PhD, BSocWk
Vice Chancellor and President
Contact details for Prof Ian O'Connor
Professor Ian O'Connor became the Vice Chancellor and President of Griffith University in January 2005. Professor O'Connor joined Griffith University as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) in July 2002.
As Deputy Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), Professor O'Connor was responsible for all aspects of teaching and learning policy, academic planning, programming, academic staff development, strategic planning and quality, academic staff policy and industrial matters. He chaired the Academic Committee and was a member of the Teaching and Learning Excellence Committee and Internationalisation Committee.
Professor O'Connor completed the degrees of Bachelor of Social Work and Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Queensland. He joined the Department of Social Work and Social Policy at The University of Queensland in 1984 rising to become Professor and Head of the School in 1995. Professor O'Connor was elected Deputy President (2000) and later President (2001) of the Academic Board, a position he held until moving to Griffith.
During his academic career Professor O'Connor has held visiting fellowships at the United Nations and Asia Far East Institute, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Professor O'Connor's research interests are in the area of juvenile justice and child welfare and the future directions of social work and the human services. His most recent books are Social Work and Welfare Practice (fourth edition with Jill Wilson and Deborah Setterlund, 2003) and Contemporary Perspectives on Social Work and the Human Services: Challenges and Change (co-edited with Jeni Warburton and Paul Smyth, 2000).
Professor O'Connor has served as a consultant to, or as a member of, various Government and non-Government bodies. Most recently he was Chair of the Ministerial Committee Monitoring the Implementation of Recommendations of the Forde Inquiry into the Abuse of Children in Institutions.
Professor O'Connor is currently a board member of the Queensland Theatre Company, the Australian Universities Quality Agency and the Australian Learning and Teaching Council.