Vice-Chancellor's biography
Professor Paul Thomas AM
BSc(Hons) Wales, DipEd Wales, MA Lough., PhD Qld., FACE, LRPS
Professor Paul Thomas AM received undergraduate degrees at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and a research MA from Loughborough University before coming to Australia in 1976. At the University of Queensland he received a PhD.
Professor Thomas occupied senior posts in British higher education before taking up a position as Head of Education at Kelvin Grove Campus of BCAE (later QUT). At that campus he became Campus Principal, and a Professor within QUT.
From March 1994 he became Planning President for Australia's newest public university and the first on a greenfield site for a quarter of a century. On 1 January 1996 he became the inaugural Vice-Chancellor.
In 2002 he was awarded a Centenary Medal for services to higher education and on Australia Day 2007 was honoured with an Order of Australia medal (AM) for services to higher education and the establishment of the University of the Sunshine Coast. In addition, he is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and a recipient of a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship.
Professor Thomas has extensive experience on major committees and has research, publication, teaching and consultancy interests in management and leadership.