The Vice Chancellor and President is the Chief Executive Officer of the University and is responsible to the Council of the University.
In his capacity as Vice Chancellor, Professor Ian O'Connor is responsible for:
- articulating a clear strategic direction for the University;
- providing academic and administrative leadership;
- maintaining a focus on quality;
- engendering a collegial community amongst staff and students;
- fostering effective relationships with stakeholders; and
- ensuring sound financial management and stewardship of resources.
The Vice Chancellor also has a number of statutory responsibilities and accountabilities outlined in the Griffith University Act 1998 and other relevant state and commonwealth legislation and is involved in the following associations.
The Vice Chancellor is a member of Universities Australia the forum of the chief executive officers of Australia's universities. Universities Australia promotes the needs, interests and purpose of Australian universities and develops policy positions and guidelines on higher education matters.
Alongside the vice chancellors of the other six member institutions of Innovative Research Universities Australia, the Vice Chancellor is heavily involved in the work of this national alliance of research-based universities each of which has comprehensive disciplinary coverage and a strong commitment to innovation and an inter-disciplinary focus.
The Australian Learning and Teaching Council (formerly The Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education) was established on 11 August, 2004 to provide a national focus for the enhancement of learning and teaching in Australian higher education and to be a flagship for acknowledging excellence in teaching. Professor O'Connor was a foundation member of the Institute Board, and remains on the Board of the Council.
The Vice Chancellor is a member of the Board of the Australian Universities Quality Agency and the Board of the Queensland Theatre Company the state theatre company.