The new Chancellor of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Dr Michele Allan, will be formally installed at a ceremony at CSU in Bathurst on Thursday 4 December.

Dr Allan is the third Chancellor of the University, following the retirement of Mr Lawrie Willett, AO.

CSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, said, "I am very much looking forward to working with Dr Allan as Chancellor. Her background in rural and regional industries, deep board experience and extensive networks make her an outstanding person to take on the role. The University Council plays a critical role in guiding and overseeing the management of the University. We are fortunate to have someone of Dr Allan's experience to lead us in this."

Dr Allan is a food industry and agribusiness specialist who has held senior executive and director positions in the food and education sectors, and has an academic background in biomedical science, management, and law. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Allan is the current Chair of the Board of Meat and Livestock Australia, the William Angliss Institute of TAFE, and the Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council. Her current board positions include Apple and Pear Limited, Innovation Australia, the Cooperative Research Centre for Hearing and Tasmanian Irrigation Pty Ltd. She has held non-executive director positions with Patties Foods Limited, the Dairy Research & Development Corporation (now part of Dairy Australia), Forest and Wood Products Australia, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, RuralCo and Birchip Cropping Group.

In 2013 Dr Allan was appointed by the Commonwealth Minister for Agriculture, The Hon. Barnaby Joyce, to chair the Wheat Industry Advisory Taskforce. In 2014, she was appointed by the federal government to lead the Tasmanian Fruit and Vegetable Taskforce. Prior to commencing her board career, Dr Allan was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Patties Foods Limited until 2008, and held executive roles with Amcor Limited, Tasmanian Bioinformatics Centre of Excellence, Bonlac Foods Limited, Kraft Foods, and ICI Dulux.

Dr Allan has a Bachelor of Applied Science (University of Technology, Sydney), Master of Management (Technology) (University of Melbourne), Doctor of Business Administration (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology), and a Master of Commercial Law (Deakin University).

The installation ceremony starts at 10.30am Thursday 4 December at the CD Blake Auditorium (building 1220) at CSU in Bathurst.