University elections

The University of Queensland (UQ) Senate is established and governed under the University of Queensland Act 1998 (Qld). It has broad powers to act for and on behalf of the university and, as the governing body, is implicitly accountable for the university’s performance.

The UQ Senate consists of three official members (Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, President of the Academic Board), eight appointed members, eight elected members and three additional members. The role of the Senate is to demonstrate leadership and exercise oversight of the University and its affairs. In particular, the Senate ensures that the appropriate structures, policies, processes and planning are in place for the University to effectively manage its activities and achieve its goals.

For further information regarding senate membership please contact at the Senate Secretary (senate.secretary@uq.edu.au).

University elections

The University conducts elections for members of Senate and the Academic Board, including:

• the eight (8) elected members of Senate; and
• elected members of the Academic Board.

Elections for members of Senate and the Academic Board are conducted in accordance with the Senate and Academic Board Elections Policy. This Policy sets out the framework for the conduct of these elections and to ensure the integrity and security of the election processes. 

Senate elections are held every four years (with the exception of our student representatives, which are held every two years). Academic Board elections are conducted each year and are held as vacancies arise.

Randomisation of the order candidates appear on the ballot paper

Under the Senate and Academic Board Elections Policy, the order candidates appear in the electric voting system is randomised using the method 'Robson Rotation'. Robson rotation means the Placards are rotated upwards by one position for each new person who visits the Poll provided that person is signed in and a member of the Electorate. The order is remembered for each user and appears constant for each person – which means for example in an election each person sees the ballot the same way regardless of how many times they visit the online Poll. The first person to visit will see the Placards in the default order. The rotation counter is not invoked unless the user is both signed in and an Electorate member. 

Voting system

Optional preferential voting is the system used to elect members to the University Senate. Part L of the Policy prescribes the process for counting votes in Senate elections.

Voting in the election for membership to the Academic Board closed on Friday 11 August 2023. In accordance with the Senate and Academic Board Elections Policy, the following people have been elected to the Academic Board:

Election of seven (7) Professorial Members to the Academic Board to the Academic Board for 2024-2026

• Associate Professor Josephine Bowles, School of Biomedical Sciences

• Associate Professor Deanne Gannaway, Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation

• Professor John Macarthur, School of Architecture, Design and Planning

• Associate Professor Matt McDonald, School of Political Science and International Studies

• Professor Greg Marston, Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

• Associate Professor Kelly Matthews, Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation

• Professor Robert Parton, Institute for Molecular Bioscience

Professorial casual vacancies filled following the Academic Board Elections:

• Associate Professor Jason Lodge (2023-2025)

• Professor Ryan Ko (2021-2023)

• Associate Professor Mansour Edraki (2021-2023)

Election of seven (7) Non-Professorial Teaching and Research Staff members to the Academic Board to the Academic Board for 2024-2026.

• Dr Joel Carpenter, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

• Dr Kelly Greenop, School of Architecture, Design and Planning

• Dr Hamish MacDonald, School of Law

• Dr Tuan Nguyen, Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation

• Dr Rodrigo Suarez, School of Biomedical Sciences

• Dr Milos Tanurdzic, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences

• Dr Jessica Zachar, School of Dentistry

Non-Professorial casual vacancies filled following the Academic Board Elections:

• Dr Peter Crosthwaite (2022-2024)

Election of undergraduate and postgraduate students to the Academic Board for 2024

Undergraduate students

• Jordy Duffey

• Felipe Florit

• Max Thompson

Postgraduate coursework student

• Buyanjargal Nergui

Postgraduate research student

• Helen Caswell

Election of student representatives to The University of Queensland’s 35th Senate

Voting in the election for membership to the 35th Senate closed on Monday 16 October 2023. In accordance with the Senate and Academic Board Elections Policy, the following people have been elected to The University of Queensland’s 35th Senate:

One (1) undergraduate student for the term 2024-2025

• Josh Marsh

One (1) postgraduate student for the term 2024-2025

• Richard Lee