Professor Jim Barber is the University of New England's Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer.

Before taking up this position in February 2010, Professor Barber was Deputy-Vice Chancellor at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University.

Professor Barber is a distinguished academic. After completing his PhD in experimental psychology, his research shifted into the applied fields of drug addiction and child welfare. His research record includes minimal interventions in the secondary prevention of drug addiction, and evidence-based social policy and child welfare. He is a winner of North America's Pro Humanitate Medal for his research in child welfare and a winner of the Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching from Flinders University.

Prior to moving to university senior executive positions in the higher education sector, his roles included that of Reader and then Professor of Social Work (La Trobe University and the University of Tasmania), Professor of Social Administration (Flinders University) and Dean at the University of Toronto.

Professor Barber's experience includes roles of Company Director on a number of national bodies, including Open Universities Australia (Australia's leading provider of fee-paying online degree programs), Jesuit Social Services Australia and Graduate Careers Australia.

Professor Barber has significant international education experience, most significantly taking on the additional role of interim President of RMIT International University of Vietnam. He has worked in regional universities and has a commitment to their important contribution in providing access to education, and also in driving economic prosperity and enhancing the morale, culture and identity of their regions.