ON THE MOVE
campusreview.com.au
STRICTLY SPEAKING | EPISTOCRACY
The term epistocracy* surfaced some years
ago in philosophical discussions about
the nature of democracy, starting with
Estlund’s Democratic Authority (2008).
It taps an ancient issue in the debate as
to who should be allowed to participate
in electing a government: the whole
adult population (i.e. democracy), or only
those with a good understanding of how
governments work (i.e. those constituting
an epistocracy – episto being the Greek
for “knowledge”). Shorthand for the rule of
those who know best has recently become
“rule of the experts”, and recontextualised
in contrasting different approaches to
managing the impacts of COVID-19.
Those countries where the policies for
managing the situation have been shaped
by medical experts may then be regarded as
epistocracies – in contrast with those where
initially or ongoingly the policy has been
left in the hands of political leaders. On this
issue, both Australia and Sweden turn out to
be epistocracies, since both have deferred
to local medical authorities to decide what
to do, though they reached almost opposite
conclusions.
* Not yet in OED or MW.
Written by Emeritus Professor Pam
Peters, researcher with Macquarie
University’s Linguistics Department.
BENTLEY LEADS
After a global search,
Federation University
has found its new
vice-chancellor on
home turf – Professor
Duncan Bentley, the
current deputy vice-chancellor (academic)
at Swinburne University.
Bentley leads the Academic, International,
Online and Indigenous portfolios at
Swinburne, and was previously deputy
vice-chancellor at Victoria University
with oversight of Vocational Education,
External Engagement and International.
“This is a huge privilege,” Bentley said.
“In a constantly evolving landscape,
I am honoured to lead Federation to
drive regional economic growth in
close partnership with government,
industries and communities.”
LEARNING
FROM ELDERS
With 35 years of
experience in
Indigenous health and
education, Professor
Juanita Sherwood is
the new pro-vice-chancellor (Indigenous
engagement) at Charles Sturt University.
A woman of Wiradjuri, Murri and Maori
ancestry, she joins from the University of
Sydney, where she was associate dean
(Indigenous) in the Faculty of Medicine and
Health. A registered nurse, teacher, lecturer
and researcher, Sherwood will broaden the
university’s Indigenous research capacity.
“I am humbled and committed to
listening to and learning from our Elders,
and to building partnerships between
community and Charles Sturt University
in making change, healing and growing
and sharing our Indigenous knowledges
for a more just world,” she said.
COALDRAKE
COMMISSIONED
Former QUT VC
Peter Coaldrake
has been made a
commissioner of the
Tertiary Education
Quality Standards Agency. Appointed by
Education Minister Dan Tehan for a five-year
term, he joins fellow commissioners Joan
Cooper, Cliff Walsh and Nick Saunders.
“Professor Coaldrake’s broad
understanding of the issues before
Australia’s higher education sector will
serve both TEQSA and independent
higher education providers well,” said Troy
Williams, Independent Tertiary Education
Council Australia (ITECA) chief executive.
REBONDING
Dr Annabelle Bennett
has been elected
for a second term
as Bond University’s
eighth chancellor.
“I am grateful that
the members of the company and my
fellow directors have the faith in me to
elect me for a further term,” Bennett said.
“I love being at the university, working with
the vice-chancellor and council … There’s
a very positive feeling on campus and staff
are really committed to the university, and
that makes it very easy to be chancellor.”
A former Australian Federal Court
judge, Bennett was made a Companion
of the Order of Australia, and is one
of three commissioners to lead the
2020 Royal Commission into National
Natural Disaster Arrangements.
HEAD FOR HEALTH
Professor David Sibbritt
has become head of
the UTS School of
Public Health. With
the university since
2012, Sibbritt has
served as foundation chair in epidemiology,
and was appointed the deputy director
of the Australian Research Centre in
Complementary and Integrative Medicine
(ARCCIM) discipline lead (public health), and
acting director of the Australian Centre for
Public and Population Health Research.
Producing over 300 peer-reviewed
academic papers, his research interests
include self-care treatment for chronic
illness, primary healthcare and health
services planning. In 2017, Sibbritt was
awarded the Dean’s Academic Excellence
Award for Leadership (UTS), and in 2014
he was a finalist for the Alumni Medal
for Professional Excellence (UON).
BANKING ON
THE BEST
The general manager
of Cairns Bank has
become the deputy
chancellor of James
Cook University.
Peter Phillips, who has been on the
university council for over a decade, was
unanimously elected to the two-year term.
“I am delighted to announce the
appointment of someone of Peter’s
skills, integrity and experience,” said
JCU chancellor Bill Tweddell.
“[Peter has] more than a decade
of distinguished service on council,
most recently as chair of our crucially
important Finance Committee.”
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