Barbara Messerle

• Led the university-wide academic response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the University of Sydney
• Led development of the Academic Excellence program at the University of Sydney
• Implemented a values-based strategy at Macquarie University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering that strengthened national and international profile, built a strong leadership group and grew teaching and research revenue
• Restructured the Macquarie University Faculty of Science and Engineering, merging two pairs of departments and completely restructuring the professional administration staff cohort
• Led the development of enhanced teaching and learning across the Macquarie University Faculty of Science and Engineering
• Led the transformation of the UNSW School of Chemistry during her eight years as head of the school.

Barbara holds a PhD and a Bachelor of Science (Honours 1, University Medal) from the University of Sydney. She has led a research program in catalysis for over 25 years, with a primary goal to design metal complexes that promote the efficiency and selectivity of important chemical transformations such as drug synthesis.

Barbara is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has held board memberships including: Director, Westmead Institute of Medical Research; Chair, Australian Proteomics Analysis Facility, Macquarie University; Director, Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences; Director, Pymble Ladies College; Advisory Board Member, UNSW Academic Women in Leadership Program; and Director, Australian and New Zealand Society for Magnetic Resonance. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales and of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.

Barbara’s favourite non-work activities include mountain-hiking, bushwalking, cycling and sailing. She enjoys playing the violin, reading books and – most of all – spending time with her family.