| Gavin Brown | |
|---|---|
| Vice Chancellor, University of Adelaide | |
| Term | 1994 – 1996 |
| Predecessor | Kevin Marjoribanks |
| Successor | Mary O'Kane |
| Vice Chancellor, University of Sydney | |
| Term | 1996 – 2008 |
| Predecessor | Derek Anderson |
| Successor | Michael Spence |
| Born | 27 February 1942 Lundin Links, Fife, Scotland |
| Died | 25 December 2010 (aged 68) Adelaide, Australia |
| Alma mater | University of St Andrews University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| Residence | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Profession | Mathematician |
| Salary | c. $1,000,000 |
| Spouse | Barbara (deceased) Diané Ranck |
| Website | University of Sydney |
Gavin Brown, AO (27 February 1942 – 25 December 2010)[1] was a Scottish-born mathematician, and the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney.
Brown graduated with a Master of Arts degree (1st Class Honours and the Duncan Medal) from the University of St Andrews (1963), a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (1966). His academic career began at the University of Liverpool, where he became a senior lecturer in mathematics.
Brown accepted the Chair of Pure Mathematics at the University of New South Wales in 1975 when he and his family emigrated to Australia. During this time, he was awarded the Sir Edmund Whittaker Memorial Prize and the Australian Mathematical Society Medal. At the University of New South Wales, Brown held a number of academic administrative posts, including Head of the Department of Pure Mathematics, Head of the School of Mathematics, and Dean of the Faculty of Science. In 1992, he became the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Adelaide; later, in 1994, he became the Vice-Chancellor. He took up his position as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney in 1996, and retired from the university in 2008.
Brown was actively involved in the work of the Australian Research Council as a chairman of various funding committees from 1988–1993, and a member of the Council from 1992–1993. He wrote more than 100 research papers and served on the board of several international journals. His research areas were broad, including measure theory and algebraic geometry. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of St Andrews (1997) and an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Dundee (2004). In 2006, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.[2]