Peter Rathjen

Last updated

University of Adelaide
Peter Rathjen
22nd Vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide
In office
8 January 2018 (2018-01-08) –20 July 2020 (2020-07-20)
Occupation Biochemist and academic administrator
Scientific career
FieldsBiochemistry
Institutions University of Adelaide
University of Melbourne
University of Tasmania
Thesis Expression signals in retro-elements  (1988)
Doctoral advisors Alan J. Kingsman
Susan M. Kingsman

Peter David Rathjen (born 12 February 1964 in Cambridge, England) is an Australian scientist and medical researcher. He was the 22nd vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide, from January 2018 [1] [2] through July 2020. He was previously the 19th vice-chancellor of the University of Tasmania from 2011 to 2017.

Contents

Biography

Born in the United Kingdom, Rathjen moved to South Australia in 1965 when he was a child. He was educated at Blackwood High School in Adelaide. He studied Science at the University of Adelaide, majoring in biochemistry and genetics, and completing an honours degree.

Rathjen was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to New College, Oxford in 1985. He was awarded a DPhil in 1987, and then worked as a postdoctoral researcher on embryonic stem cells from 1988 to 1990.

Rathjen returned to the University of Adelaide, where he worked as lecturer in biochemistry from 1990 to 1995 and professor in biochemistry from 1995 to 2006. He was appointed to the chair of biochemistry in 1995. He became head of the department of molecular biosciences in 2000, and became foundation executive dean of the faculty of sciences in 2002, a role he kept until 2005.

He was appointed dean of the faculty of science at the University of Melbourne in 2006; in 2008, he became dean of the graduate school of science, and from 2008 to 2011 he served as deputy vice-chancellor (research). He was involved in Melbourne's controversial program of 'focused excellence', that shed some staff positions in order to reduce a growing debt.

In April 2011 Rathjen took up the role of vice-chancellor at the University of Tasmania. [3] During his vice-chancellorship, he promoted the university as a driver of socio-economic prosperity in Tasmania, including plans to move University of Tasmania campuses into CBD districts in Burnie, Launceston (yet to be completed), and Hobart (yet to be completed). During his vice-chancellorship, the university launched new associate degree programs. [4] [5] However, controversies during Rathjen's vice-chancellorship included the use of university funds for what was perceived as "travelling the globe in style", spending $50,000 in less than 6 months. [6] [7] In August 2020, a freedom of information request from the ABC revealed Rathjen spent more than $277,000 on business travel over four years during his tenure as vice-chancellor. His wife, Joy Rathjen, also a University of Tasmania employee, accompanied him on nine of the business class trips, costing the university $57,083. [8]

In 2018, Rathjen returned to the University of Adelaide in the roles of vice-chancellor and president, [1] in succession to Mike Brooks.

In May 2020, Rathjen commenced an indefinite leave of absence after University of Adelaide chancellor Kevin Scarce resigned without public explanation the previous day. [9] Later in the week, the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) confirmed he was investigating allegations of improper conduct by the vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide. [10] Rathjen, accused of engaging in "a personal relationship with a staff member", [11] was succeeded by acting vice-chancellor Mike Brooks. Rathjen formally resigned in July 2020, [12] "due to ill health". [13] In August 2020, the ICAC found that Rathjen had committed "serious misconduct" by sexually harassing two University of Adelaide colleagues, had lied to the then chancellor Kevin Scarce, and also lied to the commissioner in his evidence with respect to an investigation of sexual misconduct with a postgraduate student when he was employed at the University of Melbourne. [14] The ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander acknowledged there were "further issues" in the full 170-page report on the investigation which he chose not to release due to privacy concerns surrounding the victims, instead releasing an abridged 12-page version ‘Statement about an Investigation: Misconduct by the vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide’. [15] In determining his findings, the Commissioner relied in part on the personal blog of US journalist Michael Balter who documented Rathjen's prior history of sexual harassment, and was largely responsible for bringing the matter to the public's attention, and ultimately ICAC's. The ICAC Commissioner's damning findings against Rathjen have put the University of Adelaide's culture under intense scrutiny in both the local and international media. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Adelaide</span> Public university in Adelaide, South Australia

