Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and
Vice-President (Health)
Introduction from the Vice-Chancellor and President
I warmly welcome your interest in the role of Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Vice-President (Health) (Executive Dean and Vice-President) at Monash University.
Monash University is a purpose-driven organisation, committed to realising social and technological transformation to meet the challenges of the age for the aspiring communities and industries around us, both in Australia and internationally. We are defined by the global scale and reach of our ambition, our drive for success and positive change, and our role as an anchor institution across all the locations of our international campus network.
As Monash’s largest faculty, the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences is a cornerstone of this ambition. Consistently ranked in the world’s top 50 universities for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences, our influence extends from local health services and hospital corridors to research leadership, bench-to-bedside translation, and global policy influence.
Under the exceptional leadership of Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor Christina Mitchell AO, the Faculty has experienced over a decade of strategic growth, setting a formidable benchmark in research excellence, educational innovation and clinical impact. Critical to our successes is the Faculty’s capability to foster partnerships which enable transformative student learning experiences and empower our staff to undertake discovery and translational research.
As Monash University’s Vice-Chancellor, I am committed to a Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Faculty that is at the forefront of preparing and inspiring the next generation of world-leading health professionals, clinicians, scientists and researchers. To fulfill this commitment the Faculty must be deeply embedded in the health networks and communities around us, and take on the biggest and most impactful research challenges.
Our Faculty is globally recognised for the breadth and depth of its expertise, the scale and quality of its education and research, and its leadership in driving transformative outcomes. With a strong commitment to excellence and performance, we have steadily strengthened our position against key national and international benchmarks. We are deeply embedded in large hospital and community health networks where students are trained by outstanding clinicians. Together with our health partners we undertake 25 per cent of the clinical trials in Australia and train large cohorts of clinician scientists, who lead exceptional, large-scale research programs.
The Executive Dean and Vice-President will bring the experience and vision to lead this complex, high-performing Faculty as it faces the challenges of increased health work demands and an increasingly competitive research environment.
The position will oversee an uplift in educational training to ensure our students are prepared to work in a modern health system which demands proficiency in using artificial intelligence, data fluency, systems thinking and working in inter-professional teams.
The Executive Dean and Vice-President will ensure that the Faculty maintains a broad base of excellent research from discovery, through to translation, policy and commercialisation. They will engage collaboratively with a wide group of stakeholders including alumni, community leaders, donors, health service leads and government to advocate for the importance of education and research.
An appointment of this significance requires a globally renowned and astute leader with a visible legacy of exceptional achievement.
As a key member of my leadership team, the Executive Dean and Vice-President will look beyond their own faculty to foster collaboration across Monash’s faculties, portfolios and campuses, and contribute to shaping and delivering University-wide strategies and initiatives.
The role of Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Vice-President (Health) offers a rare opportunity to lead with purpose and shape the future of healthcare education, research and achieve impact at scale. If you are motivated by purpose, energised by complexity and inspired by the opportunity to lead at scale, this role offers the chance to make a lasting contribution.
I hope you will consider this exciting opportunity to become part of Monash and our future.
Professor Sharon Pickering
Vice-Chancellor and President
Monash University
About the role
Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Vice-President (Health)
The Executive Dean and Vice-President provides visionary academic and strategic leadership for Monash University’s largest faculty, shaping the future of healthcare education, research and impact. Responsible for the Faculty’s overall performance, culture and global reputation, the role drives excellence across education, research, industry engagement and student experience, while advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.
Expanding the Faculty’s global footprint through ambitious transnational initiatives and clinical partnerships, the Executive Dean and Vice-President drives unified excellence across boarders - fostering collaboration, alignment and shared purpose to deliver world class outcomes at scale - locally, nationally and globally.
Leading four large sub-faculties comprising complex portfolios of schools, departments, institutes and centres, the Executive Dean and Vice-President fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and champions innovation in teaching, translational research and biomedical discovery. The role building strong partnerships with government, industry, community and alumni to enhance the Faculty’s profile, influence health policy and support sustainable growth.
As a member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive Commitee, the Executive Dean and Vice-President contributes to University-wide strategy, aligns Faculty priorities with Impact 2030, and works collaboratively with senior leaders to deliver outstanding outcomes. Inspiring and empowering staff and students, the Executive Dean and Vice-President ensures graduates are globally recognised for their contribution to healthcare and society.
For full details, please refer to the official position description below.
Our leading university
At Monash, we have achieved an enviable reputation both locally and internationally. We’re proud to be:
- The largest university in Australia with a presence on three continents
- Consistently ranked in the top 100 universities in the world
- Inspiring innovation and learning culture
Our motto Ancora Imparo “I am still learning” reminds us that the search for knowledge should never end. We are fired with a restless ambition that pushes us to do things better, to set new benchmarks and break new ground.
As a team, we are driven to achieve the goals set out in Impact 2030, which are to be Excellent, International, Enterprising and Inclusive.
