After three and a half years as Vice-Chancellor of Fiji National University (FNU), Professor Nigel Healey has decided to relocate back to the United Kingdom due to a recent change in his family circumstance.

In light of this, as Chair of Council, after discussions with the Deputy Chancellor, I have agreed to his request that his resignation be effective 31st March 2020. Professor Healey joined FNU on 1 August 2016.

The Council had recently renewed his contract for a further term.

“Nigel has been an outstanding Vice-Chancellor and an important part of the FNU family.  He has rationalized and modernized the university’s core learning, teaching and research systems and processes, as well as the administrative and management structure and systems. The Fijian Government has increased its contributions to FNU very substantially in the last few years allowing an unprecedented expansion of its physical and virtual resources.

Professor Healey has built a very good team and cultivated a positive relationship with staff and students, as well as with the stakeholders.”

“I know Nigel has found this role one of his most challenging and rewarding in his career and he leaves a great legacy. The Council found him an excellent leader who related to Council very well. We will all miss him as we embark on the next decade of FNU’s expansion and transformation into a premier university,” the Chancellor and Chair of the University Council, Dr Rajesh Chandra said.

“Nigel also promoted FNU internationally, serving as an elected member on the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, chairing the annual QS-APPLE international education conference in the Asia-Pacific and building partnerships with overseas universities, particularly in Australia and New Zealand,” he added.

FNU will commence an international recruitment process for Professor Healey’s successor shortly and will ensure that FNU recruits the best person to build on its vision for the future to be Fiji’s premier national university.

In the period from Professor Healey’s departure and the arrival of the new Vice-Chancellor, an Acting Vice-Chancellor will be appointed by the Council.

We wish Professor Healey and his family the very best for the future.