The ANU (UK) Foundation Board was established to promote excellence in education and research at the Australian National University, including the exchange of knowledge, faculty and students between Australia, the UK and Europe.
The Board is comprised of ANU alumni and staff, and friends of the University, who are committed to strengthening the global impact and presence of Australia's national university.
A message from the Chair
Our community of alumni and friends in the UK is rich and diverse. Fostering meaningful exchange of ideas and skills, we continue to learn and grow from each other year on year.
From my time living in Colleges and Halls of Residence on campus, I developed a strong affinity with ANU. I also acted as a Dean/Deputy Head, which nurtured my understanding of the importance of higher education and learning in community. Like many alumni, this significant time of growth and learning is what drives me to give back.
Our UK alumni network describe their ANU experience and education as 'game changing'. Intellectual freedom and challenge, combined with a nurturing environment, has made them conscious of the importance of their higher education. By connecting ANU alumni back into university life, the Board facilitates a community that is supporting the next generation of graduates to be leaders in their fields.
Our alumni are the continuously evolving product of an institution whose purpose is to serve, advance and protect our world. We are all investors in the growth and future of this University and its purposeful influence across our global communities.
Chantal Crowe, Chair, ANU (UK) Foundation Board
Board members
Chantal Crowe (Chair)
Chantal has experience across business, strategy and operations. She has run her own businesses and performed senior leadership roles in sectors such as financial services, telecommunications, retail, consumer goods and energy.
Chantal has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Master of Music from the ANU School of Music. Chantal has lived in the UK since finishing her studies.
Russell Clark
Russell has over 20 years of industry experience, having started his investment career in 2000 at UBS Wealth Management. He then transferred as an Investment Analyst within the UBS group to Global Asset Management Ltd in London.
Russell has undergraduate degrees in Economics and Asian Studies from the Australian National University, and was awarded the CFA charter in 2004.
Cathryn Lyall
Cathryn co-founded Seismic Foundry, which provides a greater opportunity for new FinTech companies to flourish and succeed; and Seed Money Australia, a not-for-profit connecting early stage start-ups with advisors, mentors and aligned investors.
Cathryn is an ANU alumna (Bachelor of Arts - Political Science/ English Literature '87), and is passionate about diversity and inclusion in financial services. She has used industry speaking slots at conferences to publicly advocate for these issues.
Sarah Backhouse
Sarah is a global communications leader with over 20 years of experience as a broadcast journalist, entrepreneur and executive. She currently serves as Director Global Communications at HEINEKEN. Her former roles include Executive Director at World 50, a private membership organisation for C-level executives and Founder and CEO of Future360, a digital platform for the cleantech sector. A former TV host, producer and journalist, Sarah has credits on CNBC, BBC, PBS, Fine Living, Discovery Channel, Planet Green and Al Gore's 24 Hours of Reality. Sarah graduated with Bachelors' degrees in Economics and Japanese Studies from ANU and Keio University in Tokyo. Half-English, half-Japanese, Sarah was born in Edinburgh and has lived in Australia, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. She speaks fluent Japanese.
Professor Rebekah Brown, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President (ex officio)
Professor Rebekah Brown commenced as Interim Vice-Chancellor and President of The Australian National University (ANU) in September 2025. She continues to serve as ANU Provost and Senior Vice-President, having joined the University in June 2024.
Professor Brown has held senior research leadership roles and established large-scale collaborative programs across Australia, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. She was Founding Director of the RISE program, a multi-country health research initiative advancing knowledge and practice in environmental resilience and health. As Chief Investigator, Professor Brown has secured more than $123 million in external competitive research funding. Her research includes more than 220 publications in leading international journals, including Nature and Science, and has served on five international editorial boards.
Professor Brown holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) from Monash University and a PhD in Environmental Studies from the University of New South Wales. Prior to joining ANU, she served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (ĐÓ°É´«Ă˝) and Senior Vice-President at Monash University.
Ms Brooke Disney, Interim Vice-President (Advancement) (ex officio)
Brooke Disney is Interim Vice-President (Advancement) at the Australian National University and a member of the University Executive. She provides executive leadership for the University’s advancement function, encompassing philanthropy, alumni and stakeholder engagement, external partnerships and advancement operations, and leads delivery of advancement strategy in support of the University’s strategic priorities, reputation and long-term sustainability.
A trusted senior executive with a record of leading high-performing philanthropic and stakeholder engagement portfolios, Brooke brings extensive experience across philanthropy, external and government engagement, institutional positioning and senior leadership in Australia, the United States and the Asia–Pacific. She has deep expertise in principal and major gifts, trusts and foundations, bequests, corporate partnerships and lifelong alumni engagement, and works closely with University leadership, Council and Foundation boards to ensure strong alignment with institutional strategy, governance and public accountability.
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