Excellent
To undertake research and education of the highest international quality that addresses the great challenges of the age.
International
To build the strength, networks and scale of our international research and education across campuses and faculties to ensure they respond to the issues and opportunities of our region and the world.
Enterprising
To build enduring partnerships with industry, government and other organisations that will enrich our ability to innovate, to infuse our students and staff with enterprising capabilities and provide opportunities to apply our research to make a significant impact for the betterment of our communities.
Inclusive
To seek talented students and staff, irrespective of social or economic circumstances and build a connected community of students and staff in a diverse University that is deeply engaged with the wider community.
Rankings
Monash University has taken just 60 years to skyrocket through global university rankings and establish ourselves consistently among the world's best tertiary institutions, with our best performances across several prestigious global university rankings in recent years.
The University achieved its best result in the QS World University Rankings 2026, climbing to 36th globally and placing in the top 50 for the third consecutive year. Monash also ranks in the top 50 in the world across a broad range of subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, and two subjects placing in the world's top 50 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
We strengthened our position as a global leader of change by ranking 37th in the world in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026.
We also rank 38th in the world in the US News and World Report (USNWR) 2025-26 Best Global Universities Rankings.
36 – QS World University Rankings 2026
5 – QS World University Rankings 2026, Australian Universities
38 – US News and World Report, Best Global University Rankings 2025-2026
58 – Times Higher Education, World University Rankings 2026
76 – ShanghaiRanking, Academic Ranking of World Universities 2025
37 – QS Sustainability Rankings 2026
Learn more about our rankings performance.
Equal opportunity
Monash is an Equal Opportunity employer that is committed to being fair, equitable and sensitive to the diverse needs of its staff. Within the Faculty, we embrace diversity and welcome all the experiences’ that you’ll bring to the role.
We are the only Group of Eight University to be accredited as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. To find out more – Why Work at Monash.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
At Monash, we celebrate diversity, advance equity, and actively remove barriers to inclusion. We embed diversity and inclusion into the fabric of who we are, recognising equity is essential to excellence and strengthens us as a university community. We are proud to hold five SAGE Cygnet A wards through the Athena Swan Charter, reflecting our ongoing work towards Athena Swan Silver accreditation – a globally recognised accreditation program offering a framework for advancing gender, equity, diversity and inclusion. In addition, Monash University has again received GOLD employer recognition - as a leading employer in fostering LGBTIQA+ inclusion in the workplace - at the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) awards recently.
We believe that a person’s identity should never be a barrier to their potential and we don’t just celebrate diversity; we actively work to make our campus a place where everyone feels respected, supported, and able to succeed. This means looking at the big picture—how different parts of our identity overlap—and making sure our policies and practices support every individual’s unique journey.
We seek out the brightest minds from all walks of backgrounds because we know that diverse perspectives drive innovation and excellence. We support our students, staff and community with generosity of spirit and an unwavering commitment to fairness and inclusively in everything we do.
Our key areas of focus are:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Disability and Accessibility
- Gender Equity
- LGBTIQA+
- Access and Success
- Cultural Inclusion
About the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University
The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences is a leading global centre for health and biomedical education and research. Comprising four sub-faculties, ten schools and a network of renowned institutes and centres, our Faculty brings together world-class expertise, strong industry partnerships and a commitment to innovation to advance health outcomes locally and globally.
Organised into four sub-faculties—Biomedical Sciences; Clinical and Molecular Medicine; Health Sciences; and Translational Medicine and Public Health, each led by a Sub-Faculty Dean, diverse academic, research and clinical programs, covering the full spectrum of health and biomedicine from research to practice, are delivered to more than 19,000 students across Victoria, Malaysia and Indonesia. Course offerings to undergraduates and postgraduates include; 17 Bachelor degrees, plus several options for double degrees, over 30 Masters degrees, PhD degrees and pathways, 16 Graduate Certificates, 9 Graduate Diplomas, 4 Professional Certificates, and over 90 professional development courses.
Excellence in teaching and learning
Our students are at the centre in everything we do. We educate the health workforce of the future by integrating educational innovation with insights from industry, community and the health sector.
As one of Australia’s largest health and biomedical education providers, we create learning experiences that make our students industry ready. Students engage directly with clinicians, researchers, and industry leaders, gaining hand-on exposure to real-world challenges and emerging technologies. Supported by a global alumni community of 75,000 graduates from across 90 countries, our students develop the confidence, capability and perspective needed to lead with confidence in a transforming global health ecosystem.
Research expertise and excellence
Our research strengths focus on the health needs of communities both locally and globally. Working closely with our partners, we develop new and practical solutions to the major health challenges.
Our researchers study disease, chronic illness and the impacts of environmental and social changes, and they develop and test new treatments that can be translated into policy and practice.
Through collaboration and innovation, we deliver high-quality research that leads to real improvements in healthcare, from early concepts through to clinical application.
