Sack vice chancellor Genevieve Bell or face no confidence vote, union tells ANU
The unions are ramping up pressure on embattled ANU vice chancellor Genevieve Bell as the university struggles to cut costs after years of financial mismanagement.
Embattled Australian National University (ANU) vice chancellor Genevieve Bell is facing a vote of no confidence in her leadership from the education union.
In an email to its members seen by Capital Brief, National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) ACT secretary Lachlan Clohesy demanded the ANU sack Bell, confirming a no confidence vote will be held in February if she remains in her position. The vote would be open to both union and non-union staff at the university.
Bell’s leadership is under increasing scrutiny after a series of damaging revelations, including a report in The Australian Financial Review on Wednesday that she had kept a paid role at technology giant Intel despite being paid more than $1 million in her current role.
The ANU faces a dire financial situation after years of mismanagement, including under Bell’s predecessor Brian Schmidt. The university is seeking to cut $100 million on staff expenditure annually, and initial estimates suggested around 600 jobs could be on the chopping block, sparking anger from the NTEU.
