Prof Ian Anderson AO
Ian is a palawa man, currently living in lutruwita (Tasmania) and is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Tasmania. Ian has a distinguished career in academia and leadership in Melbourne, with a longstanding passion for Indigenous issues and rights. His expertise has had a major influence in Indigenous health policy at Australia’s highest level of government.
His previous roles include ANU Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Melbourne and Deputy Secretary for Indigenous Affairs in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
At the University of Melbourne, Ian was the Foundation Chair of Indigenous Health, Foundation Chair of Indigenous Higher Education, Assistant Vice Chancellor Indigenous Higher Education Policy, and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement).
He was Director of Research for the Lowitja Institute and related Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health; Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equality Council, Council Member for the National Health and Medical Research Council and a Co-Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Council.
Ian became an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2017 for distinguished service to the Indigenous community, particularly in the areas of health equality, aged care and education, as an academic, researcher and medical practitioner, to policy reform, and as a role model. In 2018 he was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and Fellow of the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
He graduated as a medical doctor in 1989 and was awarded his PhD in Sociology and Anthropology in 2006.