Duncan Bentley

Duncan Bentley is the Vice-Chancellor and President of Federation University Australia, a position he has held since August 2020.14 He brings extensive experience in higher education leadership and management to this role.

Background and Education

Professor Bentley has an impressive academic background:

• BA and LLB from the University of Cape Town
• LLM from the University of London
• LLM (Corporate & Commercial) and PhD from Bond University24

He also holds professional qualifications, including Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law (FAAL), Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA), and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).2

Career Highlights

Before joining Federation University, Professor Bentley had a distinguished career in academia and consulting:

• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at Swinburne University (2016-2020)
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University (2011-2015)
• Pro Vice-Chancellor of Curtin Business School at Curtin University (2008-2011)
• Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Law at Bond University (1993-2008)4

Prior to his academic career, he worked as a tax consultant for multinational accounting firms in London and Sydney.2

Vision and Achievements at Federation University

As Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bentley is focused on:

1. Positioning Federation as Australia's first fully cooperative university
2. Delivering an outstanding learner experience, particularly for students from equity groups
3. Supporting Federation TAFE's ambition to become the top TAFE in Victoria1

Under his leadership, Federation University has introduced a new cooperative education model, working closely with industry to co-design, co-develop, and co-deliver programs that address skills shortages in the regions the university serves.2

Professor Bentley believes that a dual-sector regional university plays a crucial role in the prosperity and growth of its communities. He is committed to driving regional economic growth through partnerships with government, industries, and communities.3

His reappointment for a second five-year term in 2024 demonstrates the university's confidence in his leadership, despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on international student enrollment.1