Nicola Phillips

Nicola Phillips is a British academic and administrator. She was appointed inaugural substantive vice-chancellor (becoming the second VC overall) of Adelaide University in Adelaide, South Australia, in January 2026; following thirty years of academic and leadership experience at universities in the UK and Australia.

Early life and education Nicola Phillips completed her undergraduate degree in Hispanic studies at King's College London,

Career Phillips held academic and leadership positions at the Universities of Warwick, Manchester, and Sheffield, She was also professor of political economy at KCL.

She has held visiting fellowships and professorships across the world, including the Australian National University, the University of British Columbia, and the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.

In June 2025 her appointment as second vice-chancellor of the newly-formed Adelaide University (created by merging the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia) was announced by the university, after a global search. Her new role started with the official opening of the university on 29 January 2026, when she succeeded co-vice-chancellors Peter Høj and David Lloyd, who had served during the transitional phase of the merger. Her appointment was affirmed by unanimous vote of the Adelaide University Transition Council. She was also a contributor to International Affairs.

In 2014 she was member of the Research Excellence Framework sub-panel for Politics and International Studies, "for combining bravery in pursuing pioneering research that pushes the boundaries of the discipline with a deep commitment to teaching and mentorship"