Professor Peter Hoj

Professor Peter Høj commenced as Vice Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia on 1 June 2007. Prior to this he was Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Council (2004 –07) and Managing Director of the Australian Wine Research Institute, based in Adelaide (1997–2004).

Professor Høj was educated at the University of Copenhagen, majoring in biochemistry and chemistry. He has a Master of Science degree in biochemistry and genetics, a PhD in photosynthesis and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Copenhagen. He has also received fellowships from Denmark and Australia for post-doctoral studies in biochemistry.

Since arriving in Australia in 1987, Professor Høj has worked as a lecturer and senior lecturer in biochemistry at La Trobe University, and as Professor of Viticultural Science and Oenology at the University of Adelaide. In 1992 he was awarded the Boehringer-Mannheim Medal by the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and in 2003 he received a Centenary Medal for his service to Australian society through wine research and science.

Professor Høj is a Board member of Universities Australia and a member of the National Research Infrastructure Committee. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. He has served as a Private Member of the Prime Minister’s Science Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) from 1999-2004, and as an ex-officio member from 2006-2007. He is also a former member of the Australian Institute of Marine Science Council, the Cooperative Research Centres Committee, and the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy Committee.

Printable version of biography (PDF 100KB)

Chancellery website

Executive support team

Image download site (UniSA staff only)

Current positions

Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)

Past memberships of Boards/Councils

Member of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Council

Member for the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Committee

Board Member (appointed by the Governor General) of the Board of The Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (2005 - 2007)

Council Member (ex officio as Managing Director), The Australian Wine Research Institute, 1997-2004

Council Member of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia (Wine Show Committee), 1998-2004

Non-Executive Director, Board of the Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture (2002 - 2004)

Non-Executive Director, Provisor Pty Ltd (2002 - 2004)

Board Member (ex officio as Chief Executive Officer) of the Board of the Australian Research Council (2004 - 2006, Board retired and ARC run by Executive Management with the CEO reporting directly to The Minister for Education, Science and Training)

Member of the Industry Science and Technology Council of South Australia (2000-2002), under the Olson, Kerin and Rann Governments

Member of the Premier's Science and Research Council (2002-2004)

Member of the South Australian Wine Industry Council (2002-2004)

Cand.Scient (M.Sc) in biochemistry/chemistry, University of Copenhagen and Carlsberg Laboratory (1976-1983)

Lic. Agro. (Ph.D) in plant biochemistry/chemistry, Department of Plant Biology at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University of Copenhagen.

DUniv (Natural Sciences) Copenhagen