The chief lobbyist for universities on Canada’s eastern seaboard will move half a world away, after the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) chose him as its next vice-chancellor.

University of New Brunswick (UNB) president Paul Mazerolle, an internationally renowned criminologist, will take up the role next March in a homecoming of sorts for the native Canadian.

Mazerolle spent almost 20 years in Australia where he initially headed the criminology programme at the University of Queensland. He spent several years as director of research and prevention for the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission, before moving to Griffith University to run its Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law.

In 2009, Griffith appointed him pro vice-chancellor for the arts, education and law. He was lured home a decade later to run UNB, his alma mater, and began a second five-year term 20 months ago.

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He was appointed chair of Canada’s Association of Atlantic Universities just five months ago, and sits on the board of Universities Canada.

Mazerolle said he was excited to be returning to Australia. “Universities are at their best when they build inclusive, high-performing academic communities that ask good questions and deliver real-world outcomes. That’s the spirit I see in UniSQ.

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“I look forward to working with staff, students, alumni and partners to build on UniSQ’s proud achievements and to shape its next chapter together.”

The job will not be without its challenges. USQ has been in deficit for the past three years and was the only Queensland university to finish 2024 in the red. Rolling restructures have sparked bitterness among staff in USQ’s home base of Toowoomba, where it is one of the biggest employers.

Former vice-chancellor Geraldine Mackenzie retired early, citing family reasons, as job cut proposals were being shared with staff.

Chancellor John McVeigh said Mazerolle was an “exceptional academic leader” with a “deep understanding of the Australian university landscape”.

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“Professor Mazerolle’s values-based leadership, his commitment to research that delivers real-world impact and his collaborative approach to building high-performing academic communities make him an ideal choice to lead UniSQ into its next chapter.”

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com