Duncan Maskell Explained

Duncan Maskell
Order:20th
Office:Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne
Term Start:1 October 2018
Predecessor:Glyn Davis
Birth Date: 30 May 1961 df=y
Nationality:British and Australian
Alma Mater:University of Cambridge
Occupation:Vice Chancellor
Module:
Child:yes
Alma Mater:University of Cambridge
Thesis Title:Mechanisms of resistance and immunity to Salmonella infections
Thesis Year:1986
Doctoral Advisor:Carlos Hormaeche
Discipline:Biochemistry
Workplaces:University of Cambridge
University of Melbourne
Salary:~$1.5m (incl. benefits)

Duncan John Maskell, (born 30 May 1961) is a British and Australian biochemist, academic, and academic administrator, who specialises in molecular microbiology and bacterial infectious diseases. Since 2018, he has been Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, Australia but retires in 2025.He previously taught at the University of Cambridge, England.

Early life and education

Maskell grew up in north London. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's School for Boys, then a comprehensive school in Barnet.[1]

He has discussed the important role music played in his upbringing. He performed at the 60th birthday of Benjamin Britten as an 11 year old boy.

He studied Natural Sciences at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.[2] He undertook a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Cambridge's Department of Pathology on Salmonella infections and graduated in 1986.[3] His doctoral thesis was titled "Mechanisms of resistance and immunity to salmonella infections" and was submitted in 1985.[4]

Academic career

After doctoral work, Maskell worked as a research scientist for Wellcome Biotech from 1985 to 1988, then as a research fellow at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, from 1988 to 1992. In 1992, he joined Imperial College, London as a lecturer in its Department of Biochemistry.

University of Cambridge

In 1996, he was appointed Marks & Spencer Professor of Farm Animal Health, Food Science and Food Safety at the University of Cambridge. He was elected a fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge in 1998. He also served as Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine from 2004 to 2013, and Head of the School of Biological Sciences from 2013 to 2015. He served as the University of Cambridge's Senior Pro-Vice Chancellor from 2015 to 2018.[5] [6] [7] [8]

University of Melbourne

On 1 October 2018, Maskell replaced Glyn Davis as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Melbourne.[9] [10] In May 2022, he was reappointed for a second term.[11] In 2022, his annual remuneration as vice-chancellor was $1,500,000-$1,514,999; this included a fringe benefit associated with a residence owned by the University to the value of $301,541.[12] Following a series of campaigns and protests by the National Tertiary Edication Union's Casual Network, including a protest outside the Vice Chancellor's 33 room residence, Maskell issued an apology regarding underpayment, saying there was “a systemic failure of respect from this institution" towards insecurely employed staff. The university eventually provided $45 million in back pay to former and current employees.[13] [14]

Following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel and immigration, the university was affected due to its reliance on revenue from international students. He announced widespread staff redundancies reducing the university's headcount by 450 people in August 2020.[15]

In 2023, staff strikes led by the NTEU protesting declining pay and job security for staff at the University of Melbourne specifically targeted Maskell at events such as the June 2023 University of Melbourne Council Meeting.

On 29 April 2024, Maskell announced that he would conclude his term as Vice-Chancellor by March 2025.[16]

Honours

In 2011, Maskell was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci).[17] He became an Australian citizen in 2023.[18]

Selected works

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The man who "never really had a career plan" — and is off to Australia to become a vice-chancellor. 11 January 2018.
  2. Web site: Maskell, Prof. Duncan John, (born 30 May 1961), Vice Chancellor, University of Melbourne, since 2018 . . Oxford University Press . 23 December 2022 . en . 1 December 2022.
  3. Web site: 'They're definitely not cash cows': Lunch with University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell. 7 February 2020.
  4. Web site: Maskell . D. J. . Mechanisms of resistance and immunity to salmonella infections . E-Thesis Online Service . The British Library Board . 1985.
  5. 'MASKELL, Prof. Duncan John', Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 2016 accessed 26 Oct 2017
  6. Web site: Weglowska. Magdalena. Professor Duncan Maskell FMedSci. Vice-Chancellor's Office. University of Cambridge. 26 October 2017. 7 September 2015.
  7. Web site: Professor Duncan Maskell. Cambridge Immunology Network. 14 January 2013. University of Cambridge. 26 October 2017.
  8. Web site: Professor Duncan Maskell. Centre for Science and Policy. University of Cambridge. 26 October 2017.
  9. News: Dodd. Tim. Melbourne Uni poaches Duncan Maskell from Cambridge. 26 October 2017. The Australian. 26 October 2017.
  10. Web site: Mackinnon . Martin . Professor Duncan Maskell . Office of the Vice-Chancellor . University of Melbourne . 20 December 2018 . en . 4 October 2018.
  11. Web site: Duncan Maskell reappointed as Melbourne uni vice-chancellor . The Australian.
  12. Book: Annual Report 2022 . March 2023 . The University of Melbourne . 168–170 . 18 June 2023 . Note 33 Key management personnel.
  13. Web site: Commons Librarian . McIntyre . Iain . 2024-05-27 . Organising! A Remedy for Despair: How Workers at the University of Melbourne won back $45 million in Stolen Wages . 2024-07-07 . The Commons Social Change Library . en-AU.
  14. Web site: Prytz . Anna . 2021-09-09 . Casuals disappointed with Melbourne Uni wage theft apology . 2024-07-07 . The Age . en.
  15. News: 5 August 2020 . University of Melbourne cuts 450 jobs due to projected losses of $1bn over three years . The Guardian . Karp . Paul .
  16. Web site: Fraser . Thomas . 2024-04-29 . Vice-Chancellor to conclude his term in 2025 . 2024-04-29 . Newsroom . en.
  17. Web site: Fellow - Professor Duncan Maskell. The Academy of Medical Sciences. 26 October 2017.
  18. personal communication

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