Eeva Leinonen joined Murdoch University as Vice Chancellor and President in April 2016, after three years of service as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (academic) at the University of Wollongong. In October 2021 Leinonen will start as President of The National University of Ireland, Maynooth.  

Leinonen has an academic background in linguistics and psychology and has extensive experience in higher education in the United Kingdom, Europe and internationally. Her academic research focuses on pragmatic deficits of children with autistic spectrum disorders as well as higher education topics relating to curriculum and use of technology in learning.  

Prior to moving to Australia in 2012, Leinonen held the position of Vice-President (education) and Professor of Clinical Linguistics at King’s College, University of London. She has also been Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, where she held a number of other academic leadership positions. Leinonen has been actively involved in national and international higher education debates and advisory groups, including but not limited to: Universities UK; Universities Australia; chair of the UK Higher Education Funding Council/Quality Assurance Agency advisory group into Employer Engagement in Learning; Director and Board Member of Future Directions International; WA Health Translational Network Board Member; previous Chair of Innovative Research Universities Network; and current President of Australian Higher Education Industrial Association.