John Dewar (academic)

John Dewar
John Dewar
Born	September 9, 1959 (age 67)
Occupation(s)	Legal academic, university administrator
Years active	1988–present
Known for	Vice-chancellor of La Trobe University (2012–2024), interim vice-chancellor of University of Wollongong (from 2024)
Awards	Officer of the Order of Australia (2020)

John Kinley Dewar AO (born 9 September 1959) is a distinguished Australian legal academic and scholar. He held the position of vice-chancellor at La Trobe University from 2012 until 2024 and will assume the role of interim vice-chancellor at the University of Wollongong starting June 2024.

Education

Dewar completed his studies at Abingdon School and later at Hertford College, Oxford, where he continues to be affiliated as a Research Fellow.

Career

Renowned internationally for his expertise in family law, Dewar contributed to the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Family Law Pathways Advisory Group between 2000 and 2001 and served as chair of the Family Law Council from 1998 to 2004.

Prior to his tenure at Griffith University, he held academic posts at Lancaster University and University of Warwick, and was a fellow and tutor at Hertford College, Oxford. Additionally, he led Education and Training at the London-based law firm Allen & Overy from 1988 to 1990.

Griffith University

In 1995, Dewar moved from the UK to Australia to join the faculty of Griffith University Law School as a professor. He later became dean from 1999 to 2002, then advanced to pro vice-chancellor for business and law (2002–2005), followed by deputy vice-chancellor (academic).

University of Melbourne

Dewar commenced his role at the University of Melbourne in April 2009 as deputy vice-chancellor (global relations). By September that year, he was appointed provost, focusing on enhancing the Melbourne Model and overseeing the rollout of graduate programs by 2011.

La Trobe University

In January 2012, Dewar took office as La Trobe University's sixth vice-chancellor, with a vision to establish it as a unique alternative within Victoria’s higher education sector compared to the Group of Eight universities. Early in his administration, he announced reductions involving 500 subjects and 41 positions, which triggered notable student demonstrations. Further staff cuts followed in 2014, resulting in the dismissal of 350 employees without offering voluntary redundancy options.

Facing financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dewar played a key role in negotiating the Australian Universities Job Protection Framework in 2020. This agreement led La Trobe staff to accept pay reductions aimed at preserving around 225 jobs. Later that year, he announced discontinuation of certain humanities and arts courses due to financial unsustainability.

In 2021, Dewar proposed shutting down the school of molecular science, reallocating its disciplines with an objective to reduce expenses by $60 million. In February 2023, La Trobe's chancellor revealed that Dewar would conclude his term as vice-chancellor in early 2024 after serving for twelve years.

University of Wollongong

Starting June 2024, Dewar will act as interim vice-chancellor at the University of Wollongong. However, in September 2024 concerns surfaced regarding possible conflicts of interest linked to his partnership with consulting firm KordaMentha, which holds contracts with the university.

Universities Australia

Elected chair of Universities Australia in April 2021, Dewar has been a vocal advocate for enhanced funding for higher education institutions, notably during his address at the National Press Club in July 2022.

Other appointments

As of February 2022, Dewar serves on several boards including the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, the Committee for Melbourne, and the Foundation for Australian Studies in China. He is also involved with the University Foreign Interference Taskforce, participates in the Higher Education Reference Group at the University of Lincoln, and contributes to the Champions of Change Coalition.

He holds honorary fellowship status at Hertford College, Oxford, is an adjunct professor at both Melbourne and La Trobe Law Schools, and acts as visiting professor at Sheffield Hallam University's Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice.

Awards

In 2020, Dewar was honored as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of his exceptional contributions to education through leadership positions within universities and professional bodies.

Other

Dewar's innovative underground home, known as 'Earthhouse,' situated on a 25-acre property in Whittlesea, Victoria, was showcased in Season 10, Episode 9 of Grand Designs Australia in 2023.