The Fiji National University (FNU) has appointed Professor Lyn Karstadt as its new vice-chancellor.
Prof Karstadt takes up her new role on September 5, 2022.
FNU chancellor and council chairperson Tessa Price said Prof Karstadt has more than 20 years’ experience in executive and leadership roles in higher education in Australia and the UK, and boasted a strong national and international profile.
“The Council is happy to announce the appointment of Professor Lyn Karstadt, who makes history as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the national University. The FNU family looks forward to welcoming her to the institution,” Ms Price said
According to the FNU, between 2016 and 2020, Prof Karstadt was deputy VC (International and Advancement) at Murdoch University in Western Australia.
And from 2013 to 2016, she was Executive Dean Health, Engineering, and Sciences at the University of Southern Queensland, where she was responsible for initiating a number of innovative new programmes for the home and overseas markets.
Ms Price said in the 12 years preceding her executive deanship, Prof Karstadt was at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK, where she progressed from head of department to head of school, to deputy dean and then to associate director.
Prof Karstadt holds a Professional Doctorate in Education from the University of Hertfordshire, a Masters degree in Education and a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from The Open University (UK), and has experience as a registered nurse and a licensed teacher.
Ms Price says acting VC Dr William May will resume his role as the Dean of FNU’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS). Dr May was appointed the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor in September last year to work alongside the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Toby Wilkinson before taking on the role as Acting Vice- Chancellor earlier this year.
The FNU Council would like to express our deep appreciation of Dr May’s exceptional capabilities and for his service in taking on the role and being at the helm of the University over the last few months.
