Australia’s new mega-university is searching for a founding leader after the vice-chancellors of its constituent institutions declined to apply for the top job.

Adelaide University will open in January 2026 following a A$445 million (£226 million) merger of the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia (UniSA) and is currently being led jointly by these institutions’ heads, respectively Peter Høj and David Lloyd.

But in a statement Adelaide University said it was seeking to appoint a single vice-chancellor for when it opens, and that neither Høj nor Lloyd would be candidates.

“We believe it is vital that our roles as co-vice-chancellors are 100 per cent focused on ensuring a successful opening of Adelaide University in 2026,” the pair said.

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“Our commitment to one another, as longstanding colleagues, co-vice-chancellors and friends, is to ensure the delivery of the new institution, match-fit and ready, for passing on to a new vice-chancellor.

“Our decision is made to further strengthen our existing firm focus on delivery of this next phase of the project through to day one and indeed beyond. Our focus throughout 2025 will be on continuing to lead this journey as a strong, united and fully committed co-vice-chancellor team, without any distractions.”

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Writing for ����Vlog last year, Høj and Lloyd rejected media commentary that suggested there were “wicked games afoot” in the merger of the two institutions.

“This isn’t Game of Thrones. This is no ‘red wedding’, at which one clan is seeking to slaughter the other. And neither of us, the leaders of these supposed clans, is planning to knife the other in the back in a ruthless quest to ascend the Iron Throne,” the pair wrote.

Høj previously served as UniSA vice-chancellor between 2007 and 2012, and was vice-chancellor of the University of Queensland for eight years before joining Adelaide in 2021.

Lloyd, a former vice-president of research at Trinity College Dublin, has led UniSA since 2013.

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Adelaide University’s transition council confirmed that it had appointed Korn Ferry as its executive search partner, with recruitment due to start within weeks.

The newly merged institution is expected to employ 6,000-plus staff, and to have more than 60,000 students. It is already recruiting international students.

Pauline Carr, chair of the transition council, said that “preparations are now well advanced” for the recruitment of a vice-chancellor.

“The council has great confidence in the leadership of the co-vice-chancellors, Peter Høj and David Lloyd, who have been steadfast in their commitment to the creation of a university for the future,” said Carr.

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“To guarantee the successful delivery of our new institution, Adelaide University’s current co-vice-chancellor leadership model will remain in place for 2025, ensuring the outcome of the complex transition programme through to the opening of the new university on 1 January 2026.”

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com