Top academic to go ‘down under’

The Irish head of Britain’s leading Catholic college is to step down from his role next year to take up a new post in Australia.

Prof. Francis Campbell, Vice-Chancellor of St Mary’s University, Twickenham, will step down from the role in the first quarter of 2020 to become Vice-Chancellor at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

The Newry-born academic, who served as the UK’s first Catholic ambassador to the Holy See between 2005 and 2011, has headed the London university since 2013, during which time St Mary’s has risen dramatically in academic and student satisfaction league tables.

Prof. Campbell described his time working at the university as having been “a privilege and a pleasure”.

“St Mary’s is such a special community to be part of and the journey we have undertaken, at a time of significant change and flux in the sector with its challenges and opportunities, has been hugely encouraging,” he said in a statement.

“I have no doubt that St Mary’s will continue to develop and grow stronger and to raise its profile at home and abroad.  There are so many outstanding examples of excellence and commitment across the University which will ensure St Mary’s continued development in the decades ahead.”

Bishop Richard Moth, the chair of the university’s board of governors praised Prof. Campbell for having “led the transformation of the University on numerous fronts”.