The Expert Council on University Governance

Final Report and Principles

On 26 April 2024, Education Ministers agreed to establish the Expert Council to strengthen university governance in response to Priority Action 5 of the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report.

The Expert Council were tasked to provide Principles and Recommendations in the context of the 10 priorities for reform, agreed by Education Ministers to improve transparency, accountability, engagement , and representation on university governing bodies.
The work of the Expert Council is part of broader Government reforms to improve university governance, including ensuring universities are good employers, student and staff safety, and that governing body composition is reflective of the community it serves.

On 17 October 2025, the Expert Council presented its Final Report and Principles to Education Ministers.

The Principles set strong expectations across eight key themes of accountability, diversity of perspectives, independence, transparency, trustworthiness, inclusivity and responsiveness, sustainability and responsibility. Along with the final report, the Principles, provide clear and actionable guidance for strong governance across the public university sector, drawing on best practice from the corporate and public sectors.

View the Expert Council on University Governance Final Report and Principles

The Work of the Expert Council

The Expert Council consulted widely in the course of its work with 45 submissions and 6 roundtables. These consultations involved Vice-Chancellors, academics, leaders in the outworking of governance across universities and student bodies including the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, National Tertiary Education Union and National Union of Students.

In March 2025, the Expert Council invited submissions from stakeholders including universities, networks, industry organisations, student and staff representative bodies, Commonwealth government bodies, State and Territory governments. 45 submissions were received.

Regular engagement was also undertaken with staff and student representative bodies the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), the National Union of Students (NUS).

6 targeted stakeholder roundtables were held including:

• Vice-Chancellors
• Chairs of Academic Boards
• University executive management
• Academic staff members
• National Tertiary Education Union, and
• Student representative bodies.

Individual consultations with prominent members of the higher education sector were also conducted.

View submissions

Who was on the Expert Council?

Education Ministers appointed the following government-nominated representatives:

• Ms Melinda Cilento, Chair
• Ms Sharan Burrow AC
• Mr Bruce Cowley

The following organisations provided representatives on the Expert Council:

• University Chancellors Council
• Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Governance Institute of Australia
• Australian Indigenous Governance Institute
• Law Council of Australia
• Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
• Universities Australia.