June 11, 2026
UOW celebrates the life of former Vice-Chancellor Ken McKinnon AO
University community gathers to celebrate a leader whose vision transformed UOW and Australian education
The University of Wollongong will hold a service on Friday 12 June to celebrate the life and legacy of its second Vice-Chancellor, the late Emeritus Professor Ken McKinnon AO, who passed away in April aged 95.
The service will bring together Professor McKinnon's family, friends, former colleagues, University leaders, alumni, students, civic representatives and members of the community. It will mark his contribution to UOW, to higher education and to public life through formal tributes, music, archival imagery and reflections from family and the sector, followed by an opportunity for guests to gather.
UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor G.Q. Max Lu AO said the service was a chance for the whole University community to honour a leader who played a profound role in shaping UOW.
"Ken had the foresight to build not just an institution but a culture — one that valued innovation, inclusion and real-world impact," Professor Lu said.
" Who we are as a university today is deeply rooted in his leadership and his belief in Wollongong’s potential. We are incredibly grateful to him and his wife, Sue Walker, for their enduring generosity in supporting fellowships and scholarships. Today’s service is a chance for our community to come together, remember, and celebrate his remarkable life and story "
Professor McKinnon led UOW from 1981 to 1994, arriving when the University was barely six years old. Over 14 years he oversaw its growth into a comprehensive university, expanded its academic disciplines, led the amalgamation with the Wollongong Institute of Education, developed the Keiraville campus and established UOW's first international campus in Dubai in 1993.
His connection to the University continued long after his retirement. In 2016, Professor McKinnon and his wife, Ms. Suzanne Walker, established the McKinnon-Walker Trust with a $1.3 million gift to foster innovation across the institution. They furthered this commitment in 2024 with a $5 million gift to establish research fellowships, followed recently by an additional $1 million contribution. Combined, their philanthropy represents one of the largest donations in UOW's history.
Members of the community wishing to attend can register online. The service will be held at University Hall from 12pm to 1.30pm https://www.uow.edu.au/events/2026/celebrating-emeritus-professor-kenneth-richard-mckinnon-ao.php.