Deputy Chancellor
Appointed by Council.
Term expires 31 December 2027.
At the December 2025 Council meeting, the University Council elected Merran Dawson to the position of Deputy Chancellor.
Merran Dawson has been an external member of the University Council since 1 April 2021. Merran is also Chair of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee.
Merran is a UOW alumni and was a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers for 26 years. She has worked in professional services for 39 years, specialising in technology and transformation risk management and assurance. She has been part of the Australian firm leadership, ASEANZ consulting leadership and has had responsibility for the strategy, growth and operations of different size businesses.
In senior business roles Merran has advised executives and boards in large complex organisations on the management of risk in transformational technology change. She has experience of governance, risk and compliance more broadly having worked with some of Australia’s largest institutions, mainly in financial services, and led complex technology and internal audits.
Merran has been a director of two not for profit organisations and was the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Bundanon Trust Limited.
Merran has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wollongong, is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Support staff contact:
Jou-An Chen
Senior Executive Assistant and Governance and Policy Coordinator
Ph: +61 2 4239 3218
email: jouan_chen@uow.edu.au
Location:
Governance and Policy Division
Building 22
University of Wollongong
NSW, 2522, Australia
Council committee memberships
Finance and Infrastructure Committee
Current: 1 January 2026 - 31 December 2027
Council Nominations Committee
Current: Ex Officio
Program Control Board
Current: Ex Officio
Performance and Remuneration Committee
Current: Ex Officio
Chancellor Robert Hope Memorial Prize Selection Committee
Current: Ex Officio
