Dawn Freshwater

Dawn Freshwater became UWA's 18th Vice Chancellor in 2017 after serving as acting VC following Paul Johnson's departure the previous year. Prior to moving to Western Australia to take up the position of Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2014, Professor Freshwater served as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Staff and Organisational Effectiveness, Professor of Mental Health and Head of the School of Healthcare at the University of Leeds. Professor Freshwater received her doctorate at the University of Nottingham in 1998. She was elected to a Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing in 2001. She was also a panel member of the United Kingdom’s inaugural research excellence framework which assessed the impact and translation of research. Professor Freshwater’s research has focused on two key themes; psychological therapies research and offender health research. She is also a passionate champion of the Athena Swan initiative which aims to increase the number of women in senior academic positions.