EM/ProfLesley Hitchens AM

Lesley Hitchens joined UTS in January 2008, serving as Associate Dean (Research) from June 2008 until early 2013. She commenced as Dean of the Faculty in February 2013 and served as Acting Provost and Senior Vice-President from October 2021 until her retirement in February 2023. In 2015 was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. Lesley is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2018 she received the Financial Times Australian Legal Innovator Award. In January 2024 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to tertiary education, and to the law.

Prior to commencing her academic career, Lesley practised as a commercial lawyer for seven years, first in Sydney with Allens and later with Herbert Smith (now Herbert Smith Freehills) in London. She spent 14 years in the United Kingdom commencing her academic career there with the University of Leicester. Prior to returning to Australia, she spent four years at the University of Warwick. Upon returning to Australia, Lesley took up an academic position with the University of Melbourne and later the University of New South Wales. Lesley serves on the Advisory Committee of the Centre for Media Transition (UTS), is a member of the Board of Shopfront Arts Co-Op Ltd, and since May 2024, chair of the Board.