Appointment of Professor Aleksandar Subic as Vice-Chancellor

11 November 2025 | Media Release

Torrens University Australia today announced the appointment of Professor Aleksandar Subic as its new Vice-Chancellor and President, commencing April 2026.

Professor Subic is an accomplished academic leader and innovator who joins Torrens University from Aston University in the United Kingdom, where he currently serves as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, Aston has transformed into one of the UK’s most agile and future-focused institutions, achieving Triple Gold status for the Teaching Excellence Framework, a remarkable 170-place rise in global rankings, and ranked second for social mobility by the Higher Education Policy Institute for four years running.

A globally recognised leader in higher education and innovation ecosystems, Professor Subic has previously held senior executive roles at RMIT University and Swinburne University of Technology, where he led transformative initiatives in digital learning, industry collaboration, and applied research.

Professor Subic is ranked among the world’s top 2% of scientists by Stanford/Elsevier and was the recipient of the Global Competitiveness Award for Transformational Leadership in Higher Education (2024). He currently serves as Chair of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils University Leadership and Research Forum, and Chair of the Board of the 4th Generation Universities (4GU) global community.

“Torrens University is a vibrant and innovative institution with a strong social purpose and entrepreneurial spirit,” Professor Subic said.

“I am excited to lead Torrens University into its next chapter - expanding global reach, enhancing digital and industry-integrated learning and applied research, and positioning Torrens as a model for inclusive, future-ready education.”

The Chancellor of Torrens University, Michael Thawley AO, said Professor Subic’s appointment marks an exciting new phase in the university’s growth.

“Professor Subic brings exceptional leadership, global experience, and a bold vision for innovation and impact. He has had remarkable success in lifting graduation rates and improving the career success of students. This ambition lies at the heart of Torrens’s mission of transforming the lives of young people and those already in the workforce seeking new skills, greater success and satisfaction. His appointment underscores Torrens University’s commitment to shaping the future of education in Australia and globally.”

“I also want to acknowledge and thank our current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alwyn Louw. In his six years with Torrens, Professor Louw has played a pivotal role in transforming a fledgling university into the well-established and respected learning, teaching and research organisation Torrens University is today.”

Torrens University has also welcomed two recent appointments to its Governing Board

• Emeritus Professor Isabella Caroline McMillen AO served as Chief Scientist for South Australia (2018–2023) and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle (2011–2018), following senior roles at the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia. She holds degrees from Oxford (BA, D.Phil.) and Cambridge (MB, BChir). She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, the Royal Society of NSW, and a Bragg Member of the Royal Institution of Australia. Her contributions have been recognised with an Officer of the Order of Australia and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Adelaide.
• Mark Baillie has over 40 years’ experience in global real estate funds management, investment banking and chartered accounting. He has recently stepped down as Chairman of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney (USSC), a position he held from 2015 to June 2025. During that time he was also a director of the Perth US Asia Centre. He is currently a Distinguished Fellow of the USSC. Prior to his retirement at the end of May 2009 Mark was an Executive Director of Macquarie Group Limited based in London, UK as Macquarie’s Chairman, Real Estate Europe and North America.

Former CEO of Torrens, Linda Brown, has stepped down from the Board following almost 13 years of tremendous service to the organisation.

Media contact: media.enquiries@torrens.edu.au