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Lesley Hitchens
Emerita Professor, University of Technology Sydney FAAL GAICD
Lesley Hitchens AM is the Chair at Shopfront Arts Co-op. Ltd.1 She is also an Emerita Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).1 Since May 2024, Hitchens has been a member of the Board of Shopfront Arts Co-Op Ltd and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Centre for Media Transition (UTS).3
Hitchens was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to tertiary education and the law.2 She had a long legal career, beginning at Allens in Sydney before moving to London in the mid-1980s to enter British legal academia.2 Hitchens returned to Australia in mid-2000, holding positions at the University of Melbourne, UNSW, and UTS, where she eventually served as Dean and Acting Provost.2 She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and received the Financial Times Australian Legal Innovator Award in 2018.2
Highlights
Retirement (since February 2023) offers the opportunity to explore new avenues. I'm very pleased to have recently joined the board of the wonderful Shopfront Arts Co-op. Ltd . Shopfront has been going for more than 40 years providing opportunities for young people to explore and enjoy creative expression in their lives. I hope that my experience in law and leadership roles can be useful to Shopfront.
Today marks my last day at University of Technology Sydney . I started in the UTS Law faculty in February 2008. It is the longest time I have spent with any employer, and probably in any career! It has been a wonderful experience and I have seen UTS develop as a leading research and teaching university beyond imagination. I have been incredibly fortunate to have the roles I have had here, but more so to have had the support and guidance of colleagues and of those senior to me. This is a university like no other for its commitment and collegiality, adherence to social justice and impact, and its sense of fun. I have learnt so much in my time here especially from my Indigenous colleagues and I thank them for their leadership and patience. I have enjoyed watching the progress of numerous students and connecting with alumni. Tomorrow I begin retirement. I will remain connected to UTS as an emerita and I will watch with excitement as UTS continues to excel. Thank you to all those who have helped me to do my work at UTS.
