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{{short description|Australian academic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox university chancellor
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = The Reverend Michael Spence
| honorific-prefix = [[The Reverend]]
| image =
| caption =
| name = Michael Spence
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AC|FRSN}}
| order = Vice Chancellor,
| image =
| university = [[University of Sydney]]
| term_start = 2008
| caption =
| term_end = present
| order =
| title1 = President and provost of<br/> [[University College London]]
| predecessor = [[Gavin Brown (academic)|Gavin Brown]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1962|1|10}}
| term_start1 = {{start date|2021|01|11|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = [[Michael Arthur (physician)|Michael Arthur]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Sydney]]<br/>[[University of Oxford]]
| title2 = [[List of University of Sydney people#Administration|Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney]]
| residence = Sydney, New South Wales
| term_start2 = {{start date|2008|07|11|df=y}}
| profession = Lawyer, priest
| spouse =
| term_end2 = {{end date|2020|12|14|df=y}}
| predecessor2 = [[Gavin Brown (academic)|Gavin Brown]]
| children =
| successor2 = [[Stephen Garton]]
| signature =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1962|1|10}}
| website = [http://sydney.edu.au/about/leadership/vice-chancellor.shtml University of Sydney]
| footnotes =
| birth_place =
| alma_mater = [[University of Sydney]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[LLB]])<br/>[[University of Oxford]] ([[DPhil]], [[PgDip]])
| residence = London, England
| profession = University administrator, academic, priest
| salary = £370,677 <small>(2021–22)</small><ref name=finstat>{{cite web |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/finance/sites/finance/files/ucl_annual_report_and_financial_statements_for_the_year_ended_31_july_2022.pdf |title=Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2022 |publisher=University College London |access-date=16 January 2023}}</ref>
| spouse = Jenny Spence (nee. Ihn)
| children = 8
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
}}

'''Michael J. Spence''' (born 10 January 1962) is an [[Australia]]n academic and Anglican priest. Spence began as the 25th [[Vice-Chancellor|Vice-Chancellor and Principal]] of the [[University of Sydney]] on 11 July 2008. On 19 September 2012, he was reappointed for a second five-year term expected to commence on 1 July 2013.<ref>http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newscategoryid=8&newsstoryid=10098</ref>
'''Michael James Spence''' (born 10 January 1962) is an Australian university administrator who served as the [[Vice-Chancellor|vice-chancellor and principal]] of the [[University of Sydney]] from 2008 to 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newscategoryid=8&newsstoryid=10098|title=News - The University of Sydney|website=sydney.edu.au}}</ref> He is currently the president and [[Provost (education)|provost]] of [[University College London]].<ref>{{cite web |title=UCL welcomes new President & Provost Dr Michael Spence |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/jan/ucl-welcomes-new-president-provost-dr-michael-spence |website=University College London |access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref>
Spence has a background in intellectual property theory and was also ordained as an Anglican priest in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/ecclesiastical-touch-in-the-secular-stone-20080602-gdsg5f.html|title=Ecclesiastical touch in the secular stone|date=2 June 2008|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Spence is an alumnus of the University of Sydney, having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with first-class honours in English and Italian in 1985 and a Bachelor of Laws degree with honours in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=10098|title=Dr Michael Spence reappointed as Vice-Chancellor at Sydney|author=Andrew Potter|publisher=University of Sydney|date=19 September 2012|accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref> Before leaving for the [[University of Oxford]] in 1988 to undertake doctoral studies, Spence lectured in law at the university and also worked for the [[Australian Copyright Council]].
Spence's father was a high-school headmaster and his mother was a manager of the [[Bjelke-Petersen School of Physical Culture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/out-of-the-box-lunch-with-michael-spence-20120511-1yhru.html|title=Out of the box: lunch with Michael Spence|last=Knox|first=Malcolm|date=12 May 2012|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430134102/https://www.smh.com.au/national/out-of-the-box-lunch-with-michael-spence-20120511-1yhru.html|archive-date=30 April 2018}}</ref> He attended [[Knox Grammar]] and the [[University of Sydney]], where he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree with [[first-class honours]] in English and Italian in 1985 and a [[Bachelor of Laws]] degree with honours in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=10098|title=Dr Michael Spence reappointed as Vice-Chancellor at Sydney|author=Potter, Andrew|publisher=University of Sydney|date=19 September 2012|access-date=12 February 2013}}</ref>


