Rate My Professor Theo Farrell

Professor Theo Farrell is Vice-Chancellor and President of La Trobe University, a position he has held since February 2024. In this role, he has led the development and delivery of the university’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, focusing on positioning La Trobe as a global leader in health, science and education while deepening partnerships with industry, government and global institutions. An experienced university leader, Professor Farrell previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Students) at the University of Wollongong, where he advanced reforms in curriculum design, digital education, student success and research performance. He has also held senior leadership positions at King’s College London and City, University of London.

Prior to his executive appointments, Professor Farrell was Professor of War in the Modern World and Head of the Department of War Studies at King’s College London. A war studies scholar by background, he is a leading expert on strategy and organisational innovation. He is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences and the Royal Society of New South Wales, and served as past President of the British International Studies Association. His research has addressed military adaptation, the character of armed conflict and the war in Afghanistan, with key publications including the books The Norms of War: Cultural Beliefs and Modern Conflict (2005) and Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan (2017). Professor Farrell holds a PhD in Political Science and Government from the University of Bristol and a Master’s degree in International History from University College Dublin.