Brungs to succeed Milbourne as next Vice-Chancellor

Professor Attila Brungs will succeed Professor Ross Milbourne as Vice-Chancellor upon his retirement in July 2014.

Professor Brungs, who joined UTS in 2009 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, was selected against intense national and international competition.

Professor Vicki Sara, UTS Chancellor, attributed the number and quality of candidates to the University’s growing global reputation for excellence and its ambitious future focus.

“Ross has set the University on a strong upwards trajectory. We conducted a global search for his replacement that attracted a strong field of excellent candidates from Australia and abroad – including standing vice-chancellors – for the role”, Professor Vicki Sara said.

“Attila’s imagination, passion, and commitment set him apart from the other candidates. He is the embodiment of everything UTS stands for.”

A Rhodes Scholar who earned his DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry at Oxford University, Professor Brungs has had a distinguished career spanning academia and industry, and immediately prior to joining UTS, Professor Brungs held senior positions at CSIRO.

“Attila has already made an enormous contribution to the research performance of the University. UTS has a bold vision, and I am sure that under the strategic leadership of Attila we will realise our goal to become a world-leading university of technology in the years ahead”, Professor Sara added.

“Leading a university ranked among the top 1 percent worldwide in its first 25 years is a unique opportunity.” Professor Brungs said.

“There is a creative energy here at UTS, a desire to make a difference. Our ability to harness that energy and translate it into concrete outcomes and exceptional student experiences is what makes UTS different. I am humbled and thrilled to have been selected to succeed Ross.”

Professor Brungs will take up the position effective 27 July 2014.