No ratings yet
Taught by or worked with Nic? Your rating helps other students choose.
Professor Nic Smith is the incoming Vice-Chancellor of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, with the appointment taking effect on 3 August 2026. An alumnus of the University of Auckland, he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1993 and a PhD in Engineering in 1999, and he also holds a Master of Arts from the University of Oxford. His previous roles include Vice-Chancellor of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington since 2023, Provost at Queensland University of Technology from 2020 to 2022, Dean of Engineering at the University of Auckland from 2013 to 2020, Head of Biomedical Engineering at King’s College London from 2011 to 2013, and Professor of Computational Physiology at the University of Oxford from 2008 to 2011.
Professor Smith is a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi and of Engineering New Zealand. He is an internationally recognised researcher in biomedical engineering whose work integrates engineering, science and medicine to develop sophisticated computer models of coronary blood flow and the human heart, advancing understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease. He has led major international research collaborations, published widely in leading journals, and holds a number of international patents, with his research supporting clinical innovation and new healthcare technologies. As Dean of Engineering at the University of Auckland, he strengthened research performance and industry engagement while leading the Faculty’s response to historical grievances. Professor Smith is committed to advancing Māori and Pacific aspirations and fostering the role of universities in their communities.
Professional Email: null
Explore Professor Nic Smith's transition from Victoria University Vice-Chancellor to University of Auckland, achievements, challenges, and implications for NZ higher education leadership.
Explore Professor Nic Smith's appointment as University of Auckland's new Vice-Chancellor, his background from Victoria University, career highlights, and vision amid NZ higher ed challenges.
Professor Nic Smith, current VC at Victoria University of Wellington and UoA alumnus, appointed as new Vice-Chancellor starting August 2026. Explore his background, achievements, and vision for NZ's top university.
Photo by Antoine Dautry on Unsplash
Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash
Photo by Peter Burdon on Unsplash
Photo by Andrii Zhuk on Unsplash
Photo by EESOFUFFZICH on Unsplash
Photo by Google DeepMind on Unsplash
Photo by Gabriele Malaspina on Unsplash
