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UNSW has announced the appointment of Professor Nicholas Fisk as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

Professor Fisk joins UNSW from the University of Queensland, where he is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Prior to his appointment as Executive Dean in 2010, he was the inaugural Director of the University of Queensland's $70 million Centre for Clinical Research.

Professor Fisk is a leading authority in the fields of developmental biology and maternal-fetal medicine and is the author of more than 400 publications. He practises as a senior specialist at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and leads a research group on placental stem cell applications.

With an MBA and a PhD in fetal physiology, Professor Fisk’s research has attracted more than $45 million in grant income and he holds a number of patents.

UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs said he was delighted with the appointment.

“Professor Fisk has an outstanding track record both as an internationally recognised researcher and as a leader who has achieved great success as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Queensland.

“I am delighted to have an academic leader of Nick’s calibre, experience and reputation join the UNSW team. He joins us at a key time, as we set to work on implementing our ambitious 2025 Strategy. He brings formidable intellect and expertise to lead our research effort,” Professor Jacobs said.

"Professor Fisk's appointment follows the recent announcement of Professor Emma Johnston as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) and they will work closely with our Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Training) Professor Laura Poole-Warren and our Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) Associate Professor Grainne Moran. We have a superb team in place to drive forward our research strategy.”

Professor Fisk said he was thrilled to take up the position and will commence in August.

“I am attracted to UNSW by its bold and ambitious strategy and its standing as one of Australia’s great research-intensive universities.

“It is an exciting time in academia to exploit interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships, to maximise our impact in knowledge transfer and commercialisation, and to highlight our pivotal influence on wider society,” Professor Fisk said.

“I very much look forward to contributing to UNSW’s excellent research and innovation ecosystem and helping to build further capacity.”

Professor Fisk studied medicine at the University of Sydney, was awarded a PhD from University College London in 1992 and a MBA from Imperial College London in 2008.

Between 1992 and 2007, he was Professor of Obstetrics at Imperial College and Queen Charlotte's Hospital, London, where his laboratory and clinical research program achieved an international reputation in fetal diagnosis and treatment.

Professor Fisk currently chairs the Group of Eight Deans of Medicine committee and is a Visiting Professor at the National University of Singapore. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and a past Council member of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.