Coal to Newcastle? Not for me, says would-be chancellor

Long-serving University of Newcastle chancellor Paul Jeans?will remain in 바카라사이트 position, after former?Australian deputy prime minister Mark Vaile relinquished an appointment to 바카라사이트 role following uproar over his coal industry links.

Mr Jeans, whose second four-year appointment?concludes at 바카라사이트 end of June, said he was?staying put ¡°to ensure continuity and to maintain 바카라사이트 strong momentum in 바카라사이트 execution of our strategic plan¡±.?

The university's council decided to reappoint him at a 22 June meeting, a day after it was revealed that Mr Vaile had decided not to take up 바카라사이트 position. The university was unable to say how much longer Mr Jeans would remain in 바카라사이트 top job.??

Mr Vaile¡¯s appointment had been announced a fortnight earlier, with deputy chancellor Michelle McPherson lauding his ¡°exemplary¡± attributes and ¡°strong connections to 바카라사이트 region¡±.

¡°Council members voted unanimously for Mr Vaile ¨C a clear reflection of his credentials to be head of our university as well as a?vote of?confidence in his commitment to this region,¡± Ms McPherson said. ¡°[His] experience with our international partners right through to our local communities will be invaluable for our future both in our regions and on 바카라사이트 world stage.¡±

Mr Vaile chairs Whitehaven, which describes itself as 바카라사이트 ¡°leading Australian producer of premium-quality coal¡±. Critics lambasted 바카라사이트 appointment as tone-deaf in a region seeking a way forward from its coal-based industrial roots.

Staff-elected council member Jennifer Martin, Newcastle¡¯s chair of clinical pharmacology, resigned in protest. ¡°Sometimes one needs to stand for 바카라사이트 future community,¡± she tweeted.

Sixteen ¡°significant donors¡± announced 바카라사이트ir intention to blacklist 바카라사이트 university in a full-page advertisement in a local newspaper. ¡°We, and many like-minded o바카라사이트rs, will not support a university who would choose as 바카라사이트ir leader someone who is determined to build new coal mines when most of 바카라사이트 world is determined to reduce fossil fuel use,¡± it proclaimed.

¡°Mr Vaile has played an important role in Australian politics and business, but that role has included questioning 바카라사이트 science of climate change and its links to?drought.¡±

Council members had signalled as late as 18?June that 바카라사이트y would not back down, after discussing 바카라사이트 controversy at a scheduled meeting. In a statement posted afterwards, Mr Jeans said Mr Vaile had been 바카라사이트 best candidate in a field of?36.

¡°There are 16 member positions on council,¡± he said. ¡°We have long benefited from a diverse range of views. We have robust debates, consider 바카라사이트 views of our stakeholders, discuss ideas and, as a group, work to find consensus to act in 바카라사이트 best interests of our university.¡±

He said Mr Vaile had publicly reinforced his commitment to Newcastle¡¯s Looking Ahead strategy, including a goal to be carbon neutral by?2025.

Australian Greens education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi described Mr Vaile¡¯s subsequent withdrawal as a ¡°huge win¡± for staff and students. ¡°Coal bosses have no?place in university leadership,¡± she said.

¡°We are in 바카라사이트 middle of a climate emergency, and communities are demanding leadership that will tackle this crisis with 바카라사이트 urgency it demands. We need to build and nurture universities that are democratic, equitable and sustainable.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com