Eight new members are joining the ACU’s governing Council from 1 August 2024. This elected body brings university leaders from ACU member universities from across the Commonwealth together, with a shared responsibility to oversee its strategic direction.
Joining the Council are:
- Professor Dr Syed Humayun Akhter, Bangladesh Open University
- Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, The University of Ghana
- Professor Bruce Dowton, Macquarie University, Australia
- Professor Dato' Seri Ir. Dr Noor Azuan Bin Abu Osman, Universiti Malaya
- Professor C Raj Kumar, OP Jindal Global University, India
- Professor Benedict Mwavu Mutua, The Technical University of Kenya
- Professor P. S. Shukla, North Eastern Hill University, India
- Professor Shearer West, University of Nottingham, UK
Our warmest thanks to the outgoing Council members, Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman (University of Dhaka, Bangladesh), Professor Simone Buitendijk (University of Salford, UK), Professor Dato' Ir Dr. Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor (University of Malaya, Malaysia), Professor Sudantha Liyanage (University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka), Professor Sasmita Samanta (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), India), Professor Barney Glover (University of Western Sydney, Australia) and Professor Sandeep Sancheti, (Marwadi University, India) for their valued service and contributions to the organisation in recent years.
Chair of ACU Council, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, Professor Cheryl de la Rey, added:
‘I am delighted to warmly welcome our newest members of the ACU Council who bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and insight, to help us formulate and deliver our new strategic plan and ensure the effective governance of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).
The Council carries out an essential role in ensuring the ACU continues to be a dynamic and exciting global network at the heart of international higher education.
I look forward to the positive impact that our new members will make with their diverse set of experience and existing connections to the Commonwealth higher education community.’
More information
The ACU Council is the ACU's governing body and is responsible for overseeing the ACU's activities and determining its future strategic direction, while ensuring compliance with the laws of England, the ACU's Charter, Statutes and Regulations, and the ACU's core policies and procedures relating to governance.
The ACU Council is made up of vice-chancellors from across the Commonwealth, each of whom has been nominated and elected by their peers within the ACU membership network. The new members will each serve for a period of three years until 31 July 2027.
- Read the ACU's current strategic plan.