At Oxford, Spence obtained his DPhil degree and continued to develop his career over the next 20 years. He became a fellow of [[St Catherine's College, Oxford|St Catherine's College]] and a lecturer of the University of Oxford in 1992. He also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology from the University of Oxford.
At the [[University of Oxford]], Spence obtained his [[Doctor of Philosophy|DPhil]] degree in law and became a fellow of [[St Catherine's College, Oxford|St Catherine's College]]. In the 20 years he spent at the college, he lectured for the university, obtaining a postgraduate diploma in theology from the university.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sydney.edu.au/about-us/governance-and-structure/governance/vice-chancellor.html|title=Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence|website=The University of Sydney|language=en-AU|access-date=12 March 2019}}</ref>


==Faculty head at Oxford==
==Career==
Spence served as head of the law faculty at the University of Oxford and would eventually head the Social Sciences Division, one of the four divisions that constitute that university. One of Spence's priorities at Oxford was to actively encourage fundraising and sponsorship from benefactors and corporate groups. He was a driving force behind the establishment and financial support of a number of Oxford's new research centres and institutes, such as the Oxford Centre for Educational Assessment and the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/|title=Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment &#124; University of Oxford|website=www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk}}</ref> His responsibilities included oversight of research units, including the James Martin 21st Century School and the [[Oxford-Man Institute of Quantitative Finance]].
During his time at Oxford, Spence worked in the field of intellectual property theory. His work includes articles and books on both intellectual property law and the law of obligations, with a critical focus on suggested ethical and economic justifications of the existing regimes. He remains a consultant to the London law firm [[Olswang]] and serves as a [[World Intellectual Property Organization]] (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Centre Panelist. He has lectured on [[intellectual property]]-related topics around the world, and held a number of visiting appointments in [[Boston]], [[Munich]] and [[Siena]]. He has twice been a Parsons Fellow at the [[Sydney Law School]].


==Vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Sydney==
Spence served as head of the law faculty at the University of Oxford and was head of the Social Sciences Division, one of the four divisions which made up that university. He oversaw significant growth of research activity and funding in the social sciences and the strengthening of links between the social science departments and between them and the university more broadly.
In 2008, Spence returned to Australia to take up the position of vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Sydney. In 2018, he was reportedly paid $1.53million for the role,<ref name="Singhal 2019">{{cite news |last1=Singhal |first1=Pallavi |title=University vice-chancellor salaries soaring past $1.5 million - and set to keep going |url=https://www.smh.com.au/education/university-vice-chancellor-salaries-soaring-past-1-5-million-and-set-to-keep-going-20190620-p51zq3.html |access-date=3 January 2021 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=21 June 2019}}</ref> the second highest paid university leader in Australia, having been the highest paid previously and having risen 60 percent between 2011 and 2016.<ref name="Loussikian 2018">{{cite news |last1=Loussikian |first1=Kylar |title=The nation's highest-paid university leaders |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-nation-s-highest-paid-university-leaders-20180826-p4zztd.html |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co |date=27 August 2018}}</ref> In 2018, the ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' reported concerns by the [[National Tertiary Education Union]] that the size of Spence's salary was "positioning him as a CEO of a corporate entity".<ref name="auto"/>


