Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Magnus Nydén as Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, commencing mid-2020.

“We welcome Professor Nydén to the Macquarie community and look forward to the continued growth and success of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and a dedicated focus on innovation and engagement with industry partners,” said Professor Dowton.

Professor Nydén is an elected member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and brings a wealth of experience on the interface between higher education and industry to the role – most recently as Chief Technology Officer and Public Policy Director at alternative fuel company Liquid Wind and as Global Chief Scientist at multinational specialty chemicals company Nouryon, based in Sweden.

Prior to that, Professor Nydén held roles working for the University of South Australia, initially as Director of the Ian Wark Research Institute, a Centre of Excellence for research into chemistry and physics linking higher education and industry. Latterly he was a Head of Department as part of a joint venture between the University of South Australia and University College London. Before working in Australia, he was a professor at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Professor Dowton also commended Professor Bernard Mans, who has been acting in the role as Interim Executive Dean since August 2019.

“Professor Mans has worked tirelessly and effectively across a wide variety of issues in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and has consistently made very valuable contributions to the Executive Group.  I am very grateful to him for taking on the Interim role and look forward to his continued contributions until Professor Nydén arrives.”

This Week caught up with Professor Nydén to ask him about his appointment.

What attracted you to Macquarie, Professor Nydén?

From reading the University’s core values a few years ago I got a sense that Macquarie genuinely wants to do ‘the right thing’ and that it puts a lot of energy into acting accordingly. The core value that inspired me most was Integrity, where it says: “We conduct ourselves ethically, equitably, and for mutual benefit.” That struck a particular chord with me because I thought that my leadership style would fit in well, and I remember feeling inspired about one day working here.

I also feel inspired about working together with the University’s leaders, some of whom I’ve come to know over the years as highly skilled and genuine people. Finally, I believe that my recent experience in senior industry roles is well aligned with some of the University’s key aspirations.

What’s your vision for the future of the Faculty?

That it be a place where staff love to go to work and where students thrive; a place of excellence from having merged teaching, learning and research in a way that attracts the best; a place where the curriculum is modern and focused on the skills that students need for making a difference in the world.

That vision includes research questions being developed largely on the basis of collaboration – across teams, departments, faculties and universities, and together with industry. Also, the Faculty representing an inspiring mix of research and innovation and it contributing to society in a way that only an excellent academic institution can.

What are you looking forward to most in your new role?

To get to know my new colleagues and continue the building of a joint vision for the future of the Faculty.