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 Canberra Times that he actually didn't get to sit on a desk until year six in his school in India.
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.
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