Prof Zlatko Skrbis, Vice-Chancellor and President, Australian Catholic University (ACU)

This week, Prof Zlatko Skrbis, Australian Catholic University (ACU) Vice-Chancellor and President sits down with your host Prof Judyth Sachs, to unpack what it actually takes to run a university in a period of constant disruption.

They discuss:

The challenge faced by university leaders to avoid managing defensively, during budget cuts.

How ACU balances a nationwide presence with tight-knit, local community campuses to secure #1 for employer satisfaction and #2 for student experience (QILT ESS & SES surveys, 2025).

Prof Skrbis encourages leaders to intentionally prioritise human relationships over technology automation, as the value of a university degree shifts from what a student knows to how they relate, reflect, and connect.