The University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Hay, AC, today announced the appointment of Professor Michael Keniger as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
Professor Keniger replaces Professor Margaret Gardner, who left UQ earlier this year to become Vice-Chancellor of RMIT University, Victoria.
“Professor Keniger has extensive and diverse experience in the private sector, with government and in academia,” Professor Hay said.
“He has provided outstanding leadership in his role as Executive Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture at UQ.
“I’m delighted to welcome someone of Professor Keniger’s calibre to this important position on the executive team.”
Professor Keniger said, who formally takes up the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) on July 1, said he was looking forward to contributing to the leadership of one of Australia’s most successful and dynamic universities.
“The principal challenge will be to continue to raise the quality and profile of the teaching and learning experience within a leading, research intensive university at a time of overall financial constraint,” he said.
He aims to further enhance each student’s experience of their studies at the university and to continue to strengthen UQ’s standing within the wider community.
A graduate of the acclaimed Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, Professor Keniger was engaged with several award winning architectural practices in London before his original appointment to The University of Queensland as a lecturer in 1978.
He has been invited as a visiting lecturer and critic by many schools of architecture internationally and has made a major contribution to the shaping of the accreditation policy and educational standards for the profession in Australia.
His principal research areas commenced with architecture and urban change and developed into the nature of contemporary architecture in Australia. Research has included the application of digital techniques to the recording and communication of architecture, research studies for Queensland Health leading to guidelines for the creation of shade for protection against skin cancer in sub-tropical climates, and the development of innovative processes for the achievement of design integrity and construction quality on major construction projects.
Professor Keniger is a Life Fellow and Past President of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (Qld).
He was Queensland Architect of the Year in 1998 and has held the advisory position of Queensland Government Architect since 1999, with responsibility to advise on urban and architectural projects of major significance.
He is a member of the Board of the South Bank Corporation, was a member of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Design Review Panel and has been a key design advisor to the National Museum Project in Canberra. He provided instrumental advice on the design competitions for the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Millennium Library projects currently under construction.
He has served as the Chair or been a member of the selection panels for design competitions for major public and university buildings at the request of the Federal Government, the Queensland Government, various local authorities, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (Qld) and The University of Queensland.
Professor Keniger was head of UQ’s Department of Architecture from 1990 to 2000 and was appointed the inaugural Head of the School of Geography Planning and Architecture in 2000.
He has been Executive Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture since early in 2003.
“Professor Keniger’s achievements during this time include a strengthening of the focus, direction and identity of the Faculty,” Professor Hay said.
“Throughout his career, Professor Keniger has judged numerous design competitions and has been a key design adviser and member of design selection panels for a significant number of major architectural and urban design public projects in Australia.
“He has worked to enhance community understanding of the need for, and value of, excellent design in public buildings.
“He is recognised within the profession and beyond as having made an eminent contribution to the improvement of the built environment through the quality of his teaching, his leadership and his advocacy.”
Media: For further information contact Lorann Downer 3365 1088 or 0413 458 317. For a photo of Professor Keniger, please contact Diana Lilley, telephone 07 3365 2753 or email d.lilley@uq.edu.au.