Below are some of our research institutes:
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI)
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI)
- Turner Institute of Brain and Mental Health
- Victorian Heart Institute (VHI)
Our co-location at major health service providers creates the best opportunity for clinical research excellence and translation. We work closely with Monash Health, Bayside Health - encompassing the Alfred Care Group and Peninsula Care Group, Eastern Health, Epworth Healthcare, Cabrini Health and various rural and regional providers.
World-class research infrastructure
Monash University’s world-class research infrastructure offers seamless, end-to-end support to industry and collaborative research partners through an open-access model. These platforms provide the capabilities needed to accelerate health innovation and deliver meaningful, measurable impact.
Faculty achievements
Our research performance is a defining strength. The Faculty is the largest contributor to Monash University’s research income and a national leader in competitively funded health and medical research, with scale and impact that distinguishes us globally.
Key achievements include:
- consistently one of Australia’s highest-performing faculties in competitive national health and medical research funding;
- secured more than $67 million in NHMRC Investigator Grants, one of the largest allocations nationally in 2025; and
- attracted over $46 million in MRFF investment across 19 projects in 2025.
The Faculty’s achievements are powered by its people and scale. We bring together thousands of academic, professional and honorary staff, including highly cited researchers and international leaders, and is supported by a global alumni community shaping health systems worldwide. Our education portfolio spans more than 110 courses and nearly 20,000 students across undergraduate, postgraduate and higher degree research programs, enabling us to educate the health workforce across the full career lifecycle.
A hallmark of the Faculty is its ability to translate discovery into real world impact. Embedded within major clinical and health service precincts across metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria, the Faculty leads world-class clinical trials, translational research and innovation.
Since 2020, the Faculty has delivered:
- 15 new spin-outs and start-ups per year
- 15 provisional patents and 17 licensing deals annually
- 50 invention disclosure each year, reflecting a strong commercialisation pipeline.
Find out more about the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Higher education in Australia
Academic excellence and research
Australia’s higher education system is world-renowned for its rigorous standards and high-impact research output.
- Global Standing - 9 Australian institutions are ranked in the world's top 1001.
- Research Impact - Australia produces approximately 3% of the world's published research despite being only 0.33% of the population 2,3,
- Top Talent - Home to the 5th largest number of highly cited researchers globally4.
Economic powerhouse
Universities are central to the nation's economic prosperity and global engagement.
- Economic Contribution - In 2024/2025the sector contributed $53.6 billion annually to the national economy 5.
- Major Export - Higher Education constitutes a $38.7 million annual export industry6.
- Employment - Supports over 140,000 jobs for Australians7.
Global rankings and livability
Australian cities consistently rank highly in the Global Liveability Index and ranks 8th in the Global Life-Work Balance Index 2025. With a spirit of generosity, high incomes, and trust in institutions, it remains a premier destination for international researchers and students alike.
1 QS World University Rankings 2026: Top Global Universities | TopUniversities
2 Ambitious Australia – Strategic Examination of R&D Summary Report
3 Population by Country (2026) - Worldometer
4 Highly Cited Researchers Analysis 2025 | Clarivate
5 Education export income - Financial Year - Department of Education, Australian Government
6Education export income - Financial Year - Department of Education, Australian Government
7 Staff data – Universities Australia
Life in Melbourne
Australia is progressive, thriving and beautiful. Our cities are urbane and cosmopolitan, and our landscapes range from pristine sandy beaches to perfect snowy mountains.
We're also one of the world's most culturally diverse nations. In the Australian state of Victoria, 45% of people were either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas.
In Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, you will hear people speak more than 150 different languages.
Melbourne is safe, well-designed and easy to get around. The city boasts:
Arts and culture
Sport
Melbourne is home to major sporting events, including the Australian Open (tennis), the Boxing Day Test (cricket) and the Spring Racing Carnival (horse racing). In winter, Melburnians flock to the Australian Football League (the AFL, or just 'the footy') – pick a team and join in.
Cafes and restaurants
Melbourne is famous for its coffee, thanks in large part to the influx of southern European migrants that came here in the 1950s. We also love food, enjoy a variety of ethnic cuisines, and celebrate a food and wine festival each March.
Weather
Melbourne enjoys a true seasonal climate with sunny summers, mild autumns, crisp winters and warm springs. Don’t be surprised if you experience all four seasons in one day.
In the summer period starting from December - February, temperatures are between 14 - 25.3°C (57.2 - 77.5°F).
In winter time (June - August), average temperatures range from 6.5 - 14.2°C (43.7 - 57.6°F), and snow falls in the north-east of Victoria, known as High Country.
The city is always alive. You’ll find Melburnians unwinding at bars, beaches and restaurants all year round.
More information and contact
The term of appointment will be for a period of up to five years on a full-time basis.
Enquiries
For further information and confidential discussions, please contact Alumni Global, who are supporting Monash University with this appointment.
How to apply
Applications can be submitted via the Alumni Global application portal. Please use the relevant reference number when applying: A041146
Please send us your application as soon as possible as we are continuously assessing candidates for this assignment.