Prof. H Deep Saini, an alumnus of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana (India), has taken the reigns at the University of Canberra today as the vice-chancellor.
His appointment was confirmed in March this year when he was the vice-president of the University of Toronto in Canada.
Prof. Saini is an eminent plant physiologist who holds a doctorate from the University of Adelaide. He has also done a brief stint with CSIRO in Canberra earlier in the year 2000. Speaking about his humble background, Prof Saini told that he actually didn't get to sit on a desk until year six in his school in India.
Source: Fairfax Media
Soon after his appointment was confirmed, Prof. Saini told SBS Punjabi that he had many different feelings.
"There are many diverse feelings, but when I first came to Australia it was as a student, and now I am coming here as the vice-chancellor of a university. So that's the dominant feeling at the moment.. and it's a very good feeling."
"As far as coming back to Australia is concerned, it feels like returning to my home. I have spent a very beautiful time in Australia.. and the memories are still fresh in my mind," he said.
After a doctorate in plant physiology from University of Adelaide, Prof Saini took up a job with the University of Alberta, Canada. He has worked with four different universities in Canada before finally assuming the charge of the vice-chancellor at UC.