Established in 1911, the University of Western Australia (UWA) is a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight, and one of the country’s most innovative and ambitious institutions of higher education. Ranked 3rd in Australia and 34th globally (GRAS 2024) for Clinical Medicine, the UWA Medical School is committed to creating knowledge and transforming lives by way of leading-edge medical education and research programs, from its advanced Health Campus at the QEII Medical Centre, one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
The University is presently seeking to appoint a seasoned professional to become the new Dean and Head of its Medical School. Encompassing a broad range of responsibilities, the Dean will provide exceptional academic, strategic, and operational leadership to support the school’s top-class student experience, educational activities, and research programs, instilling a high-performance culture dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in every aspect of medical education.
Reporting to the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the role requires a high calibre leader to encourage and nurture staff and students alike, fostering a robust culture of active learning and participation. They will demonstrate a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion principles, and be dedicated to strengthening relationships with a range of external partners, including rural and remote health services. By working closely across the School and the University more broadly, the Dean and Head will innovate to achieve outstanding outcomes that align with the University's broader mission and strategic goals.
The ideal candidate will bring a proven record of academic excellence and standing within their discipline, including strong educational and management skills, as well as experience inspiring teams and driving change. Expertise in strategy development, relationship-building, and influencing both internally and externally is essential, along with excellent communication skills, financial acumen, and the ability to support high-quality teaching and research. With a solid clinical background, all candidates must be registrable with the Medical Board of Western Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority.
The University will be supported in this appointment by the global executive search firm, Perrett Laver. For further information, or to discuss the role in confidence, please contact Jason Murdoch via email at Jason.Murdoch@perrettlaver.com, or by phone on +61 03 9221 6220.
Alternately, to submit your application securely online, please visit the Perrett Laver candidate portal at https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/4649/dean_and_head_uwa_medical_school/ , quoting reference number 7813.
Application Deadline: 9am AWST, Monday 28th April 2025
Perrett Laver will conduct an executive search process in parallel with the public advertisement of the role. Longlisted candidates will be invited to interview with Perrett Laver in mid-May and the Selection Panel will subsequently meet to decide upon a final shortlist for the post in late-May, following which, formal interviews with UWA will take place in early-mid June.
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