Professor Toby Wilkinson is the new Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University

Fisher Leadership has been proud to partner with our UK-based colleagues at Minerva Search in the executive search for the next Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University, resulting in the appointment of respected academic Professor Toby Wilkinson.

Acting Chancellor and Chair of the FNU Council Ms Tessa Price said Professor Wilkinson’s appointment fits well with the University’s strategic goal of being a premier, world-class tertiary education institution that educates students to succeed in the labour market and contribute to the economic and social development of the nation.

“Professor Wilkinson is an accomplished academic who has held several key positions at renowned universities, and his extensive international career will strengthen FNU’s management team and steer the institution towards realising our overall objective.”

FNU is a ‘dual sector’ university, offering technical and vocational education and training (TVET) from levels 1-6 and higher education from levels 5-10 (up to doctoral degrees).  The programs are designed in collaboration with the region’s employers and benchmarked on international best practice through partnerships with universities and professional bodies in Australia and New Zealand.

“Professor Wilkinson joins FNU at a crucial time when universities around the world are reviewing their processes, program delivery, relooking and rethinking ways of ensuring their products and services are accessible and relevant to the new employment demands of the future.”

Professor Toby Wilkinson joins FNU from the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom, recently named ‘Modern University of the Year’, where he served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for the College of Science, the College of Business, portfolio development, civic engagement, and external relations, including a wide range of local, regional, national and international partnerships. Prior to joining the University of Lincoln, Professor Wilkinson served for six years as the inaugural Director of International Strategy at the University of Cambridge, where his work included devising and delivering an institution-wide strategy for global engagement, working closely with partners in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.  

Professor Wilkinson holds a First Class Honours Degree and a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Cambridge.  He is an internationally acclaimed Egyptologist and the prize-winning author of twelve books which have been translated into twelve languages.