Swinburne appoints Professor Simon Ridings as Vice-Chancellor and President

Swinburne University of Technology is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Simon Ridings as its Vice-Chancellor and President. 

Professor Ridings, who has served as Interim Vice-Chancellor since July 2026, will formally commence in the role on Monday 16 November 2026.

The appointment was approved by Swinburne University Council following a rigorous selection process involving an independent executive search firm, external university leadership expertise and a comprehensive assessment of candidates against the University’s strategic priorities.

Swinburne Chancellor John Pollaers OAM said Council was delighted to appoint a leader who had already demonstrated his commitment to the University and its future.

“Simon has earned the confidence of Council through his leadership, his sound judgement and his determination to make Swinburne an even stronger university.

“During his time as Interim Vice-Chancellor, he has demonstrated a genuine commitment to working collaboratively with colleagues across the University and building strong relationships throughout the Swinburne community.

“He understands that the strength of a university lies not only in its academic and research achievements, but also in the relationships, trust and shared commitment that allow those achievements to flourish.”

Since becoming Interim Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ridings has worked closely with Council and colleagues across the University to address immediate priorities and prepare Swinburne for its next phase of development.

Professor Ridings has also actively supported Council’s commitment to strengthening staff and student participation in university governance, including new opportunities for direct engagement between staff, students and Council.

Chancellor Pollaers said these developments reflected a shared commitment to building an institution that is ambitious in its aspirations and grounded in the experience of its people.

“Council sees enormous opportunity ahead for Swinburne. We have a distinctive history, exceptional people and strong industry connections. Together, these give us an extraordinary foundation on which to build the University’s future.

“Simon’s appointment gives us the leadership and continuity to build on those strengths, accelerate our progress and realise that potential.”

Professor Ridings said he was pleased to be appointed and looked forward to continuing to work with the Swinburne community.

"I am excited to lead one of Australia’s most distinctive universities with a vision to bring people and technology together to build a better world. I have appreciated the strong support of the Swinburne community while I have been interim Vice-Chancellor and I am delighted to continue working with everybody to further the priorities that I have shared for our people, our governance and our students. 

“Thank-you to Swinburne’s Council for the confidence and trust that they have placed in me to realise Swinburne’s huge opportunities. "

An experienced university leader

Professor Simon Ridings is a widely recognised and respected leader in Australian higher education. He has worked in universities across Australia, beginning his academic career in Queensland and later holding senior leadership roles at Edith Cowan University, the University of Canberra and Curtin University. 

Throughout his career he has developed innovative education partnerships spanning global engagement, dual-sector delivery, higher education pathways and industry collaboration.

He is especially well known for his leadership in the international education sector and is a former President of the International Education Association of Australia. Simon joined Swinburne in 2022 and was Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer before his appointment as Interim Vice-Chancellor.