Deakin appoints new Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment

Professor Hapgood is currently the Head of the School of Engineering at Deakin, having joined the University in March this year. Professor Hapgood joined Deakin from Monash, where she was Head of Chemical Engineering for five years.

Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said Professor Hapgood was an excellent choice to take over from retiring Executive Dean Professor Trevor Day on July 2, 2018.

"Deakin undertook an extensive national search, and I'm delighted to announce Karen as the new Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment," Professor den Hollander said.

"In her nearly nine months as our Head of the School of Engineering, Karen has made an impressive contribution to Deakin, and I am sure that Karen will lead the Faculty with distinction.

"Karen has an excellent understanding of all disciplines in the Faculty and a creative vision for its future, and I am very pleased to welcome her to my Executive.

"I am also delighted to have appointed a woman and an engineer to the leadership role for the first time."

Professor den Hollander also acknowledged Professor Day's successful leadership of the Faculty since March 2012.

"Trevor has made an outstanding contribution to the Faculty, which is now higher performing than at any time in its history, greatly contributing to Deakin's success," Professor den Hollander said.

Professor Day will continue as Executive Dean until June 29, 2018. Deakin will now commence the search for a new Head of the School of Engineering.

Professor Karen Hapgood - Biography

Professor Hapgood is well known for her work on nucleation during wet granulation, and her broader research interests include pharmaceutical powder processes. She has collaborated with a range of companies on research to solve industrial problems, particularly in pharmaceuticals.

Before joining Deakin, Professor Hapgood was Head of the Chemical Engineering Department at Monash University for five years. During this time, the Department's student numbers doubled, it attracted three ARC Industry Transformation Hubs and dramatically improved its ERA performance and THE/QS rankings.

She spent five years in the US pharmaceutical industry before joining Monash University in 2006, where she co-founded the Monash Advanced Particle Engineering Laboratory.

Professor Hapgood received the 2006 AAPS New Investigator in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology award, the 2011 ADC Future Summit Australian Leadership Award and the 2013 Chemeca Caltex Teaching Award of Excellence.

She is a Fellow of IChemE and Engineers Australia and served as Executive Editor of Advanced Powder Technology from 2013 to 2016.