Charles Sturt University (CSU) Deputy Chancellor Ms Kathryn Pitkin today praised the leadership and commitment of Mr Lawrie Willett, AO following the announcement of Dr Michele Allan as the University's new Chancellor-elect.  Mr Willett commenced his term as Chancellor in 2003. Dr Allan will assume the role of Chancellor when Mr Willett retires in December 2014.

"Lawrie has dedicated his life, in the words of Captain Charles Napier Sturt, to 'the public good'," Ms Pitkin said.

"Over the period of his Chancellorship, the University has grown to become the largest provider of higher education in regional Australia.

"We now enrol 12 000 more students than the next largest regional university, and three times more students that the three smallest regional universities combined.

"Lawrie has witnessed a building program that is unprecedented in the regional higher education sector, with new veterinary, pharmacy and dentistry programs, new community dental and allied health clinics across multiple regional locations, and major new research and teaching facilities such as the National Life Sciences Hub.

"He has guided our University, and the Council, through a significant period of change and renewal and placed us in a better position to deal with the challenges of the new higher education system."

CSU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Andrew Vann said, "As a new Vice-Chancellor, it was a great pleasure to work with Lawrie and to receive his wise counsel, guidance and support over the last two years".

"Lawrie's passion for our regions is legendary, and despite retiring as Chancellor he will continue to be a respected member of the University community," he said.

Chancellor Willett said, "While it will be a sad time for me to leave the role of Chancellor in December, I have been very proud of what we have achieved as a Council and University over the last 12 years". 

"I will have more to say as I approach the end of my term, but it is great to know that the Chancellorship is in good hands as the University moves into a new higher education environment," he said.Mr Willett will be farewelled by the University over the coming months.  A formal dinner will be held in Bathurst prior to his last day on Tuesday 2 December 2014.

Details of Chancellor Willett's career and time at CSU are available in the background notes attached.