The University of Adelaide is a public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. Its main campus in the Adelaide city centre includes many sandstone buildings of historical and architectural significance, such as Bonython Hall. Its royal charter awarded by Queen Victoria in 1881 allowed it to become the second university in the English-speaking world to confer degrees to women. It plans to merge with the neighbouring University of South Australia, is adjacent to the Australian Space Agency headquarters on Lot Fourteen and is part of the Adelaide BioMed City research precinct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deakin University</span> Public university in Melbourne, Australia

Deakin University is a public university in Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1974, the university was named after Alfred Deakin, the second Prime Minister of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Commission Against Corruption (New South Wales)</span> Anti-corruption agency in New South Wales, Australia

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is an integrity agency of the Government of New South Wales responsible for eliminating and investigating corrupt activities and enhancing the integrity of the state's public administration. The commission was established in 1989, pursuant to the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act, 1988 (NSW), modeled after the ICAC in Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phillip Aspinall</span> Australian Anglican bishop

Phillip John Aspinall is an Australian Anglican bishop who served as Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane from February 2002 until December 2022, and was also the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia from July 2005 until he stood down on 4 July 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glyn Davis</span> Australian departmental secretary

Glyn Conrad Davis is an Australian academic and public servant. He was appointed the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on 6 June 2022, and as of December 2024 serves in the role. From January 2005 until September 2018, he served as vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne. He was previously a Distinguished Professor at the Australian National University's Crawford School of Public Policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Kelly (politician)</span> Australian former politician

Anthony Bernard Kelly is an Australian former politician, who was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Australian Labor Party from 1997 until 2011.

Edward Moses Obeid is a retired Australian politician and convicted criminal, who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1991 and 2011, representing the Labor Party. He was the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister for Mineral Resources from 1999–2003. Prior to the March 2015 expiry of his term in the Legislative Council, Obeid announced his decision to retire early on 10 May 2011, citing family reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Scarce</span>

Rear Admiral Kevin John Scarce, is a retired Royal Australian Navy officer who was the 34th Governor of South Australia, serving from August 2007 to August 2014. He was succeeded by Hieu Van Le, who had previously been his lieutenant governor. He was the 16th Chancellor of the University of Adelaide from 2014 to 2020.

Lindsay Michael Birt, AO, CBE was the inaugural vice-chancellor of the University of Wollongong between 1975 and 1980, and the fourth vice-chancellor of the University of New South Wales between 1981 and 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David O'Byrne</span> Australian politician and trade unionist

David O'Byrne is an Australian trade unionist and politician. A prominent union leader prior to entering politics and the brother of fellow politician Michelle O'Byrne, he has been an Independent member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly since 2024, after previously serving as a Labor Party member from 2018 to 2024, and from 2010 to 2014, representing the electorate of Franklin.

Professor Richard Higgott was born in 1949 in Nottingham, UK. He is based in the Brussels School of Governance, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel where he is Distinguished Professor of Diplomacy. From 2020 he has been a Visiting Professor in the Department of Social, Political and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Siena in Italy. He is also a part time visiting fellow at the Robert Schuman Center at the European University Institute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephan Knoll</span> Australian politician

Stephan Karl Knoll is a former Australian politician who represented the South Australian House of Assembly electorate of Schubert for the Liberal Party from 2014 to 2022. Knoll served as Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government and Minister for Planning in the Marshall Ministry between 2018 and 2020, and as Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly from February to July 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Commission Against Corruption (South Australia)</span> South Australian corruption commissioner

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is a South Australian integrity agency and law enforcement body responsible for the prevention and investigation of corruption in public administration. It receives referrals from the Office for Public Integrity and can on-refer matters to the South Australia Police (SAPOL). ICAC was established by the Government of South Australia in 2013, and until 2021, could also investigate potential issues of misconduct and maladministration. Corruption investigations are undertaken in private and strict confidentiality provisions prevent unlawful disclosure or publication, resulting in a largely secret organisation. It is headed by a commissioner, an independent statutory officer responsible to the Parliament of South Australia. Its functions and activities are subject to the oversight of the Inspector.

