Appointment of Vaughan Forsyth – Executive Support Manager
Dear Australian National University,
Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth), I request access to documents held by The Australian National University relating to the appointment of Mr Vaughan Forsyth to the position of Executive Support Manager in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor in or around May 2024.
Specifically, I seek access to:
1. Documents (including emails, memos, meeting notes, or internal correspondence) that outline the process followed for Mr Forsyth’s appointment, including whether an open recruitment or internal EOI process was conducted.
2. Any documents that justify or explain the rationale for Mr Forsyth’s appointment.
3. Approvals, delegations, or internal communications from HR, the Office of the COO, or the Office of the Vice-Chancellor regarding the decision to appoint Mr Forsyth directly to the role.
4. Any documents that discuss compliance with recruitment policies or temporary backfill arrangements.
Date range: 1 March 2024 – 30 June 2024
Yours faithfully,
Lucky Charm
Good afternoon
On 30 June 2025, the Australian National University (the University)
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
The University has taken your request to be as follows:
I request access to documents held by The Australian National University
relating to the appointment of Mr Vaughan Forsyth to the position of
Executive Support Manager in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor in or
around May 2024.
Specifically, I seek access to:
1. Documents (including emails, memos, meeting notes, or internal
correspondence) that outline the process followed for Mr Forsyth’s
appointment, including whether an open recruitment or internal EOI process
was conducted.
2. Any documents that justify or explain the rationale for Mr
Forsyth’s appointment.
3. Approvals, delegations, or internal communications from HR, the
Office of the COO, or the Office of the Vice-Chancellor regarding the
decision to appoint Mr Forsyth directly to the role.
4. Any documents that discuss compliance with recruitment policies or
temporary backfill arrangements.
Date range: 1 March 2024 – 30 June 2024
Your request has been assigned the case number 202500134.
Processing Timeframe
The statutory time frame for processing your request is 30 calendar days
from day after the date your request was received by the University. You
should therefore expect a decision from us by 30 July 2025.
This period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third
parties, impose a charge or for other reasons. We will advise you in
writing if this happens.
We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact. If you have
any questions regarding your request, please feel free to contact the FOI
Team via the functional email [1][ANU request email].
The FOI Team’s workload is currently at very high levels due the
unprecedented volume of FOI requests. We are using our best endeavors to
process all requests expeditiously however there may be some slippage due
to the current workload. We will keep in touch with you and advise if
there are any significant delays, and, will, if necessary, seek extensions
as permitted by the Act.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Team
University Governance Office
The Australian National University
Email: [2][ANU request email]
Web: [3]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
2. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
3. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
Good morning,
I am writing to advise you that the case number issued for this matter
should actually be 202500135 and not 202500134 as previously advised.
Apologies for the confusion.
Kind regards
ANU FOI Team
The Australian National University
Email: [1][ANU request email]
Web: [2]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Wednesday, 2 July 2025 9:40 AM
To: [FOI #13345 email]
Subject: FOI 202500134 - Acknowledgement
Good afternoon
On 30 June 2025, the Australian National University (the University)
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
The University has taken your request to be as follows:
I request access to documents held by The Australian National University
relating to the appointment of Mr Vaughan Forsyth to the position of
Executive Support Manager in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor in or
around May 2024.
Specifically, I seek access to:
1. Documents (including emails, memos, meeting notes, or internal
correspondence) that outline the process followed for Mr Forsyth’s
appointment, including whether an open recruitment or internal EOI process
was conducted.
2. Any documents that justify or explain the rationale for Mr
Forsyth’s appointment.
3. Approvals, delegations, or internal communications from HR, the
Office of the COO, or the Office of the Vice-Chancellor regarding the
decision to appoint Mr Forsyth directly to the role.
4. Any documents that discuss compliance with recruitment policies or
temporary backfill arrangements.
Date range: 1 March 2024 – 30 June 2024
Your request has been assigned the case number 202500134.
Processing Timeframe
The statutory time frame for processing your request is 30 calendar days
from day after the date your request was received by the University. You
should therefore expect a decision from us by 30 July 2025.
This period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third
parties, impose a charge or for other reasons. We will advise you in
writing if this happens.
We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact. If you have
any questions regarding your request, please feel free to contact the FOI
Team via the functional email [3][ANU request email].
The FOI Team’s workload is currently at very high levels due the
unprecedented volume of FOI requests. We are using our best endeavors to
process all requests expeditiously however there may be some slippage due
to the current workload. We will keep in touch with you and advise if
there are any significant delays, and, will, if necessary, seek extensions
as permitted by the Act.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Team
University Governance Office
The Australian National University
Email: [4][ANU request email]
Web: [5]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
2. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
3. mailto:[ANU request email]
4. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
5. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
Good afternoon,
I am writing to advise you that the case number issued for this matter
should actually be 202500136 and not 202500135 as previously advised.
Apologies for the confusion.
Kind regards
ANU FOI Team
The Australian National University
Email: [1][ANU request email]
Web: [2]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Wednesday, 2 July 2025 9:37 AM
To: [email address]
Subject: FOI 202500135 - Acknowledgement
Good morning
On 30 June 2025, the Australian National University (the University)
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
The University has taken your request to be as follows:
I request access to documents held by The Australian National University
relating to the appointment of Mr Chris Price to the role of Interim Chief
Operating Officer on an 18-month contract in late 2023 or early 2024.
Specifically, I seek access to:
1. Documents (including emails, memos, meeting notes, or internal
correspondence) that outline the process followed for Mr Price’s
appointment, including whether an open recruitment, internal EOI, or
direct appointment approach was used.
2. Documents that justify or explain the rationale for Mr Price’s
selection, including any discussion of his qualifications or background
(particularly his previous role as Chief of Staff to a former
Vice-Chancellor).
3. Any approvals, briefings, or delegations related to the duration
of the appointment, including discussion of why an 18-month term was
considered appropriate.
4. Documents discussing any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts
of interest associated with Mr Price’s appointment, including his prior
working relationships with senior executives or involvement in previous
executive governance arrangements.
Date range: 1 August 2023 – 31 March 2024
Your request has been assigned the case number 202500135.
Processing Timeframe
The statutory time frame for processing your request is 30 calendar days
from day after the date your request was received by the University. You
should therefore expect a decision from us by 30 July 2025.
This period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third
parties, impose a charge or for other reasons. We will advise you in
writing if this happens.
We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact. If you have
any questions regarding your request, please feel free to contact the FOI
Team via the functional email [3][ANU request email].
The FOI Team’s workload is currently at very high levels due the
unprecedented volume of FOI requests. We are using our best endeavors to
process all requests expeditiously however there may be some slippage due
to the current workload. We will keep in touch with you and advise if
there are any significant delays, and, will, if necessary, seek extensions
as permitted by the Act.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Team
University Governance Office
The Australian National University
Email: [4][ANU request email]
Web: [5]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
2. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
3. mailto:[ANU request email]
4. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
5. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
Dear applicant,
Please find correspondence relating to your FOI Request 202500135.
Kind regards,
ANU Freedom Of Information Unit
E: [1][ANU request email]
Web: [2]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
2. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
Ben (Right to Know) left an annotation ()
I'm very confused by one of the documents (1.FOI Request 202500135 Statement Full Release.pdf).
The document says at the beginning that "The FOI timeframe, as requested 1 March to 30 June 2024, does not capture all relevant documentation requested. The University will provide the following summary of the appointment of Mr Vaughan Forsyth to the role of ‘Executive Support Manager’."
If it doesn't capture all relevant documentation requested, perhaps they should only provide the documentation within the timeframe or invite the requester to change the timeframe instead of releasing a statement as a document?