Professor Sandra Harding joined James Cook University as Vice-Chancellor and President in January 2007. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring clear and effective leadership and management of the University.

Professor Harding studied science, graduating with honours from the Australian National University, followed by a Masters degree in Public Administration from The University of Queensland and a PhD in Sociology from North Carolina State University, USA.

Her keen scholarly interest is in the area of work and organisation, including the conditions of enterprise development and organisation survey methodology.

She also has a keen professional interest in education policy and management. She has authored and co-authored a wide range of publications and conference papers in her areas of interest.

Professor Harding came to James Cook University from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Between 1997 and 2006, she held a number of senior executive roles at QUT, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development) and (executive) Dean of the Faculty of Business.

Professor Harding has undertaken a wide variety of external roles. She was the inaugural President of the Australian Business Deans Council and Vice-President of the Australian Universities Community Engagement Alliance. She has also served on a number of review panels and accreditation committees within the higher education sector.

For the past five years, she has been Chairman of the Australian Statistics Advisory Council, providing advice to the Federal Government and the Australian Statistician on Australia’s national statistical priorities. For a similar period, Professor Harding has been a member of the HIH Assessment Review Panel, another Federal Government appointment. In May 2007, Professor Harding was appointed by Cabinet to the Council of the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Professor Harding has been a member of the Queensland Education and Training Export Board, the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council and the judging panels of Queensland Export Awards and the Premier’s Awards for Public Sector Excellence. She has chaired the Energex Community Consultation Forum since 2003. She was a Director on the Brisbane Transport Board and Chairman of Brisbane Marketing Pty. Ltd. from 2003-2006. She is also non-executive Director of the Global Foundation for Management Education Ltd (Montreal).

(Source: http://www.jcu.edu.au/office/vc/JCUPRD_017304.html)