Peter Bordier Høj is a Danish-Australian academic and Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Adelaide. Peter Høj is one of the longest serving Australian Vice-Chancellors having served for 17 years across three universities. He has previously served as Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Queensland and the University of South Australia. Educated at the University of Copenhagen, Høj completed a Bachelor of Science where he majored in biochemistry and chemistry, a Master of Science in biochemistry and genetics and a Doctor of Philosophy in Photosynthesis. He has worked in Denmark and Australia as a researcher and published multiple scientific articles. Høj has also served on a number of different company boards in a variety of roles, including current roles on the boards of CSIRO, Wine Australia and of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. In 2017 he was elected chair of the Group of Eight, a lobby group that represents Australia’s research-intensive universities. He was the vice-chancellor of the University of Queensland from 2012-2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Bebbington</span> Australian academic administrator

Warren Arthur Bebbington was the 20th Vice Chancellor of the University of Adelaide. He was previously the Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Melbourne. He commenced his position at the University of Adelaide in July 2012, and retired in April 2017.

Fraser John Ellis is an Australian politician. He was elected as a Liberal member of the South Australian House of Assembly at the 2018 state election, representing Narungga. On 18 February 2021, Ellis suspended his membership of the Liberal Party after being charged by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) with offences relating to travel allowances.

The Integrity Commission is a Tasmanian integrity agency established in 2010 to deal with complaints about public sector misconduct.

References

  1. 1 2 Clark, Nick (30 May 2017). "University of Tasmania vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen takes post at University of Adelaide". The Mercury. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "Professor Peter Rathjen, Vice-Chancellor and President". Office of the Vice-Chancellor and President. University of Adelaide. 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  3. ↑ Smith, Linda (2 May 2011). "Anger at uni boss's criticism". The Mercury . Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Hare, Julie (25 February 2017). "University pushes $400m science unit relocation". The Australian. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  5. ↑ Hare, Julie (30 August 2016). "How to educate underperforming Tasmania". The Australian . Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  6. ↑ Bolger, Rosemary (4 March 2016). "Travel costs of University of Tasmania Vice-Chancellor, Peter Rathjen, disappoints union". ABC. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  7. ↑ Burgess, Georgie (29 September 2017). "Vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen to take university-funded trip weeks before signing off". ABC. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  8. ↑ Humphries, Alexandra (18 August 2020). "Former University of Tasmania vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen's $277,000 travel bill". ABC. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  9. ↑ Siebert, Bension (5 May 2020). "No explanation as University of Adelaide's two top leaders step down". ABC News . Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  10. ↑ Harmsen, Nick (7 May 2020). "ICAC investigating alleged 'improper conduct' by University of Adelaide vice-chancellor". ABC News . Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  11. ↑ Dodd, Tim; Penberthy, David (8 May 2020). "Uni chief faces misconduct probe". The Australian. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  12. ↑ Penberthy, David (17 July 2020). "University of Adelaide in global hunt for new vice-chancellor as talk of merger rekindled". The Australian. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "Adelaide University vice-chancellor, investigated by ICAC, resigns 'due to ill health'". www.abc.net.au. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  14. ↑ "'Egregious disrespect': University vice-chancellor sexually harassed colleagues, ICAC finds". www.abc.net.au. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  15. ↑ "Statement about an Investigation: Misconduct by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide". www.icac.sa.gov.au. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  16. ↑ "Sexual harassment: university's culture under scrutiny after damning findings against vice-chancellor". www.theguardian.com. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
Academic offices
Preceded by
Daryl Le Grew
19th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Tasmania
2011–2017		Succeeded by
Preceded by22nd Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide
2018–2020		Succeeded by
Mike Brooks /
Peter Høj
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.