About Philip

Dr Philip Freier began his career as a teacher in northern Australia.

In 1999, he became Bishop of the Northern Territory, and from 2014 to 2020, Dr Freier served as the 16th Anglican Primate of Australia.  From December 2006 to February 2025, he served as the 10th Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne and the 13th Bishop of Melbourne. Before ordination, he trained as a teacher and taught on Thursday Island, Kowanyama, and Yarrabah. He was also an advisory teacher in Aboriginal education with the Queensland Education Department.

He was chair of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and has extensive experience on boards, including higher education providers.

Dr Freier’s ministry covered all socio‐economic and cultural groups with a strong interest in and concern for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

He chaired the Board of Delegates of the Australian College of Theology and was Chair of the Doctrine Commission of the General Synod. His previous positions include Examining Chaplain to the Archbishop of Brisbane, Area Dean of the Burnett in the Diocese of Brisbane, Rector at Christ Church Bundaberg in the Diocese of Brisbane, and Rector St Oswald’s Banyo in the Diocese of Brisbane.

Dr Freier maintains a keen interest in Australian Anglican history. From 2000 to 2003, he was an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Law, Business and Arts at the Northern Territory University.

He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

The University Council appointed Dr Philip Freier as Federation’s Chancellor in 2025. Dr Freier has served on the Council since 2021 and as Deputy Chancellor since 2023. He is Chair of the Governance and Strategy Committee and sits on multiple Council committees.

Appointment term

Current term concludes in 2028.
Appointed Chancellor in 2025.
First appointed in 2021.

Qualifications

PhD in Philosophy from James Cook University
MEdST from University of Newcastle
Bachelor's degrees in Divinity and Applied Science