Former top public servant to independently review ANU governance

Lynelle Briggs has been appointed as an independent expert as part of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency's compliance assessment on the university.

"Ms Briggs has strong administration and governance experience," the TEQSA statement said.

Previously, Ms Briggs was the chief executive for Medicare, served as the Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and co-chaired a legislation review into Australia's maritime industry.

Ms Briggs will review the ANU's governance systems, taking into account the university's self-assurance report as well as interviewing ANU staff, students, executive and council members.

Her recommendations will form part of a "broader scope of complex assessment work" the regulator is doing.

Ms Briggs will write a report to the regulator, identifying if the university's leadership and culture are operating effectively, if there has been an "appropriate breadth of perspective and oversight" on decisions and if complaints are handled effectively.

She will identify any "systemic or root causes of governance concerns" and pass on recommendations to the university.

The regulator has been looking into ANU since October 2024 and opened a formal assessment on June 30, 2025, after Education Minister Jason Clare raised concerns about the university.

As the university restructures and cuts jobs as part of Renew ANU, calls for leadership change have continued.

ACT senator Katy Gallagher welcomed the appointment of Ms Briggs.

"I have consistently voiced concern about the issues at ANU and have been clear that a thorough and independent assessment is needed to restore confidence in the university's governance," she said in a statement.

"An independent, transparent review will help ensure the right actions are taken to strengthen ANU's governance, culture, and the confidence of staff, students and the Canberra community."

ACT independent senator David Pocock said the regulator's response has been "far slower than circumstances warrant".

He welcomed Ms Brigg's appointment and called for the government "to publicly release her findings once her review is complete".

"I also repeat my previous calls for the university to halt any further forced redundancies, including for those change management plans that are yet to be finalised. Staff and student wellbeing must be prioritised."

Former council members spoke at a Senate inquiry about their lack of faith in university leadership, including allegations of bullying against chancellor Julie Bishop.

The university has created a separate group, including former department secretary Andrew Metcalfe, ANU provost Rebekah Brown and former Victoria Police chief commissioner Christine Nixon, to respond to the bullying claim.

The National Tertiary Education Union has said they have no confidence in an investigation run or overseen by the university.

The union has launched a petition calling for the council to "sack the chancellor and vice-chancellor, end forced redundancies and stop closing entire areas" of the university.

They have called for provost Rebekah Brown to be interim vice-chancellor while the review is ongoing.