Prof. Beanland has contributed over nearly twenty four years to the development of Australia's largest and strongest technological university: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

During all that period he has been in a key leadership role; for the last three years he has been its Chief Executive Officer - now Vice-Chancellor.

As an electronic engineer he has been responsible for the response of the university to the provision of effective technological education in a time of enormous technological change. He has personally had a major involvement in developing its key role in electronics,
communications and information technology and for its rapid growth in applied research related to the needs of Australian industry.

As an educator he has contributed to the university's performance record as a provider of high quality relevant education over a range of level . The provision of novel, effective and
responsive programs has taken RMIT to the position of being Melbourne's preferred university with the most first preference applicants and the best employment record for its graduates.

As a leader he has managed the university through a period of significant change so that it is able to continue to focus on its mission of providing technological education and research with enhanced strength.

He has also set the directions for the exceptionally strong international performance of the university.

As a policy-maker he has participated in the development of both educational policy and research policy at Institutional, state and national levels.

As a researcher he contributed to the development of microelectronic technology and was instrumental ir.. establishing RMIT's strong national contribution in this field of research for Australian industry.