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Australian businessman From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Walter Scott AO (born 9 October 1962) is an Australian and American public servant and academic administrator who serves as the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney.
Mark Scott | |
|---|---|
_3.jpg) Scott in 2023 | |
| 27th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney | |
| Assumed office 19 July 2021 | |
| Chancellor | Belinda Hutchinson |
| Preceded by | Stephen Garton |
| Secretary of NSW Department of Education | |
| In office 1 September 2016 – 23 April 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Michele Bruniges |
| Succeeded by | Georgina Harrisson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Walter Scott 9 October 1962 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse | Briony Scott |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | University administrator public servant |
Scott had previously held a senior role at Fairfax Media, responsible for the editorial content of the group's major newspapers, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age. He was the managing director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 2006 to 2016.[1] In June 2016, Scott was appointed Secretary of the New South Wales Department of Education.[2]
Scott was born on 9 October 1962 in Los Angeles. He holds dual Australian and United States citizenship.[3] He is a grandson of Sir Walter Scott AC, who was responsible for the introduction of decimal currency in Australia. His father Brian reviewed the NSW Department of Education in the 1980s.[4]
He attended Knox Grammar School in Wahroonga, New South Wales.[5] Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma of Education and a Master of Arts from the University of Sydney, and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.[6]
Scott is married to Briony Scott, the principal of Wenona School, a private day and boarding school for girls.[7]
Scott worked for the New South Wales Greiner Liberal government, as chief of staff to the Education Minister, Virginia Chadwick, and as a senior adviser to education minister, Terry Metherell.[8]
In 2010, he was appointed to a second five-year term as the ABC's managing director.[9] His time at the ABC was marked by extensive change, including the creation of ABC Me, a digital TV channel for children, and the 24-hour news channel ABC News, as well as a major expansion into digital and on-line technology and an expansion of quality drama.[10][11] Scott has been a strong defender of the value of social media in journalism[12] and skeptical on the capacity of news organisations to charge for content they have previously provided free of charge.[13]
In November 2014, as managing director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Scott announced that after 55 years, the Collinswood ABC television studios in South Australia would be closed.[14] The announcement, following the 2011 demolition of the ABC TV facility in Perth[15] and the 2012 closure of Tasmania's TV production unit[16] also revealed the end of state based current affairs show 7.30 Report (state editions) - formally Stateline.
Responding to 2014 Liberal government budget cuts of $254 million over 5 years,[17] Mark Scott axed ABC Radio National program Bush Telegraph and five regional radio outposts.[18] In a senate inquiry about the cuts, Scott rejected claims that ABC management was using the Abbott government's cuts as an excuse to pursue unpopular cost-saving initiatives.[19]
In September 2015, Scott announced he would be retiring as managing director and would be leaving the ABC.[20] In December 2015, Michelle Guthrie was announced as Scott's replacement,[21] and took over the role on 2 May 2016.[22]
In June 2016, Scott was appointed secretary of the New South Wales Department of Education. He was responsible for more than 2000 schools and around 49,000 teachers in the state.[23]
Scott is the author of On Us, published in 2019 by Melbourne University Press.[24]
In March 2021, Scott was announced as being appointed the 27th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney, commencing in July 2021.[25] In September 2024, Scott admitted to the Australian Senate that he had failed the university's Jewish students, apologising to them for his mishandling of pro-Palestinian protests that followed the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.[26]
On 13 June 2011, Scott was named an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to media and communications, and to the community through advisory and governance roles with a range of social justice and educational bodies.[27]
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