Nan Tien Institute Presidential Handover Marks a New Milestone in Global Development

Written by: Francis Wong

Nan Tien Institute, founded by Fo Guang Shan in Australia, held its presidential handover tea ceremony on 3rd December, marking a warm yet solemn moment of leadership transition. Professor Denise Kirkpatrick officially concluded her tenure as President, and Professor Alistair Noble—an academic leader with extensive scholarly and administrative experience—assumed the role, opening a new chapter for the Institute’s internationalisation and future development.

The handover ceremony was presided over by Venerable Man Ko, Chief Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Australia and New Zealand and Director of the Nan Tien Institute Board. Board members Venerable Jue Ning and Venerable Miao You, Venerable Jue Fang General Manager of the Hsing Yun Education Foundation, the institute’s administrators, President of BLIA Sydney Daniel Wu and Vice Elder Advisor General Francis Wong were also in attendance. The event was dignified and deeply meaningful.

In her address, Venerable Man Ko praised Professor Kirkpatrick’s five years of exemplary leadership, expressing heartfelt gratitude with the message “It is good to having  you.” She acknowledged Professor Kirkpatrick for fostering steady growth and a harmonious campus environment, and commended her foresight and responsibility as an educator—particularly her decisive leadership in developing online courses during the pandemic, ensuring uninterrupted learning for students worldwide.

Reflecting on her tenure, Professor Kirkpatrick expressed appreciation for the support of the temple, the Foundation, the institute staff, and BLIA members. She noted that despite beginning her presidency during the challenging period of the pandemic, Nan Tien Institute emerged within just a few years as one of Australia’s quality higher education institutions—a milestone she considers among her proudest achievements. She added that if Founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun were present today, he would surely feel gratified by the Institute’s growth.

Professor Kirkpatrick voiced strong confidence in the Institute’s future, affirming that higher education carries a vital mission in promoting social harmony and personal development. She expressed her belief that Nan Tien Institute will successfully complete its re-accreditation and progress toward becoming a self-accrediting higher education provider.

Incoming President Professor Noble brings a distinguished academic background, having served as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at the University of New England, and as Dean of the Australian Institute of Music. He expressed deep respect for the solid foundation established by Professor Kirkpatrick, noting that NTI’s achievements in Humanistic Buddhism studies and Buddhist education are already recognised in Australia and across the Asia–Pacific region. He looks forward to collaborating widely to further enhance NTI’s prominence in global Buddhist studies and academia.

At the close of the ceremony, Venerable Man Ko, on behalf of the monastic community, presented Professor Kirkpatrick with a Certificate of Appreciation and a commemorative gift, and formally awarded Professor Noble his appointment certificate—embodying Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s compassionate spirit of “warmly welcoming arrivals and sincerely sending off departures.” With the transfer of the Nan Tien Institute Constitution between the two presidents, the responsibilities and aspirations of leadership were symbolically and gracefully passed on.

With this transition between past and future leadership, Nan Tien Institute embarks on a significant new milestone, continuing to bring light and hope to the global stage of higher education.