideration of appropriate mechanisms to obtain and consider feedback from students and staff of the University;
- An invitation for the ANU Governance Project Working Group to make written submissions to the Panel about attributes and experience it considers relevant to the appointment of the next Chancellor.
- The Panel will perform its functions confidentially and Panel members will enter into written confidentiality agreements in a form acceptable to TEQSA, provided that the Panel may:
- request feedback or advice from the Council on matters relevant to its functions as referred to at [7.a] above;
- request feedback or advice from TEQSA or other interested parties on matters relevant to its functions, without disclosing any personal information (within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988) about candidates;
- provide feedback or advice to TEQSA about the selection process, including any issues or concerns encountered.
- The University will engage the members of the Panel, to undertake the functions set out in this Undertaking;
- It agrees to meet the reasonable costs of the Panel's activities including, but not limited to:
- fees for the Panel members' time spent in performing their functions;
- costs of the independent executive search and recruitment firm;
- costs of the panel members' travel (including transport, meals and accommodation) in performing the work of the Panel;
- costs of any independent legal advice required to perform the Panel members' functions (on the basis that the privilege in such advice rests with the Panel members and not the University);
- indemnification from liability of the Panel members for good faith performance of the Panel' functions; and
- reasonable administrative expenses incurred by Panel members.
- As the Accountable Authority of the University for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, the Council remains responsible for ensuring that any procurement of an executive search and recruitment firm, and the commitment of any relevant money for the purposes of that procurement, is consistent with ANU's obligations;
- Consistent with section 32 of the Australian National University Act 1991, the Council is responsible for appointing the Chancellor.
Variation
- The University will notify TEQSA in writing if it proposes any change(s) to the terms of this Undertaking. The notification will specify the reason(s) why any change is proposed. Any variation will only be effective if it is agreed in writing by TEQSA and the University.
Period of Voluntary Undertaking
- This undertaking comes into effect when it is executed by the University and a copy of the executed undertaking is delivered to TEQSA.
- The undertaking will end on the later of 31 March 2027 or the date that a person has been appointed to the position of Chancellor of the University.
Decision