A massive payout to the departing head of one of Adelaide’s merged universities has driven average Australian vice-chancellors’ salaries to unprecedented levels, audited accounts reveal.
University of South Australia (UniSA) boss David Lloyd received a sector record A$3.112 million (£1.617 million) in 2025, the institution’s last year of operations before it became part of the new Adelaide University.
The package included a base salary of A$1.015 million, A$209,000 in superannuation, A$760,000 for long service leave and performance pay, and a “merger-related termination benefit” of A$1.128 million.
While South Australian vice-chancellors are usually among Australia’s most handsomely remunerated, claiming three of the sector’s four biggest pay packets last year, Lloyd’s 2025 package represents a 139 per cent increase on his 2024 earnings of A$1.303 million.
Times Higher Education sought comment from Lloyd, who now runs a consultancy.