===Vote of no confidence===
One of Spence's priorities at Oxford was actively to encourage fundraising and substantial sponsorship from benefactors and corporate groups. He was a driving force behind the establishment and financial support of a number of Oxford's new research centres and institutes, such as the [[Oxford Centre for Educational Assessment]] and the [[Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment]]. His responsibilities included oversight of some of the University of Oxford's most innovative research units, including the [[James Martin 21st Century School]] and the [[Oxford-Man Institute|Oxford-Man Institute for Quantitative Finance]].
In February 2012, [[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] website reported that the university had overcommitted financially, with nearly $1 billion in new facilities to be built, $385m of maintenance work required to satisfy work, health and safety standards and international student numbers falling below projected levels. Significant staff cuts were then made, even in the law faculty which faced a 30% increase in students. The cuts led to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences "overwhelmingly [endorsing] a motion of no confidence" in Spence. [[Jake Lynch]], one of the initiators of the motion, said Spence had circumvented due process and accountability by setting the consultation date during a time when committees do not meet. Lynch said staff would have rejected the proposal if given the opportunity, as they had done on previous occasions.<ref>[https://theconversation.com/hundreds-at-sydney-university-to-learn-their-fate-next-week-5422 ''The Conversation''].</ref>


===International students and relationship with China===
As the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Spence has overseen development of the university's current strategic plan, following widespread consultation across the university community.<ref>Andrew Potter (4 August 2010). "[http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=5345 White Paper spells out University's future directions]". Retrieved 10 May 2013.</ref> During his time at Sydney, Spence has continued to prioritise philanthropic fundraising and, in May 2013, he launched a first major fundraising campaign,<ref>Sarah-Jane Collins, Daniel Hurst (6 May 2013). "[http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/uni-campaign-turns-to-public-20130505-2j19u.html Uni campaign turns to public]". Retrieved 10 May 2013</ref> at that time the biggest fundraising drive of its kind in Australian higher education.
As vice-chancellor, Spence led efforts to increase international student enrolments across Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/academics-argue-vc-has-not-made-his-case/story-e6frgcjx-1226296360644|title=Academics argue VC has not made his case|author=Matchett, Stephen |work=[[The Australian]]|date=12 March 2012|accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref> He supported the university's continued engagement with China, and warned the Australian government about being too critical of China's influence on university campuses, in 2018 accusing the [[Malcolm Turnbull|Turnbull]] government of "Sinophobic blatherings",<ref name="auto1">[https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/sydney-unis-michael-spence-lashes-government-over-sinophobic-blatherings-20180128-h0pjc4 AFR website].</ref> which prompted criticism in return from Turnbull himself.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jul/16/shameful-turnbull-rebukes-australian-business-for-criticising-china-relations|title='Shameful': Turnbull rebukes Australian business for criticising China relations|first=Daniel|last=Hurst|newspaper=The Guardian |date=16 July 2020|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> In 2013, when a visit from the [[Dalai Lama]] was planned, the university warned organisers not to use its logo, allow media coverage or entry to the event by Tibet activists.<ref name=":0" /> When the event was moved off-campus, Spence described it as "in the best interests of researchers across the university", leading Tibetan activists to declare that the university had "compromised their academic freedom and integrity" and sent "a disheartening message to the Tibetan people".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=2013-04-18|title=Sydney University criticised for blocking Dalai Lama visit|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/18/sydney-university-dalai-lama|access-date=2020-06-13|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In August 2019, Spence warned that debate over the university's and the wider community's relationship with China should not have overtones of the "[[White Australia policy]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/education/china-debate-raises-spectre-of-white-australia-policy-says-uni-chief-20190823-p52k67.html|title=Chinyour a debate raises spectre of White Australia Policy, says uni chief|first=Jordan|last=Baker|date=23 August 2019|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>


===Fundraising===
In 2012, Spence led efforts to cut the university's expenditure to address the financial impact of a slowdown in international student enrolments across Australia. This included redundancies of a number of university staff and faculty, though some at the university argued that the institution should cut back on building programs instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/academics-argue-vc-has-not-made-his-case/story-e6frgcjx-1226296360644|title=Academics argue VC has not made his case|author=Stephen Matchett|publisher=The Australian|date=12 March 2012|accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref> Spence took home $A911,575.00 including a $167,432.00 bonus. He has been vice-chancellor during five strikes at Sydney, the most industrial action and staff unrest ever taken at the university in its 150 year history.<ref>
Spence was an advocate of fundraising at the university and, in May 2013, he launched the "Inspired" fundraising campaign.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Sarah-Jane |last1=Collins |first2=Daniel |last2=Hurst |date=6 May 2013 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/uni-campaign-turns-to-public-20130505-2j19u.html |title=Uni campaign turns to public |access-date=10 May 2013 }}</ref>
{{cite web

