New Vice-Chancellor and President for RMIT

New Vice-Chancellor and President for RMIT

Professor Alec Cameron has been announced as RMIT's incoming Vice-Chancellor and President.

Chancellor Dr Ziggy Switkowski AO has confirmed that Professor Cameron will assume the role in early 2022 after returning to Australia from the UK where he has been Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at Aston University since 2016.

Professor Alec Cameron will take up the role of RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President in early 2022.Professor Alec Cameron will take up the role of RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President in early 2022.

He succeeds Professor Martin Bean, who stepped down earlier this year after six years in the role.

Professor Cameron is a Rhodes Scholar (1986) with a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford in Robotics (1989).  He is also a graduate of the University of Sydney with Bachelors degrees in Science and Electrical Engineering. 

His early career involved executive roles at Sun Microsystems and Telstra, and he was the inaugural Dean of the Australian School of Business, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources and Infrastructure) University New South Wales (2003-12) and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), University of Western Australia (2013-16).

Dr Switkowski said Professor Cameron was joining RMIT at an exciting time, when his experience as a progressive University leader and experienced administrator in Australia and overseas, along with his record at Aston University, made him a perfect fit for RMIT’s needs and ambitions.

“We are delighted to welcome Professor Cameron to RMIT and expect he will work with the leadership team, staff and students at RMIT to deliver an enhanced education experience for our nearly 100,000 students in Australia and internationally,” Dr Switkowski said.

Professor Cameron said he was excited to take up the role.

“RMIT is a university internationally-renowned for its focus on technology, design and enterprise; the employability attributes and outcomes of its students; the impact of its research; its engagement with business and government; and its civic contribution and social impact”.  

The University community looks forward to welcoming Professor Cameron. Until that time, Ms Dionne Higgins continues as Interim Vice-Chancellor.   

Professor Cameron’s appointment follows a global recruitment process over many months.

27 July 2021

Share

Engage

Related news

2026-scholarship-ceremony-ybdao-is-one-of-six-students-to-receive-a-fully-funded-opportunity-scholarship-from-rmit-vietnam.jpg

Jarai woman turns RMIT scholarship into community impact
Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 30 Oct 2026

From a small village in the former Kon Tum province to RMIT Vietnam, Y Bdao is turning her scholarship into a mission to empower Jarai women through traditional weaving and open doors to opportunities for the next generation.

Two people standing on stage at the RMIT University Scholarship Award Ceremony 2026, with one holding a framed certificate.

The questions that led Trinh Yen Nhi to RMIT Vietnam
Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 29 Oct 2026

Some children grow up wondering what they want to become. RMIT Vietnam’s scholarship recipient Trinh Yen Nhi grew up wondering why people suffer, and what it takes to heal.

Students sitting at computers during the hackathon

RMIT Hackathon 2026 seeks safer AI for low-resource languages
Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 26 Oct 2026

Students from Vietnam, Australia and Malaysia came together to tackle a big challenge in AI: making AI systems safer, more accurate and more reliable for low-resource languages.

Vi speaking at a lectern

A future in business, inspired by creative industries
Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 23 Oct 2026

From leading media and music clubs in high school to studying business at RMIT, scholarship winner Nguyen Khanh Vi hopes to help creative ventures build sustainable futures.

Load more +