Professor Sharon Pickering, Vice-Chancellor and President

A globally recognised leader in driving future-focused educational and research reform, Professor Sharon Pickering brings unmatched energy, vision, and purpose to her role as the tenth Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University, appointed on 29 January 2024. From the moment she first joined Monash in 2003 as a Lecturer in Criminology, Professor Pickering has been a force of transformation, shaping minds, driving innovation, and creating a lasting impact on the University and beyond.

Professor Pickering’s academic excellence is matched only by her strong advocacy for equity and global collaboration. Her pioneering research has earned her prestigious awards, including the Australian Human Rights Commission Award, the Leon Radzinowicz Prize, the CM Alder Prize, the International Education Association of Australia Best Practice Award and the Australian Financial Review International Education Award. In 2018, she was inducted as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Social Sciences, an affirmation of her scholarly impact and leadership.

With 15 books and more than 80 scholarly publications to her name, Professor Pickering has led major research initiatives across Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. Her work bridges academia and real-world impact, forging strategic partnerships with institutions in Indonesia, India, China, Malaysia, Europe and the Pacific, and collaborating with law enforcement, government, and the NGO sector in advisory capacities.

A champion of international education and of Australia’s influence in the Indo-Pacific, she envisions universities as dynamic hubs of research, education, and collaboration. Her leadership has brought to life transformative initiatives such as Monash’s Global Immersion Guarantee, redefining international study and engagement.

Professor Pickering’s influence extends beyond academia. She serves on the Victorian Premier’s Business Council, is an inaugural board member of the Australian Government’s ASEAN-Australia Centre and is a board member of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZOG).

Her leadership journey at Monash includes roles as Acting Provost and Senior Vice-President, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Head of Criminology, and Head of the School of Social Sciences. She also founded Monash’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, building on three decades of work addressing gender-based violence.

A first-generation university graduate, Professor Pickering holds a Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Melbourne (2000), Master of Arts (Criminal Justice) from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom (1995), and a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Melbourne (1994). Her personal story fuels her commitment to social equity and opportunity through education.

Outside the University, she is raising a household of passionate young people and remains a die-hard supporter of the Geelong Football Club, bringing the same passion to her personal life as she does to her professional mission.