Vice-Chancellor
Professor Frank Bloomfield ONZM, BSc(Hons), MBChB Manc., PhD; FRACP, MRCP(UK), FRSNZ
The role of the Ihorangi, Vice-Chancellor
The Ihorangi, Vice-Chancellor as the University’s chief academic and administrative officer, is responsible for providing academic leadership along with effective management and for leading strategic planning and resource allocation. They are also the employer of all staff.
Professor Frank Bloomfield
Frank Bloomfield is our acting Vice-Chancellor for the period between the departure of former vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater, and the commencement of incoming vice-chancellor Nic Smith on 3 August 2026.
He will then return to the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, which he has held since March 2023 after eight years as Director of the Liggins Institute, one of the University's large-scale research institutes.
A Professor of Neonatology since 2013, Frank has mentored medical staff and supervised doctoral students.
His extensive experience includes work as a clinical and academic neonatologist at Auckland City Hospital. His research focuses on fetal development and infant nutrition, improving health outcomes for mothers and newborn babies. Notably, Frank led ground-breaking research into the optimisation of protein intake and nutrition for premature babies.
In 2024, he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to neonatology.
Beyond his academic roles, Frank has also held leadership roles in professional organisations and contributed to various health committees. He is the past President of the Perinatal Society of New Zealand and the Perinatal Society of New Zealand and Australia.
Contact the Ihorangi, Vice-Chancellor
Executive Assistant
Julie Tomov
Email: j.tomov@auckland.ac.nz