September 3, 2026
University of Wollongong appoints Pro Vice-Chancellor (Regional and Metro)
Professor Mahsood Shah has been appointed to the newly created role of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Regional and Metro), commencing 6 October 2026
The University of Wollongong (UOW) has appointed Professor Mahsood Shah to the newly created role of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Regional and Metro), commencing 6 October 2026.
UOW is a globally recognised institution, ranked among the world's top 1 per cent of universities, with more than 33,000 students from over 130 nations studying across its Wollongong, Liverpool, Sydney CBD and regional campuses.
Reporting to the Provost, Professor Shah will lead the University's strategy across its regional and metropolitan campuses, helping ensure UOW remains at the forefront of accessible, high-quality education across all modes and locations.
Professor Shah joins us from SP Jain School of Global Management, where he is Professor and Vice President, Academic. He previously served as Dean at Swinburne University of Technology, leading its metropolitan campus, and has held senior academic leadership roles at La Trobe University and Central Queensland University, including Associate Pro Vice Chancellor and Deputy Dean.
He brings substantial experience in academic strategy and growth, stakeholder engagement, workforce and resource planning, and academic quality and standards. His research focuses on student experience, academic quality, student retention and international education, including offshore delivery and third-party partnerships, and he serves as an external reviewer for quality assurance agencies in Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius and Oman.
Provost Professor Ana Deletic said Professor Shah's appointment would strengthen UOW's ability to deliver for students across its regional and metropolitan communities.
“Professor Shah brings a depth of experience in regional and metropolitan education, academic quality and student success that will be of real value to UOW as we continue to grow our reach across the Illawarra, Sydney and our regional campuses,” Professor Deletic said.
“This position highlights UOW’s commitment to our regional communities. It reflects the ambitions of the Australian Government’s Universities Accord and reinforces the fact that strong regional campuses are critical to widening participation, lifting educational attainment and ensuring students can access world-class university education close to home.
“Similarly, Shah will play a leading role in Liverpool, where UOW is growing its presence in one of Australia’s fastest-growing and most diverse regions, helping expand access to higher education for underrepresented communities while supporting local workforce needs.”
Professor Shah said:
“It's an exciting time to be joining the University of Wollongong, particularly as the University renews its strategy under a new leadership team. As the first person in my family to attend university, I understand the transformative impact that access to higher education can have on individuals, families and communities.
“I look forward to bringing my experience and perspective to help enhance access, transition and success for students from the diverse communities we serve. I'm also looking forward to working closely with colleagues and our diverse stakeholders to support UOW's continued success.”
Professor Deletic thanked Professor Dilan Thampapillai, who has served as Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Regional and Metro) since December 2025, for providing collaborative leadership across regional and metropolitan campuses at an important time for UOW's multi-campus operations.