The University of Queensland – Director, Frazer Institute

The Organisation

The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities and a member of the Group of Eight. Within UQ, the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences (HMBS), established in 2025, brings together nine esteemed schools and a suite of faculty and school-based institutes and centres, creating an interdisciplinary powerhouse focused on improving health and wellbeing locally and globally.

Located within HMBS, the Frazer Institute is a unique, internationally recognised biomedical research institute delivering end‑to‑end research from fundamental discovery through to clinical trials and implementation. With more than 300 research staff, over 150 higher degree research students and more than 50 research groups, the Institute’s strengths span immunology, infection, dermatology, cancer, brain and mental health, and ageing.

The Institute operates across UQ’s Boggo Road and Herston biomedical campuses, adjacent to major hospitals and clinical partners and has a proud history of translation and impact, including the development of the HPV vaccine by Professor Ian Frazer and Dr Jian Zhou.

The Role

Reporting to the Executive Dean, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, the Director provides strategic academic leadership to advance the Institute’s research excellence, funding success and international profile, while fostering an inclusive, collegial culture grounded in integrity and impact.

The position also holds overall responsibility for the sustainable management and growth of the Institute, including stewardship of financial, human, physical and intellectual resources; attraction and development of outstanding staff and students; and effective representation within Faculty and University governance. Through strong internal collaboration and external partnerships, the role strengthens the Institute’s influence across academia, health systems, industry, government and the wider community.

The Person

We seek a distinguished academic leader with a PhD aligned to the Institute’s strengths, an international reputation for excellence and an outstanding record in teaching, research publications, competitive funding and PhD supervision. Candidates will bring a cross‑disciplinary perspective on research and education activities and the capacity to provide academic leadership that enhances the stature of the Institute and Faculty.

Candidates will demonstrate highly developed leadership, communication and people management capabilities, with a proven ability to lead large, complex and diverse teams in a collegiate environment. You will have a strong appreciation of governance, legislation and equity obligations, alongside a proven capacity to shape culture and deliver a compelling academic vision.

You will see this as an opportunity to shape the future direction of a flagship institute and mentor the next generation of scientific leaders to drive meaningful improvements in human health outcomes.

How to apply

For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact the consultants leading the search: Mazin Al Maimani at Mazin.Almaimani@odgers.com or on +61 3 8375 7408 or Jenny Sutton Jenny.Sutton@odgers.com.

The role is full-time, fixed-term for five years, renewable by negotiation.

Applications will close on Friday 8 May 2026 and should be submitted via the Odgers website www.odgers.com/9582.