By Zac de Silva in Canberra

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop has resigned as chancellor of one of the nation’s most prestigious universities, effective immediately.

Previously one of the Liberal government’s most senior ministers, Ms Bishop’s tenure at Australian National University was marred by months of turmoil including job cuts, bullying allegations and ugly disputes between staff and university management.

A contentious cost-cutting proposal, which would have made hundreds of staff forcibly redundant, was abandoned when Vice Chancellor Genevieve Bell quit her post in late 2025.

At the time, Ms Bishop said she had the full confidence of the university council and intended to serve out the rest of her term until the end of 2026.

It’s unclear why Ms Bishop chose to step down early, but the Australian Financial Review reported she believed the universities regulator, which had intervened in the running of the ANU council, had overreached.

The university must now work openly with staff, students and the broader community to rebuild confidence, ACT senator and senior minister Katy Gallagher said.

“I note the resignation of ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop,” she said in a statement.

“The challenges facing ANU did not arise overnight, and rebuilding trust and confidence across the university community will take time and careful work.”

The hard work of students, academics and alumni had forced the university’s leaders to take responsibility for governance and leadership failures, independent ACT senator David Pocock said in a statement.

“In stepping aside, the chancellor is acting in the best interests of the ANU,” he said.

“When things go so terribly wrong at the helm of such an important institution, especially one governed by Commonwealth law, there must be accountability.”