|url=http://www.nteu.org.au/sydney/article/FAQs-for-Strike-Day---March-26-and-March-27-14288
In November 2018, Spence and the [[Premier of New South Wales]], [[Gladys Berejiklian]], announced that the University of Sydney was in negotiations with the state government to establish another campus as part of a leading international health, education and research precinct in [[Western Sydney]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/your-government/the-premier/media-releases-from-the-premier/world-class-westmead-health-and-education-precinct-comes-to-life/|title=World-class Westmead Health and Education Precinct comes to life|website=NSW Government|language=en-AU|access-date=12 March 2019}}</ref>
|title=FAQs for Strike Day - March 26 and March 27

|first=Kate
===Ramsay Centre===
|last=Barnsley
In 2018, during Spence's tenure as vice-chancellor, the university entered negotiations with the [[Paul Ramsay#Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation|Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation]] to establish degrees in Western civilisation in response for $50million in funding. The academics' union at the university called on Spence to end the negotiations, arguing that a relationship would taint the university's reputation for independence.<ref name="Baker 2018">{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Jordan |title=Sydney University academics raise stakes in fight over Ramsay Centre |url=https://www.smh.com.au/education/sydney-university-academics-raise-stakes-in-fight-over-ramsay-centre-20180629-p4zom0.html |access-date=3 January 2021 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co. |date=30 June 2018}}</ref> The Ramsay Centre eventually walked away from the negotiations in December 2019 after rejecting a proposal to use the university's existing staff and courses.<ref name="Baker 2019">{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Jordan |title=Ramsay Centre walks away from Sydney University |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/ramsay-centre-walks-away-from-sydney-university-20191204-p53gxx.html |access-date=3 January 2021 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co. |date=4 December 2019}}</ref>
|date=22 March 2013

|accessdate=2013-03-24
==President and provost of University College London==
}}</ref>
In February 2020, Spence announced that he was stepping down from his role of vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, to become president and provost of [[University College London]], starting in January 2021, to succeed [[Michael Arthur (physician)|Michael Arthur]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sciencebusiness.net/network-updates/michael-spence-ac-appointed-new-ucl-president-provost|title = Michael Spence AC appointed new UCL President & Provost}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Spence is an ordained [[Church of England|Anglican]] [[priest]], having trained for the priesthood at [[St Stephen's House, Oxford]], and ministers part-time in this capacity.<ref name="Holt">{{cite web|url=http://archive.is/EeNc9|title=Sydney Uni's vice-chancellor has lunch with the editor|publisher=Inner West Courier|author=Simon Holt|date=9 August 2011|accessdate=12 February 2012}}</ref> He is fluent in Latin, French and German.<ref name="Holt"/>
Spence trained for [[Holy orders|ordination]] at [[St Stephen's House, Oxford]], an [[Anglo-Catholic]] [[theological college]],<ref name="Crockford entry">{{Crockford| surname = Spence | forenames = Michael James | id = 21470 | accessed = 25 October 2016}}</ref> graduating with a [[Postgraduate Diploma]] in [[Theology]].<ref name="bio - UoS">{{cite web|title=Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence|url=http://sydney.edu.au/about-us/governance-and-structure/governance/vice-chancellor.html|website=sydney.edu.au|publisher=University of Sydney|access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref> He was [[ordained]] in the [[Church of England]] as a [[Deacon#Anglicanism|deacon]] in 2006 and as a [[Priest#Anglican or Episcopalian|priest]] in 2007.<ref name="Crockford entry" /> From 2006 to 2008, he was a [[non-stipendiary minister]] in the parish of [[Cowley, Oxfordshire]], in the [[Diocese of Oxford]].<ref name="Crockford entry" /> He continues to minister part-time as a priest in an honorary capacity.<ref name="Holt">{{cite web|url=http://inner-west-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/sydney-unis-vice-chancellor-has-lunch-with-the-editor/ |title=Sydney Uni's vice-chancellor has lunch with the editor |publisher=Inner West Courier |author=Simon Holt |date=9 August 2011 |access-date=12 February 2012 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130405134342/http://inner-west-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/sydney-unis-vice-chancellor-has-lunch-with-the-editor/ |archive-date=5 April 2013 }}</ref> He is fluent in French and Italian.<ref name="Holt"/>


