The Australian National University has apologised to academic Dr Liz Allen for its "indefensible treatment of her" after she raised governance concerns as a member of the ANU council.
The university and Dr Allen have reached a financial settlement and have released a joint statement in which the university "unreservedly apologises" to the academic.
Dr Allen said in a statement she was pleased with the resolution agreed with the university.
"I look forward to helping the university rebuild trust, and helping to ensure that what happened to me is not the experience of future whistleblowers," she said.
The joint statement said Dr Allen was a valued and integral member of the university.
"The university acknowledges Dr Liz Allen's standing within the university and her significant contribution to its governance, and to the Australian community," the joint statement said.
"In 2025, Dr Allen courageously spoke up about misconduct by the university's then senior leadership, and failures of governance.
"Publications were made about Dr Allen that were false and unjustified. These publications should not have occurred and the university unreservedly apologises for the university's part in these events, for the maladministration of several processes, and for its indefensible treatment of her. The university accepts that it has failed Dr Allen and that these failings have caused her considerable harm.
"The university unreservedly apologises to Dr Allen for all of its failings and the harm it has caused her."
Dr Allen raised allegations in Senate estimates in August 2025 that she was bullied and intimidated by former chancellor Julie Bishop after sharing governance concerns at council meetings.
Dr Allen said she had been falsely accused of leaking confidential council material to the media and felt she was particularly singled out because of her union affiliations.
She said she felt "violated and deeply humiliated" and contemplated taking her own life. She miscarried a week after the incident.
Ms Bishop denied the allegations.
A report on the matter by Vivienne Thom made made one finding of maladministration in relation to the university's procedures for managing complaints raised by or about members of the ANU council. It also made five adverse findings relating to the conduct of former council members.
It is understood Dr Allen's claims centered around defamation and negligence in the university's handling of her complaint before it had been investigated by Dr Thom.
The publications referenced in the statement were comments made in news reports in The Guardian, The Daily Mail and ABC Canberra Radio where Ms Bishop said Dr Allen's claims were "false and defamatory".
Ms Bishop was not a party to the settlement between the ANU and Dr Allen.
Ms Bishop told The Canberra Times: "Each allegation made against me was independently investigated by Vivienne Thom, including all allegations of bullying and harassment. None were substantiated. There were no findings of disclosable conduct against me."
Senator David Pocock said he was pleased the university and Dr Allen and reached a settlement.
"Most of all I am pleased to see not just a public apology, but a commitment to move forward together between Dr Allen and the university leadership," Senator Pocock said.
"The ANU is embarking on a new and hopefully much brighter chapter that we can all support and celebrate as they retake their mantle as one of our leading and most loved universities."
Senator Pocock said whistleblowers needed better protection and that was why he was pushing for a whistleblower protection authority.
