23 Dec 2025 /
Insights
In a wide-ranging and insightful interview for the 'Reimagining Higher Education' podcast, Professor Judyth Sachs sat down with Professor Clare Pollock, Vice-Chancellor of Edith Cowan University (ECU), to discuss her first year in the role, her personal journey from a small Yorkshire town to the helm of a major Australian university, and her unwavering commitment to student-centered leadership.
From East Yorkshire to Oxford: A Journey of Opportunity
Professor Pollock’s story begins in a small agricultural town in East Yorkshire. As the daughter of an Irish mother and a father who served as the head of mathematics at her local government school, she was raised with a deep respect for both the arts and sciences.
Despite coming from a school with no tradition of sending students to elite universities, Clare broke the mould by securing a place at Oxford University. This experience became the bedrock of her professional mission: ensuring that opportunity is available to all who have the desire and capability.
"That set me on a trajectory which was about understanding what it means to give people opportunity that have the capability and the wish and the desire.
And I think I've been trying to pursue that for the rest of my career."
When asked to bring an object representing her journey, Clare chose a silver brooch given to her by her mother. Originally thought to be an illustration from the Book of Kells, she later discovered it was a Viking design known as the "Anglian Beast".
Watch the full interview on vimeo here
For Prof Pollock, the brooch symbolises the "weaving together" of her identity—her Irish heritage, her upbringing in former Viking territory near York, and her belief that leadership is about "getting in and helping solve problems" in the communities we belong to.
Defining "Student-Centered" Leadership
Clare is a pioneer in the Australian higher education sector, having been the first person to hold the title of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students). She fought to keep this title even as her responsibilities expanded to include broader academic portfolios, arguing that education must always start with the student.
To Clare, being student-centered isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a fundamental ethos that should dictate everything from the university timetable to physical infrastructure.
"If it’s not about the students, then what’s education about anyway? ... We’ll know that we are student-centered when our students get the car parks closest to the university major buildings rather than the ones on the outside."
Navigating the AI Frontier: From Assessment to Learning
The rise of Artificial Intelligence is often viewed with trepidation, but Clare sees it as an essential tool that must be embedded into the curriculum. Under her leadership, ECU is "grasping the nettle" by transforming its curriculum toward programmatic learning.
This shift moves away from traditional, easily disrupted assessments and toward "authentic assessments" that focus on the holistic journey of the student.
"We're completely transforming our curriculum to move towards far more programmatic learning, focusing on the learning rather than the assessment... It is so exciting the way that students are stopping to think so much about the next test or the next assignment, and thinking about the learning."
The Future of Australian Higher Education
Looking three to five years ahead, Clare hopes for a shift in the national conversation. While acknowledging the necessity of responding to government policy, she aspires to see a greater focus on social cohesion and national productivity as measures of university success.
She also explained that while her heart is with the students, a university’s strength is equally tied to its research excellence.
"I always say that we do our students a great disservice if our universities are not great in research because that is what universities are about as well."
Advice for the Next Generation: "Go Plant Your Tree"
When it comes to encouraging current graduates, Clare borrowed a favourite quote of JFK: "Go plant your tree". Her message is one of immediate action and openness to non-linear pathways. She encourages young people to say "yes" to unexpected opportunities, even if they may seem to lead sideways.
"I always say, 'say yes far more than you say no'... if you keep pursuing the core, work out what is really important to you and work out how that 'yes' could help you get towards it."
Even a Vice-Chancellor needs a break, and for Clare, that involves a "Catholic" range of interests—from light fiction at airports to non-fiction audiobooks on ancient history and science. She is currently revisiting Brian Cox’s Black Holes, though she admits with a laugh that she often falls asleep within minutes, getting "great value" out of her audiobooks by listening to each chapter multiple times.
Ultimately, Professor Clare Pollock’s leadership is defined by a 'true north' that remains fixed on student empowerment and social contribution. From her personal "origin story" as a first-generation university student to her current role leading Edith Cowan University through the digital transformation of AI, she maintains that the core of higher education must be a transformational personal journey.
Whether she is advocating for more equitable campus infrastructure or rethinking the very nature of academic assessment, her goal remains consistent: to ensure that every individual with the desire to learn feels they belong in the academy. As she looks toward a future measured by societal cohesion and national productivity, Clare's message is a call to action for the entire sector to stay focused on what truly matters—the people at the heart of the institution.
Listen to Clare's full episode here: Apple podcasts | Spotify | Vimeo | YouTube