Theo Farrell

The Deputy-Vice Chancellor (Academic and Student Life) is responsible for innovation and excellence in education and student experience at UOW. The portfolio covers quality assurance, digital and curriculum innovation, course administration and portfolio development, library services, student recruitment and outreach, student welfare and specialist support, and general student services and accommodation.

Professor Farrell joined UOW in 2017 as an executive dean and was promoted to Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2019. He is Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (UK), Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (UK), Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales, Senior Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute, Visiting Professor in War Studies at King’s College London, and former President of the British International Studies Association.

At King’s, City and UOW, Professor Farrell led numerous initiatives to innovate in teaching and learning and improve the student experience. From 2006-2016, he held the chair in online learning in war studies at King’s College London. In his leadership roles and own research Professor Farrell has also championed academic engagement with policy communities and the wider public. Britain’s leading expert on the war in Afghanistan, he acted as strategic advisor to the UK government and US-led command in Kabul, and participated in track II talks with the Taliban.

Professor Farrell’s research focuses on transformative change in the character of armed conflict. He has held ten UK research council awards, including a prestigious three-year Global Uncertainties Research Fellowship. His latest monograph, Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan (Penguin Random House 2017) was shortlisted for three national book awards and selected book of the year by The Sunday Times.