Sally Capp Joins University of Melbourne

Sally Capp, the former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, has taken on a new role as a fellow at one of Australia’s leading universities. At 56, she has started her position as the Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

After six years in office, Capp left her position as Lord Mayor on June 28, stating at the time that she had ‘no plans’ for the next phase of her career. However, she’s now excited about her new two-year fellowship, which will involve working closely with the Faculty of Business and Economics and the broader university community.

Capp expressed her delight about the new role, saying, ‘I am looking forward to making a positive contribution to the Faculty of Business and Economics and the University over the next two years.’

Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell praised Capp, calling her an ‘outstanding leader’ who played a vital role in representing and advocating for Melbourne, especially during challenging times like the global pandemic.

Capp became Lord Mayor after winning a special election when her predecessor, Robert Doyle, resigned in February 2018. She officially took office on May 24 the same year. In her farewell speech, she mentioned that it was a ‘good time for me to stand aside.’

Following Capp’s departure, Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece has taken over, announcing Melbourne councillor Roshena Campbell as his running mate for the upcoming October elections. This will mark a unique collaboration as it’s the first time a Labor/Liberal ticket has entered the race since 1996.

As the mayoral race heats up, several candidates including former deputy lord mayor Aaron Wood and football legend Anthony Koutoufides have also announced their intention to run. Koutoufides, a former Carlton player and winner of Dancing With The Stars, shared his ambition, urging voters to ‘Vote for a better Melbourne.’