Council
The Academy is governed by a Council of leaders in the humanities, elected from among our Fellows. Our Council provides strategic direction, policy guidance, and management oversight.
Office bearers
"It is an immense privilege to serve as the Academy’s 20th President. The world is experiencing rapid and far-reaching social and technological change, and the humanities empower us to think and act critically and creatively, and in managing and adapting to change, we think critically about ways to ensure that innovation can be shaped to improve the lives of all Australians."
President
Professor Stephen Garton AM FAHA FRAHS FASSA FRSN
Stephen became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 2000, and was elected the Academy’s 20th President in November 2023.
An eminent historian, Stephen’s research expertise is in Australian history. He has also published in the fields of American and British History. His major books provide thought provoking insights into areas including the history of medicine, particularly psychiatry, social welfare, war veterans and the aftermath of war, sexuality and the history of higher education.
Stephen has also had a long career in university administration, serving as Dean of Arts, Provost and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and also as interim Vice-Chancellor, at the University of Sydney. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to tertiary education administration and to history.
Stephen is a member of the Academy’s History section and he previously served on the Academy’s Council.
Term: 2023-2026
Honorary Secretary
Emeritus Professor Joanne Tompkins FAHA, is Emeritus Professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Queensland and a consultant with Outside Opinion. Joanne was elected to the Academy in 2019 and is a member of the Arts Section. She was also appointed Vice President on Council in 2026.
First term: 2025-2028
Treasurer
Professor Chris Hilliard FAHA is the Challis Professor of History at the University of Sydney. Chris was elected to the Academy in 2019 and is a member of the History Section. He was elected as Treasurer in 2023.
First term: 2023-2026
Editor
Professor Louise Edwards FASSA FHKAH FAHA, Scientia Professor of Chinese History at the UNSW, she previously served as the Academy’s International Secretary & Vice-President and was re-elected to Council to take up the position of Editor.
Second term: 2024-2027
International Secretary
Professor Véronique Duché FAHA was elected to the Fellowship in 2014 and is the A. R. Chisholm Professor of French at the University of Melbourne. Before coming to Australia in 2011, she held several positions across France, and is one of the most respected experts on the history of translation in fifteenth and sixteenth-century France.
First term: 2027-2027
Immediate Past President
Emeritus Professor Lesley Head FASSA FAHA was elected to the Fellowship in 2004 and served as President from 2020-23. Professor Head is the Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Melbourne and a member of the Archaeology Section.
Term: 2023-2026
Members
Associate Professor Sarah Collins FAHA, is Associate Professor of Musicology, Deputy Head of School (Research) and Chair of Musicology at the University of Western Australia Conservatorium of Music. Sarah has served as the Academy’s Diversity Lead from 2024-2025. She was elected to the Academy in 2020 and is a member of both the Philosophy and the History of Ideas and Arts Sections.
Term: 2023-2026
Distinguished Professor Jean Burgess FAHA, is the Director of QUT GenAI Lab, co-Chair and Assoicate Director of the ARC Centre for Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society. She is a past member of the ARC College of Experts. Prof Burgess was elected to the Academy in 2021 and is a member of the Culture and Communications Studies Section.
Term: 2025-2028
Professor Emerita Susan Dodds FAHA, is the Deputy Chair of the newly established Australian Research Council Board and has previously served on the Australian Research Council Advisory Committee. She was a member of the three-person panel that undertook the Review of Australian Research Council Act (2001). Susan has served as the Academy’s Policy Lead from 2024 and was also appointed Vice President on Council in 2026. She was elected to the Academy in 2021 and is a member of the Philosophy and History of Ideas Section.
Term: 2023-2026
Professor Yixu Lu FAHA, is the McCaughey Professor of Germanic Studies at the University of Sydney and a specialist in German literature and a historian specialising in German-Chinese colonial history. She was elected to the Academy in 2017 and is a member of the European Languages And Cultures Section.
Term: 2025-2028
Professor Christina Twomey FAHA FASSA, was Chief Research Officer at the Australian Research Council (2023-25), Head of School, Faculty of Arts at Monash University, and Vice-President of Academic Board. She has served on the Executive Committee of the Australian Historical Association, as Editor then Chair of the Board of Australian Historical Studies, and as President of the International Australian Studies Association. Christina has served as the Academy’s Diversity Lead from 2026. She joined the Academy in 2016 and is a member of the History and Asian Studies Sections.
Term: 2025-2028
Past Council members
1969–71 · Emeritus Professor Sir Keith Hancock
1971–74 · Emeritus Professor Sir Joseph Burke
1974–77 · Emeritus Professor J.A. Passmore
1977–80 · Emeritus Professor B.W. Smith
1980–83 · Professor Wang Gungwu
1983–86 · Professor G.A. Wilkes
1986–89 · Professor S.A. Wurm
1989–92 · Professor G.E.O. Schulz
1992–95 · Professor D.M. Schreuder
1995–98 · Professor M.B. Clunies Ross
1998–2001 · Professor M.G.W. Gillies
2001–04 · Professor I.D. McCalman
2004–07 · Professor G. Turner
2007–09 · Professor I.E. Donaldson
2009–11 · Professor J. Lo Bianco
2011–14 · Emeritus Professor L. Johnson
2014–17 · Professor J. Fitzgerald
2017-20 · Professor J. Damousi
2020-23 · Emeritus Professor L. Head
1969–71 · Professor K.V. Sinclair
1971–72 · Professor D.H. Pike
1973–74 · Dr F.J. West
1974–76 · Dr F.B. Smith
1976–81 · Professor E. Kamenka
1981–88 · Professor J.P. Hardy
1988–89 · Professor F.C. Jackson
1989–96 · Professor D.J. Mulvaney
1996–2000 · Professor P.R.C. Weaver
2000–14 · Professor G.W. Clarke
2014-25 · Emeritus Professor E. Minchin
1969–71 · Professor D.H. Pike
1971–72 · Professor K.V. Sinclair
1973–74 · Professor W. Milgate
1973–74 · Dr F.B. Smith
1974–83 · Professor R.W.V. Elliott
1984–94 · Professor G.W. Clarke
1995–96 · Professor R.W.V. Elliott
1996–2002 · Dr A. Kumar
2002–06 · Professor S. Cunningham
2006–10 · Professor M.J.C. Finnane
2010–13 · Professor P. Sharpe
2013-23 · Emeritus Professor R. Waterhouse