Sydney, 12 February 2024: Professor Simon Haines has confirmed that after seven years as founding CEO of the Ramsay Centre, he will step down from the role this year to focus on his academic writing and other projects.
Professor Haines will remain with the Centre as CEO until a successor is appointed. An extensive domestic and international search is now underway for an exceptional candidate to fill this unique role.
Professor Haines says he leaves the Centre with its future secure, in the knowledge that it is fully realising the vision of the late Paul Ramsay AO. Mr Ramsay was a leading Australian businessman and philanthropist. He wished his legacy to take the form of an institution that would foster a deeper understanding of and appreciation for our Western heritage. He particularly wished to create opportunities for the younger generation by promoting studies and discussions of all aspects of Western civilisation.
“I have been most fortunate to work with such an outstanding and supportive Chairman and Board, and an amazing team, and I do believe Paul Ramsay would have been delighted with what we have achieved together in a relatively short time”, Professor Haines said. “He wanted young Australians to have better access to a coherent education in the culture which has so profoundly shaped our country and our world. I’m sure if he had been able to meet the brilliant young scholars and superb teachers in our partnership degree programs in Western civilisation with three Australian universities, he would have felt his legacy was assured.”
“With their small classes and generous scholarships these programs are not only unique in world terms, but rank among our highest quality Humanities courses: indeed one of them is now the most competitive course for entry in the Humanities in Australia.”
“But that’s not all: we have simultaneously (and remember much of this happened during lockdown) established what is already in only its third year one of Australia’s most prestigious overseas postgraduate scholarship schemes, supporting our future leaders through their studies at the world’s best overseas universities.”
“We have also established several highly-acclaimed lecture and podcast series featuring prominent international and local speakers from all walks of life including politics, business and academia, to encourage wider community interest in and knowledge of Western civilisation.”
Professor Haines said he was especially proud that thanks to Mr Ramsay’s generosity the Centre had become the most significant source of non-government funding into the Humanities in Australian history, at what is a difficult time for the sector. The partnership programs had also become much-needed standard-bearers for high-quality teaching.
He said that it had been a particular pleasure to work with three exceptional university teams, and that as an academic himself it had been a great thrill to see so many young scholars and early-career academics benefiting from and obviously delighting in these innovative courses and programs, in fulfilment of Mr Ramsay’s vision.
Ramsay Chairman the Hon John Howard OM AC thanked Professor Haines for his service. He said: “Professor Haines is a distinguished scholar, teacher and author, and lifelong advocate for the Humanities. His leadership has steered the Centre to great heights and his contribution will be sorely missed. We look forward to his future academic and other contributions and his continued advocacy for the Humanities. He will remain a close friend of the Centre.”
Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098 / sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org
For more information on the Centre please visit our website: www.ramsaycentre.org