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Image: Professor Joan Leach has been appointed the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at ANU. Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU

Following an internal Expression of Interest process and a competitive field of applicants, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Joan Leach as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). Professor Leach brings a wealth of experience and a bold, future-oriented vision to the role. She believes that ANU and the higher education sector has a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to come together and reassert our value to society in what is a challenging period for universities amid heightened global political tensions. 

Image: Anayasha Thoolkar Photo: Natasha Tareen/ANU 

Meet Anayasha Thoolkar – a creative force who took a leap of faith moving to Australia to pursue her Master’s in Marketing Management at ANU. From mastering YouTube videos in class to balancing a challenging internship, Anayasha’s journey is a testament to resilience and growth. Along the way, she built lasting friendships, discovered her love for content creation, and became a vibrant part of ANU's multicultural community. Now, as a staff member, she’s using her experiences to help students navigate university life. With dreams of working with a fashion brand, Anayasha is all about bringing her creativity to the forefront. 

Read more: Faces of ANU – Anayasha Thoolkar 

Image: Left to right - Jeff Pope, Dr Jill Sephard, Professor Ian Langford and Professor Michael Wesley. Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU.

This week sees a lot of activity across campus with ANU students back from break, whilst many staff and students are having to balance family/carer responsibilities with the ACT/NSW school holidays. A big thanks to our staff who are balancing these important commitments, and to the teams around them for ensuring staff can access leave during this period. For those heading on leave, please make the most of your time off and spend time doing things that recharge you. I’ll be spending next week in the field, travelling along some of the old East-West Telegraph Line and I’m looking forward to the sky, sand and stepping back into Australia’s lesser-known technological past. 

Read more: ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ message - responsibilities 

ANU is transforming our digital learning experience in 2025 and welcoming a new Learning Management System, Canvas in Semester 2. As part of this new and exciting change, ANU ePortfolio will no longer be available from 30 April 2025. Learn more about Canvas and the new learning experience that will be available to you.

This means that after 30 April, you will not be able to access your uploaded written work, projects, presentations and videos in your e-portfolio. To save your work, export your portfolio before 30 April. For assistance, please see . 

For further support please reach out to servicedesk@anu.edu.au

The Menzies Foundation has announced an expanded partnership with ANU, increasing its support for the CSS Cybernetics Leadership program with an additional $510,000 over two years (2025–2026). This significant investment reflects the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to equip current and emerging leaders with the tools to thrive in a fast, interconnected and complex world. In response to global disruptions—pandemics, natural disasters, conflict—and the growing dominance of digital systems, this program reimagines traditional leadership. 

Learn more about the program . 

Image: Senior Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, Louise Adena.  Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU.

My name is Lou Adena and I am delighted to be writing as the 2025 Editor of your ANU On Campus (OC) weekly newsletter. In Q1, we have been quietly working through the editorial content to give greater clarity, consistency and predictability. We’ve added some regular updates, and we’ve also retired some content, trying to better respond to what our community wants to read, and the information you need in your inbox. And we have seen a positive trend towards higher open rates and clicks for both the staff and student editions compared to Q1, 2024. A big thanks to everyone who has been reading the copy.

To best serve our community, I want to hear from you – what you’d like to see more of, what you might like to see less of and how we can ensure OC is your go-to update every week. You can reach me at editor.oncampus@anu.edu.au.

With good wishes for April,
Lou

Read the full letter from the Editor

Over the past 18 months, staff and students have helped shape a new five-year Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030 and we want to share this with you in the  and the . As we prepare for its official launch in September, we’re inviting your .  
 
We heard about what works and what is needed, and one message came through clearly: how we do things and treat each other—through meetings, teaching, and services—impacts wellbeing. It’s also clear that fostering a supportive and respectful environment enhances performance, research, innovation and learning outcomes. You will see this reflected in the strategy. 

At a time when our student community is navigating significant challenges, your input is more important than ever. We want to know: 

Your feedback will help us refine the strategy ahead of the official launch, guide our immediate priorities, and inform leadership decision-making.  is open from 8 April until 6 May and all responses are de-identified. 

Learn more:  

Abstract submissions are now open for DHA25, taking place 2–5 December 2025 at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ National University. Hosted by the Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences (HASS) Digital Research Hub and the Research School of Humanities and the Arts, the conference welcomes papers on: 

The deadline to submit abstracts via  is 9 May 2025 and notifications of acceptance will be sent by 13 June 2025. 

For more details, please visit the . 

Image: Bird with backpack  Photo: Paula Wasiak/ANU

ANU researchers are helping reintroduce bush stone-curlews to Phillip Island (Milawul), where they’ve been locally extinct since the 1970s. After a successful trial release, 24 more birds will be released as part of a major conservation project. The team is tracking the birds using GPS backpacks to better understand how they adapt and survive. You can get involved too – report sightings via  or email community@penguins.org.au. 

