Distinguished Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington AO was the first in her family to graduate from university. A graduate of the University of Tasmania, she won a Rhodes Scholarship to complete her doctorate in philosophy, history and education at the University of Oxford. Marnie has never forgotten the generosity of this support and its transformational impact upon her career. 

In her leadership and her work as a researcher and educator, Marnie shows her commitment to the belief that higher education is the one thing that makes the biggest difference to the health and prosperity of individuals and their communities. She was Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic at the Australian National University and then made the novel switch to become Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise at the University of South Australia. She loves advancing the strengthening and development of the South Australian economy and society and supporting researchers at all stages of their careers and in all disciplines. She has championed diversity, inclusion and equity in research and education, encouraging greater participation from people from disadvantaged backgrounds, people who are first in family, and gender diversity in higher Education. For her contribution to higher education she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2022, and in 2023 she was recognised for her distinguished contribution to the worldwide Rhodes community with a George Parkin Award.