New leadership appointments strengthen research and innovation

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland is pleased to announce key leadership appointments to two newly established roles, reinforcing its commitment to the University's strategic leadership for research and innovation in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Professor JR Rowland, currently the Deputy Dean of Science, has been appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor Global and Graduate Research, effective 6 January. Professor Rowland will lead the School of Graduate Research to enhance and grow the University's graduate research offerings and will advise on strategic international research collaborations to expand research partnerships.

Professor Rowland (known as JR) is a structural geologist with an extensive academic career spanning over 20 years. Since 2022, she has served as the Deputy Dean of Science following her tenure as Head of the School of Environment. JR was also an inaugural Director of University Research Centre Ngā Ara Whetū, Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society, playing an instrumental role in its development. Early in her career, JR worked as a physical education teacher.

Professor Simon Holdaway, currently Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, has been appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor Research Performance and Reputation, effective 6 January 2025.

As Pro Vice-Chancellor Research Performance and Reputation, Professor Holdaway will oversee strategic research initiatives, including the University Research Centres and national research collaborations. He will also guide the University's response to new research performance frameworks and contribute to cross-University research activities such as AI in research and health research governance.

Professor Holdaway has extensive research knowledge and has been Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research since mid-2021. Before this, from 2015-2021, he served as the Head of the School of Social Sciences. A professor of anthropology and archaeology, he has led research projects worldwide. In 2018, he was elected as a Corresponding Fellow of the Australian Humanities Academy and, in 2022, was elected a Fellow of Te Apārangi, the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation Professor Frank Bloomfield says the leadership of Professor Rowland and Professor Holdaway will support the University to deliver impactful outcomes and achieve research excellence.

"JR and Simon bring a wealth of knowledge gained through many years of experience. As key members of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation leadership team, they will be instrumental in enhancing and expanding the University's research initiatives and reputation, locally and globally.

"Their contributions will advance the University's research strategy, enabling us to maintain our position as a leader in research innovation."

The University established the Pro Vice-Chancellor Global and Graduate Research and Pro Vice-Chancellor Research Performance and Reputation positions, along with the Pro Vice-Chancellor Innovation and Enterprise role, still to be appointed, to develop a cohesive leadership framework for the Research and Innovation portfolio that will reach across the University and UniServices.