BCom Hons, PhD, Honorary DUniv, Honorary DLitt, FASSA, FAIM, FACE.
Vice Chancellor 1985 - 2002
When Professor Emeritus L. Roy Webb AO took up his appointment as the second Vice Chancellor of Griffith University on 7 January 1985 few could have guessed the changes and challenges that the Australian higher education sector and Griffith would face.
During his 17 years in office, Professor Webb developed a clear vision for Griffith as a multi-campus University serving the Brisbane-Gold Coast corridor and as an institution dedicated to excellence and innovation. At the time of his retirement Professor Webb was the longest serving Vice Chancellor of an Australian university.
Professor Webb was a major driving force in developing and expanding the identity of Griffith University at both a national and an international level. His work to bring Griffith into a new and radical era of education saw Griffith expand its student body, campuses, and program offerings exponentially. As Vice Chancellor, Professor Webb provided many opportunities to improve the research culture at Griffith. During his tenure, over 50 specialised research centres, institutes and units were established as Professor Webb expanded Griffith's educational and research boundaries. His dedication to the improvement of Griffith's international standing produced many of the educational and business links that the University now enjoys.
In 1995 the Government of Italy created Professor Webb Cavaliere dell' Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiani. The Queensland University of Technology conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of the University and the University of Southern Queensland, an honorary Doctor of Letters.
The University named the Webb Centre at the Queensland College of Art, South Bank in his honour and has conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of the University and the title Professor Emeritus. In recognition of his service to higher education, Professor Webb was made an Officer of the Order of Australia on the Queen's Birthday 2003.