Rate My Professor Francis Petersen

Professor Francis Petersen serves as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, a role he assumed on 1 October 2024, where he oversees the management and administration of the university. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Engineering in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Stellenbosch, along with a PhD in Engineering. His academic training is further supported by a short course in Financial Skills for Executive Management from IIR Training. Throughout his career, Professor Petersen has held academic positions at the University of Stellenbosch, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of Cape Town, and University of the Free State, progressing through roles including Head of Department, Dean of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Cape Town, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cape Town, and Vice-Chancellor and Rector at the University of the Free State from 2014 to 2021. He also brings extensive experience from industry and science councils, including positions as Executive Head of Strategy at Anglo American Platinum Limited, Executive Vice-President for Research and Development at Mintek, and contributions to the Council for Industrial and Scientific Research in areas such as mining, minerals, and environmental engineering. In addition to his institutional leadership, Professor Petersen chairs Universities South Africa for a second term from 2026 to 2027. His background spans engineering, finance, and academic management, positioning him to advance research, teaching, and community engagement at the University of Pretoria.