Campbell Bairstow to be Dean of Trinity College

Thursday 8 November 2007

A highly experienced and distinguished educator, Mr Campbell Bairstow, will return to Trinity in 2008 as Dean of the College. Announced today by the Chairman of the Board, Mr Bill Cowan, Mr Bairstow’s appointment follows a search process led by the Nominations Committee of the Board.

A former Principal of St Anne’s and Gippsland Grammar School and Director of Development and Marketing at Scotch College in Perth, Campbell is currently General Manager, Alumni Relations, at the University of Melbourne.

Mr Bairstow is well known to many in the College community, having previously served with distinction as Acting Dean of Trinity in 2005. He was seconded to that role while Associate Director of Development at the College where, from January 2003 until September 2006, he was a key player in driving the success of the multi-million-dollar Campaign for Trinity.

‘Campbell Bairstow brings integrity, humanity and a proven capacity to work effectively with students to his new position. He is a strong advocate of educational excellence and the Board is delighted that he has accepted this vital role,’ Mr Cowan said.

Prior to his Headship in Gippsland from 1990 to 1994, Mr Bairstow was a Housemaster and history teacher at Melbourne Grammar School and at Hale School, Perth. He subsequently took on a full-time consulting role in educational development, followed by six years Scotch College in WA.

A graduate in Arts from the University of Western Australia and a member of St George’s College at that University, Mr Bairstow also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Murdoch University. He is a former Chairman of the Western Australian Division of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and a Fellow and Past Australasian President of the Association of Development and Alumni Professionals in Education (ADAPE). He is also a passionate member of the Geelong Football Club.

Welcoming Campbell back to Trinity, the Warden, Associate Professor Andrew McGowan, said, ‘Campbell Bairstow’s extensive knowledge and experience in the secondary and tertiary sectors is a rare gift from which Trinity has previously benefited. He is also a very thoughtful leader and effective administrator whose appointment to head the residential College community I welcome with enthusiasm.’

Campbell Bairstow will commence as Dean in January 2008. ‘I am delighted to be returning to Trinity and look forward to helping some of the finest students in the country achieve an outstanding university education in a rich collegiate setting, while also responding to the opportunities and challenges of the University’s new Melbourne Model,’ he said. 

Mr Bairstow succeeds the current Dean, Dr Peter Tregear, who is leaving after two years of energetic and innovative leadership to pursue his academic and musical interests.

The Dean of the College heads the residential community at Trinity, including over 280 resident students of the University, a talented group of resident and non-resident tutors, and a dedicated administrative team. The Dean of the College is also deputy to the Warden in all areas of the College.