Image: ANU student scrolling Instagram on their phone. Photo: ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ National University 

Cyberbullying can happen anytime, anywhere — and its effects often go far beyond the screen. With nearly half of Australian teens having a negative online experience, experts are urging early conversations about digital safety. Dr Dave Pasalich from ANU shares how cyberbullying can impact mental health, why spotting the signs matters, and how open, calm communication at home can make all the difference. Whether you're a student or know someone navigating the online world, staying informed is the first step toward staying safe. 
 

Image: ANU human mating researcher Adam Bode says the study reveals that men fall in love earlier than women. Photo: Jamie Kidston/ANU

Men fall in love faster, but women feel it more deeply—so says a first-of-its-kind study from ANU, led by PhD student Adam Bode. Drawing on responses from over 1,500 young adults across 33 countries, the research uncovers fascinating differences in how the sexes experience love. While men tend to fall in love about a month earlier, women report more intense emotions and think about their partners more often.

The findings suggest love isn’t just about biology—it’s also shaped by culture, gender equality and our evolutionary past.

Women remain under-represented among candidates in the 2025 federal election and are more likely to be running in 'glass cliff' seats that are hard to win and precarious to hold. Dr Elise Stephenson is co-author of the new report from the Global Institute for Women's Leadership. In the latest ANU Expert Explainer video, she says both major parties have work to do to remove systemic barriers to improve representation in Parliament.

Read for more insights.   

Wednesday 30 April, 11:30am-1:30pm 

World Disco Soup Day began nine years ago in Berlin as “Schnippeldisko,” a protest soup event that fed 8,000 people using food that would have otherwise gone to waste. Since then, it has grown into a global movement, raising awareness about food waste through fun, community-focused events. 

Led by the Slow Food Youth Network, World Disco Soup Day encourages local communities to come together, cook with rescued food, and learn more about the impact of food waste. 

This year, World Disco Soup Day will be celebrated globally on Saturday 26 April. 

At ANU, the Student Life team will host a local event on Wednesday 30 April 2025. 

Get ready for an afternoon of sustainability, food, and action — and find out how you can help reduce food waste here at ANU and across Canberra. 
 
Reserve your place – World Soup Disco Day 

Wednesday 30 April, 5-6:30pm

The crisis in Myanmar, sparked by a military coup, has led to violence, human rights violations and millions of displaced people. Despite civil resistance, the military's use of lethal force continues, and ASEAN's peace efforts have failed to yield results.

Professor Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, former Minister of Foreign Affairs for Thailand, will deliver a keynote lecture in Canberra, hosted by the ANU Myanmar Research Centre and sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). His talk will address the ongoing conflict, challenges to ASEAN's peace initiatives and the need for international diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. 

Register for the event .  

Wednesday 30 April, 6-7pm 

International bestselling author Dervla McTiernan returns with The Unquiet Grave, the highly anticipated new novel in her Cormac Reilly series. In conversation with acclaimed crime writer and ANU alumnus Chris Hammer, McTiernan will discuss the haunting inspiration and twists behind her latest mystery, which begins with a body discovered in an Irish bog and unfolds into a gripping investigation. This event is a must-attend for crime fiction fans and literary lovers alike. 

Books will be available for signing from 5:30pm.  

Register here: Meet the author- Dervla McTiernan 

Monday 19, Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 May 2025  

Pint of Science is on the lookout for enthusiastic Master of Ceremonies for its annual festival, happening on the evenings of 19-21 May 2025 at Smith’s Alternative. 

MCs will introduce the event and speakers (scientists from ANU, CSIRO & UNSW) and keep the energy high with fun activities like science-themed trivia, Pictionary, or stand-up between talks. 

To say thanks, drinks and snacks are on the house! 

Interested in volunteering for one or more nights? Get in touch with Canberra City Coordinator Larissa. 

ANU has a dedicated service that allows the community to report non-urgent issues and maintenance concerns across the ANU campus. Fix My Campus enables staff, students and visitors to report a broken light, damaged pathway, faulty door, or a general facility issue. Reporting these issues help us maintain a safe, functional and welcoming environment for everyone. 

Submit an issue in two easy ways:  

We encourage everyone to use this service regularly to ensure issues are addressed promptly and campus standards are maintained. 

Thank you for doing your part in keeping ANU in great shape.  

There are a few public holidays coming up in April which means an opportunity to rest and recover. However, we recognise the holidays can also be a challenging time for many. Please know that you are not alone. Over this period there are support services available 24/7 if you need any mental health or wellbeing connection.    

ANU encourages you to seek support through the Student Safety and Wellbeing team by emailing student.wellbeing@anu.edu.au or calling 02 6125 2211, Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm.

You can also visit our Urgent Support page for a list of 24/7 and crisis support options.

ACT-based support services available 24/7   

National support services available 24/7