Jan B. Thomas

Professor Jan Thomas is a veterinary scientist and senior university leader who served as the sixth Vice-Chancellor of Massey University from January 2017. During her tenure, she led Massey through a period of significant transformation, including financial recovery, infrastructure development, and the university’s commitment to becoming a te Tiriti-led organisation.

Originally from Australia, Professor Thomas holds a BSc in Veterinary Biology (1981) and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS, 1983) from Murdoch University, a Master of Veterinary Studies in Pathology from the University of Melbourne (1986), and a PhD in Veterinary Science from Murdoch University (1997). Before entering academia, she worked as a veterinary surgeon, diagnostic pathologist, and consultant. Her research, particularly on feline immunodeficiency virus and clinical pathology, has been widely published.

Professor Thomas’s academic leadership career spans multiple institutions in Australasia. She served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Murdoch University and the University of Notre Dame Australia before becoming Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Southern Queensland in 2012. She joined Massey University in 2017, where she was noted for her inclusive leadership and commitment to equity in education.

As Vice-Chancellor of Massey University, Thomas championed Māori advancement and inclusion, stating her ambition for the university to lead as a te Tiriti o Waitangi-informed institution and to contribute to a socially progressive Aotearoa New Zealand. Under her leadership, Massey expanded internationally, signing a landmark agreement with PSB Academy in Singapore in 2024 - New Zealand’s first offshore campus of its kind.

In recognition of her contributions, Thomas has received numerous awards during her career. 

She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Management, and a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists. She also chairs the Quality Assurance Council in Hong Kong and serves on the Hong Kong University Grants Committee. She is a former Chair of the Council for the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

In 2023, Thomas became a New Zealand citizen at a ceremony held at Massey University.

After announcing her resignation in 2025, she expressed her intention to travel, reconnect with family, and continue contributing to New Zealand, which she now considers home. She leaves behind a legacy of institutional resilience, inclusive leadership, and a clear strategic vision for Massey University's future.

"Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas". Management and leadership. Massey University. Retrieved 8 July 2025.

Jan Thomas. "Feline immunodeficiency virus infection in domestic cats in Western Australia: Prevalence of natural infection and association with clinical and morphological disease" Doctoral Theses. Research Portal. Murdoch University. Retrieved 8 July 2025.

"Leading academic appointed Massey Vice-Chancellor". NBR. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2025.

"Professor Jan Thomas". ABC News. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2025.

Judith Lacy. "Palmerston North City Council holds citizenship ceremonies" Manawatū Guardian. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2025.

Manawatū reporter. "Massey vice-chancellor Jan Thomas resigns". The Post. Retrieved 8 July 2025.