The respected medical researcher, physician and University leader officially took on the role as Chancellor after a ceremony at the University’s Bendigo Campus today.
He succeeds current Chancellor, Professor Adrienne E Clarke AC, who has been in the role since 2011.
Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and University Visitor, presided over the ceremony to officially install him into the role.
Professor Larkins said he was thrilled to be in this position and was looking forward to the next two years.
“I am really excited about the trajectory La Trobe University is on. Under the outstanding leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar, the University has improved its research performance dramatically, partnered with a number of cultural institutions and with industry and is working to ensure that the student experience is exceptional in every sense,” Professor Larkins said.
“I hope that everyone associated with the University shares the excitement I feel in La Trobe’s 50th year of educating inspiring young people from all walks of life.”
Professor Larkins said he deliberately chose to be installed as La Trobe University Chancellor while in regional Victoria.
“Another reason I am so excited about being Chancellor is that La Trobe University is committed to its regional campuses,” Professor Larkins said.
“I am a great believer in the role of regional campuses of high quality, international class universities. Such campuses provide an opportunity to rural and regional students to attend university when for many students there would be no possibility to move to the city and attend a city campus.
“La Trobe is also engaging with local communities, businesses and industry to perform locally-relevant research. We also provide local employment and are the engines for economic success of the regions where we reside,” he said.
Professor Larkins was Vice-Chancellor of Monash University between 2003 and 2009. He had earlier served as Dean of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.
During his career, he also served as Chair of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, President of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Chair of Universities Australia and as a member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council.
Photo: L to R
- Outgoing La Trobe University Chancellor, Professor Adrienne E Clarke AC
- La Trobe University Chancellor, Professor Richard Larkins AO
- Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and University Visitor
