One of Australia’s leading public policy experts has been named the new chief executive of the UK’s Russell Group.

Libby Hackett, who has led the Australian Public Policy Institute since the thinktank’s formation in March 2021, will take over from Tim Bradshaw as head of the lobby group that represents 24 research-intensive universities, it was announced on 21 January.

Having previously been research and policy director at the Russell Group, Hackett led University Alliance between 2009 and 2014 prior to moving to Australia for consultancy and academic roles. Since 2024 she has been an adjunct professor in economics at the University of Sydney.

As inaugural chief executive of the Australian Public Policy Institute (APPI), initially a partnership between the New South Wales government and three Sydney universities, Hackett led its expansion, with the institute undertaking more than 50 policy projects for government over the past four years and distributing grants and fellowships totalling more than A$2 million (£1 million). The University of Melbourne will join the thinktank shortly.

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The institute, originally known as the James Martin Institute, was heavily involved with the Universities Accord initiative in 2024 to design a new funding model for Australian universities. Its report set out five broad study bands – fully subsidised access courses, partially subsidised undergraduate, partially subsidised postgraduate, full-fee domestic and full-fee international – with details about how these would operate.

Speaking to Times Higher Education, Hackett reflected: “This was an extremely challenging and rewarding endeavour. There were lots of parallels with the UK system.”

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“There were also significant differences,” Hackett continued. “Research funding is more stable and more substantial in the UK. They’re starting from a stronger base in terms of their research funding system and you see that difference play out in university funding models. But I recognise that it is a tough environment for UK universities right now. There is work to be done and I want to stand up and be counted.”

On her move to Australia, Hackett said “stepping out” of higher education – as well as her native UK – had delivered valuable insights.

“Working in a government-university partnership has underscored for me the significance of the role that universities play in contributing back to the public good – the importance of universities working with government to align and tackle the local, regional, national and global challenges we’re all facing,” she continued.

On her new role, Hackett said the “Russell Group universities are among the best in the world”.

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“In my view, this means they have amongst the highest capacity to contribute to the public good of any universities,” she said.

“At the highest level, the challenge is that both countries are facing ever-growing public expenditure and ever-shrinking public budgets. We see some of our global competitors leaning in and harnessing their leading universities to help grow their economies. Other countries, by contrast, are not putting universities at the heart of that economic narrative. That’s something I’d like to see come back in the UK.”

Welcoming Hackett’s appointment, Chris Day, chair of the Russell Group and vice-chancellor of Newcastle University, said she “brings a rare combination of deep UK sector experience and international insight, alongside a long track record of championing the role universities play in driving economic growth, innovation and opportunity”.

“Her leadership and understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing higher education will be invaluable as our universities continue to deliver world‑leading research, high-quality education and collaborative partnerships with industry, government and communities across the UK,” said Day, who also praised the “exceptional leadership” of Bradshaw since 2017.

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jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com