Professor Caroline Finch AO joined ECU in 2018 as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Vice-President with the responsibility for leading research at ECU. She has extensive board and committee experience particularly across science, technology, defence, health, and sport domains. She is ECU's designated representative on multiple industry-linked Joint Venture Agreement partnerships and collaborations and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Professor Finch AO is, herself, a highly accomplished academic and world-renowned researcher. She has been ranked as one of the 10 most highly published injury researchers of all time and recognised as one of the most influential sports medicine researchers internationally, having won multiple injury prevention awards and significant research funding.

Professor Finch AO is a respected leader, known for her strong stakeholder engagement, communication skills and high professional integrity. Her influential research outcomes have directly informed safety policy and programs for Government Departments of Sport and Health, health promotion/injury prevention agencies, and peak sports bodies worldwide. She is a highly sought-after mentor and woman in STEMM leader. She maintains an active role in the development and training of researchers, including through higher degree by research programs and PhD supervision.

Prior to her appointment at ECU, Professor Finch AO held senior and executive roles at Federation University Australia, the University of New South Wales, University of Ballarat, Monash University and Federation University Australia. Professor Finch holds a PhD in Mathematics/Statistics from Monash University and a Research Masters in Mathematical Statistics from Latrobe University.

In 2018, Professor Finch was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her distinguished service to sports medicine, particularly in the area of injury prevention as an educator, researcher and author, and to the promotion of improved health in athletes and those who exercise.