Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Growth and Global)
Professor Joe Chicharo OM is the Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Growth and Global), effective 26 August 2025.
The role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Growth and Global) focuses on some of our biggest opportunities: strengthening international student recruitment, deepening our global partnerships, and identifying new ways to grow sustainably into the future.
Professor Chicharo has been part of UOW for three decades He is a wealth of knowledge, experience, and is known for the way he leads; with warmth, wisdom, and contagious energy. As UOW heads into a pivotal chapter, his strengths and style of leadership are invaluable.
Prior to this appointment Professor Chicharo held the roles of Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 2019 – 2021, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) from 2016 – 2019, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Strategy) from 2015-16, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) from 2010-15 and Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) from 2008-10.
Professor Chicharo joined the University of Wollongong in 1985 as a Lecturer within the School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering. Prior to this appointment Professor Chicharo spent ten years working in the steel industry (BHP) firstly as a degree Trainee and subsequently as an Electrical Engineer and Senior Engineer. He has a distinguished academic and research track record having published over 250 refereed papers in prestigious journals and conferences. His research contributions are well cited and he has been the recipient of a number of best paper prizes such as by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Professor Chicharo has been highly successful in attracting nationally competitive research grants as well as substantial industry sponsorship for research work at UOW.
Whilst at the University of Wollongong, Professor Chicharo served as the Dean of Informatics (2003-2008), Head of the School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering (2002-2003), Research Director of the CRC for Smart Internet Technology (2000-2002), Managing Director of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Research (TITR) Institute (1999-2001) and Director of the Switched Networks Research Centre (1995-1998), amongst other roles.
Professor Chicharo has also served as the inaugural President of the Australian Council of Deans of Information and Communication Technology. He served as the Chair of the Mathematical, Information and Computing Sciences (Cluster 5), Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2010 assessment exercise. He was Chair of the Australian Research Council - Mathematics, Information and Communication Sciences Panel (2005-2007). He served as an Editor of the IEEE Transaction on Circuits and Systems, Part II (1998-2000).
Professor Joe Chicharo was awarded an Order of Merit (Portugal) (OM) in the 2007 Honours list to honour distinguished services in the public and private sphere.
Support staff contact:
Maree Glancy
Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Growth and Global)
Ph: +61 2 4221 3007
Email: maree_glancy@uow.edu.au
Location:
The Vice-Chancellor’s Unit
Building 36
University of Wollongong
NSW, 2522
Australia.