“Professor Guilford will bring a wealth of leadership experience to Victoria. He is an outstanding academic who has had a highly successful career in research and teaching. The Council of Victoria University believes his experience, knowledge and leadership style are the right mix to continue Victoria’s proud tradition of an institution of excellent academic standing with a world-class reputation,” says Chancellor McKinnon.
Professor Guilford is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Auckland and a member of the Senior Management Team. He has successfully led large and complex academic organisations, beginning with the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences at Massey University and continuing to his current role as Dean of Sciences. The Faculty has approximately 850 staff and 7,500 students, including 1,400 postgraduates. It spans natural and social science disciplines, encompasses a number of professions and has revenues in excess of $180 million.
“Professor Guilford’s passion and drive for excellence make him an excellent choice to follow the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pat Walsh, under whose leadership Victoria University has gone from strength to strength.
“The role attracted high-calibre candidates from New Zealand and overseas. I would like to thank all those involved in the process and again extend my appreciation to Vice-Chancellor Professor Walsh for his exceptional leadership over the past nine years.”
Professor Guilford says he is delighted by the opportunity to lead such an outstanding university. “Victoria University is a capital city university of global standing, with a clear commitment to excellence in research, teaching and public service, and a well-deserved reputation for leading thinking on major issues.
“It will be a privilege to contribute to Victoria’s continued national and international success.”
Professor Guilford will take up the position of Vice-Chancellor on 1 March 2014.
Short Biography: Professor W. Grant Guilford
Professor Guilford is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Auckland and a member of the Senior Management Team. He has successfully led large and complex academic organisations, beginning with the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences at Massey University and continuing to his current role as Dean of Sciences. The Faculty of Sciences at the University of Auckland has approximately 850 staff and 7,500 students, including 1,400 postgraduates. It spans natural and social science disciplines, encompasses a number of professions and has revenues in excess of $180 million.
Professor Guilford holds Bachelor of Philosophy and Bachelor of Veterinary Science degrees from Massey University and a PhD in Nutrition from the University of California, Davis. Earlier in his career, he undertook teaching, research, clinical and leadership roles at the University of Missouri, the University of California, Davis, and Massey University.
He has driven major capital works processes and participated in a wide range of commercialisation processes, and has been on the board of a number of companies, research consortia, joint ventures, centres of research excellence and a Crown Research Institute.