Aston University has announced that Professor Aleks Subic has been appointed as its next Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive.
He succeeds Professor Alec Cameron, who stepped down after five years in December 2021. He will take up the post in August 2022, until which time Saskia Loer Hansen will continue in her role as Interim Vice-Chancellor.
Dame Yve Buckland, Pro-Chancellor of Aston University, said:
“I am absolutely delighted at Professor Aleks Subic’s appointment. He joins the University at an exciting time and his wide experience of leadership across both academia and industry makes him a perfect fit for Aston University’s needs and ambitions.”
Professor Subic said:
“I feel privileged at being given the opportunity to lead Aston University at this time. The University is renowned for its commitment to graduate employability, translational research and its engagement with business.
“I look forward to continuing the momentum built up by Professor Alec Cameron and Saskia Loer Hansen, and I am ambitious to see Aston University continue to build on its reputation for high quality teaching, research and business engagement locally, nationally and internationally.”
Saskia Loer Hansen, Interim Vice-Chancellor of Aston University, said:
“I should like to congratulate Professor Subic warmly on his appointment. His credentials as a leader, both in industry and in higher education, equip him for guiding Aston University to even greater success.
“I am sure he will work rigorously to build on our achievements, promote the University worldwide and further strengthen our reputation as a leading university for business and enterprise.”
Professor Subic is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (STEM) and Vice President (Digital Innovation) at RMIT University, where he is responsible for leading the STEM College and Digital Innovation portfolio in Australia and globally.
Prior to this appointment he was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) at Swinburne University of Technology, responsible for research, graduate studies, engagement and partnerships, advancement, innovation, enterprise, and commercialisation, leading the research transformation of the university towards top 2% in the world.
Before that, he was the Executive Dean of Engineering at RMIT University, one of the largest engineering faculties in Australia, ranked in top 1% in the world and renowned for industry-partnered education and research.
Concurrent with his academic appointments, Professor Subic has held notable appointments on the Australian Prime Minister’s Industry 4.0 Taskforce and the Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council Leaders Group (Australian Industry Group).
Previously he was the Director and Deputy Chair of the Australian Association of Aviation and Aerospace Industries, Director of Oceania Cybersecurity Centre Governing Board, Director of the Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia Board, Director of National Imaging Facility Governing Board, Director of Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Governing Board, and Director of the Victorian Centre for New Energy Technologies Governing Board.
He has served on a number of national and international research committees and expert panels, including as Chair of the European Research Council Expert Panel for Physical Sciences and Engineering, Technology Group of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils, Forbes Technology Council, Defence Materials Technology Centre, Editor and Associate Editor of international scholarly journals.