Former High Court Chief Justice the Hon Sir Gerard Brennan AC, KBE has been elected Chancellor of the Council of UTS.

The Council, the governing body of UTS, elected Sir Gerard for a four-year term. Margaret Trask, who has been a member of the Council since 1994, was elected Deputy Chancellor.

Before his appointment in 1995 as the 10th Chief Justice of Australia, Sir Gerard was most widely known for his principal judgement in the 1992 Mabo v Queensland decision which, by upholding Native Title, removed a major foundation of discrimination and injustice in Australian law against indigenous people.

After being appointed to the office of Chief Justice, Sir Gerard conducted a vigorous defence against perceived political attacks on the judiciary which challenged the integrity and independence of the courts.

Sir Gerard retired from the High Court in May this year.

Prior to joining the High Court in 1981, Sir Gerard was the first President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the first Chairman of the Administrative Review Council.

In August, UTS awarded Sir Gerard a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) degree in recognition of his long and distinguished contribution to the law and to Australia.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tony Blake, welcomed the election of Sir Gerard: "He brings to UTS many outstanding personal and professional qualities and his contributions to social justice sit well with the values to which we at UTS are committed."

Professor Blake paid tribute to the out-going Chancellor, Professor Peter Johnson: "The Council and everyone at UTS thanks Professor Johnson for his 11 years of dedicated service as Chancellor and his more than 30 years' devotion to the growth and development of this institution.

"He has been a committed and concerned leader during some difficult times and a great supporter of and contributor both to UTS and to higher education in Australia."