Spence met Beth Ann Peterson at the University of Oxford when he was reading for a DPhil. Petersen, originally from [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], was reading philosophy and theology after studying and rowing at [[Smith College]] in [[Massachusetts]]. Spence and Petersen were married and had five children. Beth Spence was also ordained as an Anglican priest and served as a [[curate]] in the Cowley parish, at the churches of St James and St Francis from 2005 to 2008 and at a parish in [[Waverley, New South Wales]], from 2008 until her death in 2012, aged 47, from bowel cancer.<ref>[http://www.sydneycatholic.org/news/latest_news/2013/2013913_96.shtml Catholic Communications], Archdiocese of Sydney, 13 September 2013.</ref>
Spence was married to an American, Beth, with whom he had five children all born in the United Kingdom.

In 2014, Spence began dating Jenny Ihn, an artist and PhD student at the University of Sydney, whom he later married. The couple have three children together.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/seven-children-university-boss-the-work-life-balance-of-michael-spence-20180920-p504xo.html|title=Seven children, university boss: the work-life balance of Michael Spence|first=Jordan|last=Baker|date=21 September 2018|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
<!--
* [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24025538-27702,00.html New voice has plenty in reserve, The Australian, 16 July 2008]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/fees-for-rich-help-for-poor-at-uni/2008/07/11/1215658130086.html/ Fees for rich, help for poor, The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 July 2008]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ecclesiastical-touch-in-the-secular-stone/2008/06/01/1212258647632.html?page=fullpage/ Ecclesiastical touch in the secular stone, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 June 2008]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/oxford-legal-academic-lands-top-uni-position/2007/10/16/1192300769119.html/ Oxford academic lands top uni position, The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 October 2007]
* [http://www.michaelspence.net/ Former Oxford Homepage]
* [http://denning.law.ox.ac.uk/members/profile.phtml?lecturer_code=spencem Oxford Law: Michael Spence]
* [http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=1990 University of Sydney: Sydney Appoints A New Vice-Chancellor]
-->
{{Authority control|VIAF=64909602}}


==External links==
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
* [http://www.michaelspence.net/ Former Oxford website]
| NAME = Spence, Michael
* [http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=1990 "Sydney Appoints A New Vice-Chancellor", University of Sydney website]
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
* [http://denning.law.ox.ac.uk/members/profile.phtml?lecturer_code=spencem Profile on Oxford Law website]
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Australian academic
* [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24025538-27702,00.html "New voice has plenty in reserve", ''The Australian'', 16 July 2008]
| DATE OF BIRTH = 10 January 1962
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/fees-for-rich-help-for-poor-at-uni/2008/07/11/1215658130086.html/ "Fees for rich, help for poor", ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 12 July 2008]
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ecclesiastical-touch-in-the-secular-stone/2008/06/01/1212258647632.html?page=fullpage/ "Ecclesiastical touch in the secular stone", ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 2 June 2008]
| DATE OF DEATH =
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/oxford-legal-academic-lands-top-uni-position/2007/10/16/1192300769119.html/ "Oxford academic lands top uni position", ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 17 October 2007]
| PLACE OF DEATH =

}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Michael}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Michael}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of St Stephen's House, Oxford]]
[[Category:Alumni of St Stephen's House, Oxford]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford]]
[[Category:Australian academics]]
[[Category:Australian Anglican priests]]
[[Category:Australian Anglican priests]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Fellows of St Catherine's College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Fellows of St Catherine's College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sydney Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Sydney Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Vice-chancellors of the University of Sydney]]
[[Category:People educated at Knox Grammar School]]

