Biography of Emeritus Professor John Hay AC
Emeritus Professor Hay passed away on 3 November 2016; visit his obituary to read more.
AC, BA(Hons) Camb., BA(Hons) W.Aust., MA Camb., PhD W.Aust., Hon.LittD Deakin, Hon.DLitt W.Aust., Hon.DUniv QUT., Hon.LLD Qld., FACE, FAIM, FAHA, FQA.
As Vice-Chancellor of the University from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2007 Emeritus Professor Hay was the equivalent of the chief executive officer of a substantial multinational company. He provided strategic leadership and represented the University in a range of national and international forums.
Emeritus Professor Hay held degrees in English Literature from the University of Western Australia and Cambridge University, where he held a Hackett Research Scholarship. He was a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators, the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
He held the position of Chair of English and Head of the Department in the University of Western Australia, where he was also Deputy Chair of the Academic Board. At Monash University, he was Dean of Arts and Chair of the National Key Centre for Australian Studies and was then appointed Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
In 1992 Emeritus Professor Hay was appointed Vice-Chancellor and President of Deakin University in Victoria and took up the position of Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Queensland on 1 January 1996.
Under his leadership, both Deakin University and The University of Queensland were named Australia's Universities of the Year by the Good Universities Guide. The University of Queensland has advanced to second position nationally for total competitive research funding under his leadership, and has became Australia's most successful University in winning and being shortlisted for national University teaching awards. Emeritus Professor Hay led the development of many major new research centres including those in molecular bioscience, supercomputing, biomaterials and nanotechnology, brain research and sustainable mining. He also established the new Mayne Centre Art Gallery and Australia's first national collection of artists' self-portraits. Emeritus Professor Hay raised funding of nearly $400 million for these projects.
In 2002, Emeritus Professor Hay was appointed by the Federal Minister for Education to the Higher Education Review Reference Group. Emeritus Professor Hay was Chair of the Group of Eight, Australia's leading research-intensive universities, from January 2002 to May 2003.
In late 2003, Emeritus Professor Hay was appointed Chair of Universitas 21, a consortium of comprehensive, research-intensive international universities.
He was also Chair of the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and a member of numerous State and national committees, ranging from the Performing Arts to Science, Technology, Innovation, Information Systems, City Planning and Economic Development. In 2003 he was awarded a Centenary Medal for contributions to Australian higher education.
In January 2004 Emeritus Professor Hay was made a Companion in the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours list. The title Professor Emeritus was conferred by the University Senate, taking effect from the date of his retirement in 2007.
Emeritus Professor Hay was married to Barbara Hay, a retired occupational therapist who held clinical and research appointments. Their four children are Christopher, a senior strategic management executive; Katherine, a Melbourne-based I.P. lawyer; and twins Timothy (who holds a masters of commerce degree) and Benjamin (who holds an arts/law degree).