Sandra Harding

Nominated by the Shareholder Universities and appointed to the Board on 25 October 2021. Professor Harding was the Vice-Chancellor and President of James Cook University Australia, a position held from January 2007 until her retirement in February 2022. As Vice Chancellor, Professor Harding was responsible for the leadership and management of the University across campuses in Cairns, Singapore and Townsville. Professor Harding held recent past directorships with Advance Cairns Limited, Foundation for Australian Literary Studies Limited, Townsville Enterprise Limited, Australian Institute of Marine Science and Education Australia Limited.

Educated at the Australian National University, The University of Queensland and North Carolina State University (USA), Professor Harding has extensive academic and academic leadership experience. An economic sociologist by training areas of enduring academic interest includes work, organisation and markets and how they work. She also has a keen interest in public policy in the areas of, education policy and the global Tropics, northern Australia and economic development. Professor Harding has also held a wide variety of senior university-aligned roles and was a member and director of a variety of local, national and international Boards and Councils. Professor Harding was appointed a Life Governor on the Foundation for Australian Literary Studies Limited, a member of the Queensland Community Foundation Board of Governors. In 2021, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) established a Statistical Independent Assurance Panel (SIAP) to provide an independent view on the quality of statistical information arising from the 2021 Census of Population and Housing, Professor Harding chaired this panel in 2021 and previously in 2016 as its inaugural Chair.