Peter Swannell

Professor Peter Swannell joined the University of Southern Queensland in 1990 as the Foundation Professor of Engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Surveying. He became Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Higher Degrees) in early 1995 and was appointed Vice-Chancellor and President in November 1996. The University of Southern Queensland is Australia's University of the Year 2000-2001, for "Developing the e-University". He retired from this position in 2004.

Born near London England in 1939, Peter studied civil engineering at Bristol University, and was a Graduate Steel Designer with Dorman, Long and Company, Middlesborough UK.

Peter lectured in structural analysis and design in Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham. He obtained a PhD while on the staff, working in the area of design and analysis of welded joints. In 1970 Peter joined the WS Atkins Group UK, teaching in-house in matters concerned with modern structural analysis and time-sharing computing. He came to Australia with his wife and daughter in 1971, to take up a senior lectureship in civil engineering at the University of Queensland.

Peter is currently Chair of the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC), and Chairman of Empire Theatres Pty Ltd, the Company operating Australia's largest regional theatre on behalf of the Toowoomba City Council. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Ipswich Grammar School. Peter's "evening job" is talking After Dinner, having talked, usually "for entertainment", in every state of Australia and many overseas countries over the last 30 years.

Author's website: Hugh and I