The Group of Eight, Australia. Sharon Pickering has been appointed deputy chair of The Group of Eight, working alongside Professor Deborah Terry AC as chair. Sharon is the current president of Monash University – Australia’s largest and most international university, with campuses and partner locations in Malaysia, Indonesia, China and India. Prior to this role, she served as dean of arts and deputy vice-chancellor (education) at Monash. Her research expertise spans criminology and border studies, and she has been a strong advocate for equity and inclusion in higher education. Sharon said she was “honoured” to have been appointed deputy chair, adding: “This comes at an important moment for Australian higher education and research. Our universities play a vital role in building national capability … I look forward to working collaboratively with my Go8 colleagues, government, industry and the broader sector to help shape reforms that support a strong, sustainable and globally competitive higher education system.”