Latest revision as of 03:05, 4 October 2024

The Reverend
Michael Spence
AC FRSN
President and provost of
University College London
Incumbent
Assumed office
11 January 2021 (2021-01-11)
Preceded byMichael Arthur
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney
In office
11 July 2008 (2008-07-11) – 14 December 2020 (2020-12-14)
Preceded byGavin Brown
Succeeded byStephen Garton
Personal details
Born (1962-01-10) 10 January 1962 (age 62)
SpouseJenny Spence (nee. Ihn)
Children8
Residence(s)London, England
Alma materUniversity of Sydney (BA, LLB)
University of Oxford (DPhil, PgDip)
ProfessionUniversity administrator, academic, priest
Salary£370,677 (2021–22)[1]

Michael James Spence (born 10 January 1962) is an Australian university administrator who served as the vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Sydney from 2008 to 2020.[2] He is currently the president and provost of University College London.[3]

Spence has a background in intellectual property theory and was also ordained as an Anglican priest in 2006.[4]

Early life and education

[edit]

Spence's father was a high-school headmaster and his mother was a manager of the Bjelke-Petersen School of Physical Culture.[5] He attended Knox Grammar and the University of Sydney, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with first-class honours in English and Italian in 1985 and a Bachelor of Laws degree with honours in 1987.[6]

At the University of Oxford, Spence obtained his DPhil degree in law and became a fellow of St Catherine's College. In the 20 years he spent at the college, he lectured for the university, obtaining a postgraduate diploma in theology from the university.[7]

Faculty head at Oxford

[edit]

Spence served as head of the law faculty at the University of Oxford and would eventually head the Social Sciences Division, one of the four divisions that constitute that university. One of Spence's priorities at Oxford was to actively encourage fundraising and sponsorship from benefactors and corporate groups. He was a driving force behind the establishment and financial support of a number of Oxford's new research centres and institutes, such as the Oxford Centre for Educational Assessment and the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.[8] His responsibilities included oversight of research units, including the James Martin 21st Century School and the Oxford-Man Institute of Quantitative Finance.

Vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Sydney

[edit]

In 2008, Spence returned to Australia to take up the position of vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Sydney. In 2018, he was reportedly paid $1.53million for the role,[9] the second highest paid university leader in Australia, having been the highest paid previously and having risen 60 percent between 2011 and 2016.[10] In 2018, the Sydney Morning Herald reported concerns by the National Tertiary Education Union that the size of Spence's salary was "positioning him as a CEO of a corporate entity".[11]

Vote of no confidence

[edit]

In February 2012, The Conversation website reported that the university had overcommitted financially, with nearly $1 billion in new facilities to be built, $385m of maintenance work required to satisfy work, health and safety standards and international student numbers falling below projected levels. Significant staff cuts were then made, even in the law faculty which faced a 30% increase in students. The cuts led to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences "overwhelmingly [endorsing] a motion of no confidence" in Spence. Jake Lynch, one of the initiators of the motion, said Spence had circumvented due process and accountability by setting the consultation date during a time when committees do not meet. Lynch said staff would have rejected the proposal if given the opportunity, as they had done on previous occasions.[12]

International students and relationship with China

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As vice-chancellor, Spence led efforts to increase international student enrolments across Australia.[13] He supported the university's continued engagement with China, and warned the Australian government about being too critical of China's influence on university campuses, in 2018 accusing the Turnbull government of "Sinophobic blatherings",[14] which prompted criticism in return from Turnbull himself.[15] In 2013, when a visit from the Dalai Lama was planned, the university warned organisers not to use its logo, allow media coverage or entry to the event by Tibet activists.[16] When the event was moved off-campus, Spence described it as "in the best interests of researchers across the university", leading Tibetan activists to declare that the university had "compromised their academic freedom and integrity" and sent "a disheartening message to the Tibetan people".[16] In August 2019, Spence warned that debate over the university's and the wider community's relationship with China should not have overtones of the "White Australia policy".[17]

Fundraising

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Spence was an advocate of fundraising at the university and, in May 2013, he launched the "Inspired" fundraising campaign.[18]

In November 2018, Spence and the Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, announced that the University of Sydney was in negotiations with the state government to establish another campus as part of a leading international health, education and research precinct in Western Sydney.[19]

Ramsay Centre

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In 2018, during Spence's tenure as vice-chancellor, the university entered negotiations with the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation to establish degrees in Western civilisation in response for $50million in funding. The academics' union at the university called on Spence to end the negotiations, arguing that a relationship would taint the university's reputation for independence.[20] The Ramsay Centre eventually walked away from the negotiations in December 2019 after rejecting a proposal to use the university's existing staff and courses.[21]

President and provost of University College London

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In February 2020, Spence announced that he was stepping down from his role of vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, to become president and provost of University College London, starting in January 2021, to succeed Michael Arthur.[22]

Personal life

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Spence trained for ordination at St Stephen's House, Oxford, an Anglo-Catholic theological college,[23] graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology.[24] He was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 2006 and as a priest in 2007.[23] From 2006 to 2008, he was a non-stipendiary minister in the parish of Cowley, Oxfordshire, in the Diocese of Oxford.[23] He continues to minister part-time as a priest in an honorary capacity.[25] He is fluent in French and Italian.[25]

Spence met Beth Ann Peterson at the University of Oxford when he was reading for a DPhil. Petersen, originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, was reading philosophy and theology after studying and rowing at Smith College in Massachusetts. Spence and Petersen were married and had five children. Beth Spence was also ordained as an Anglican priest and served as a curate in the Cowley parish, at the churches of St James and St Francis from 2005 to 2008 and at a parish in Waverley, New South Wales, from 2008 until her death in 2012, aged 47, from bowel cancer.[26]

In 2014, Spence began dating Jenny Ihn, an artist and PhD student at the University of Sydney, whom he later married. The couple have three children together.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2022" (PDF). University College London. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. ^ "News - The University of Sydney". sydney.edu.au.
  3. ^ "UCL welcomes new President & Provost Dr Michael Spence". University College London. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Ecclesiastical touch in the secular stone". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 June 2008.
  5. ^ Knox, Malcolm (12 May 2012). "Out of the box: lunch with Michael Spence". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018.
  6. ^ Potter, Andrew (19 September 2012). "Dr Michael Spence reappointed as Vice-Chancellor at Sydney". University of Sydney. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment | University of Oxford". www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk.
  9. ^ Singhal, Pallavi (21 June 2019). "University vice-chancellor salaries soaring past $1.5 million - and set to keep going". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  10. ^ Loussikian, Kylar (27 August 2018). "The nation's highest-paid university leaders". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  11. ^ a b Baker, Jordan (21 September 2018). "Seven children, university boss: the work-life balance of Michael Spence". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. ^ The Conversation.
  13. ^ Matchett, Stephen (12 March 2012). "Academics argue VC has not made his case". The Australian. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  14. ^ AFR website.
  15. ^ Hurst, Daniel (16 July 2020). "'Shameful': Turnbull rebukes Australian business for criticising China relations". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  16. ^ a b "Sydney University criticised for blocking Dalai Lama visit". The Guardian. 18 April 2013. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  17. ^ Baker, Jordan (23 August 2019). "Chinyour a debate raises spectre of White Australia Policy, says uni chief". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  18. ^ Collins, Sarah-Jane; Hurst, Daniel (6 May 2013). "Uni campaign turns to public". Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  19. ^ "World-class Westmead Health and Education Precinct comes to life". NSW Government. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  20. ^ Baker, Jordan (30 June 2018). "Sydney University academics raise stakes in fight over Ramsay Centre". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  21. ^ Baker, Jordan (4 December 2019). "Ramsay Centre walks away from Sydney University". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  22. ^ "Michael Spence AC appointed new UCL President & Provost".
  23. ^ a b c "Michael James Spence". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  24. ^ "Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence". sydney.edu.au. University of Sydney. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  25. ^ a b Simon Holt (9 August 2011). "Sydney Uni's vice-chancellor has lunch with the editor". Inner West Courier. Archived from the original on 5 April 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  26. ^ Catholic Communications, Archdiocese of Sydney, 13 September 2013.
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