Barbara van Ernst is currently an Educational Consultant and works with universities, government agencies, locally and internationally, and also with TAFE Institutes. Barb served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community Engagement) at Swinburne University of Technology where she was responsible for the University’s Lilydale campus, for Learning and Teaching including the Indigenous Programs Unit, and for Community Engagement. At Deakin University, Barb was Head of School in the Faculty of Education and in the Faculty of Arts during which time she was also Chair of Deakin University’s Academic Board. Barb served three terms as a Councillor for the City of Hawthorn, including two years as Mayor, has served on numerous other boards and committees, including the Victorian Qualifications Authority and the Higher Education Advisory Committee in Victoria, and is a higher education quality auditor for several overseas agencies. In 1994 Professor van Ernst was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to education.

Jim Barber trained as an experimental psychologist and he has extensive experience in university teaching, research and administration in Australia and Canada. In Australia, he served as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of the University of New England (2010-2014), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at RMIT University (2006-2010), and three terms as Head of Department at Flinders University (1993-2003). Jim also worked in Canada where he served one term as Dean at the University of Toronto. Jim is widely published and in 2005 won North America’s Pro-Humanitate Medal for his research in the field of child welfare. He is a former winner of the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at Flinders University and in 2021 was made a Member of Order of Australia for his services to educational administration and young people.

Usha George was previously Director of the Ryerson University Centre for Immigration and Settlement, Toronto, Canada. She also served terms as Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and prior to that, as Dean, Faculty of Community Services also at Ryerson University. Usha is widely published and is the recipient of millions of dollars in nationally competitive Canadian research grants. She is the winner of: ‘Professional Female of the Year’, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (2011); ‘Outstanding Community Service Award’, South Asian Arts and Cultural Organization of Toronto (2004); and ‘Excellence Award for Contribution to Community’, South Asian Family Support Services, Toronto (2002). Usha is a Member, Senior Women Academics Administrators of Canada (SWAAC); Member, Inter-University Consortium on International Social Development; and Life member, Indian Association for Canadian Studies, Delhi, India.

Dominic Riordan is an experienced higher education governance, risk management and quality assurance professional. Now working as an independent higher education advisor, Dominic was most recently the Director, Academic Quality and Standards at the University of Wollongong. In this role, Dominic managed a team of 14 staff with responsibility for the University’s academic quality enhancement framework, policies and processes, academic committee support and managing the University’s relationship with TEQSA. Dominic also established and convened the Higher Education Quality Network, a community of practice of 39 universities and 10 non-university higher education providers who meet quarterly to support good practice approaches to facilitating academic quality assurance and good governance. Dominic also has extensive experience in the NSW public sector working in the fields of complaints management, investigations and audit. He is a qualified solicitor with private practice experience and holds postgraduate qualifications in management and public administration.

Travis Walker has more than 20 years’ experience in the higher education sector in financial roles. He is currently Vice President Finance at Southern Cross University where he is responsible for all aspects of financial management and reporting including statutory reporting, treasury, tax and other regulatory reporting, financial performance and analysis as well as travel and procurement. Travis previously served as Deputy Director Finance at RMIT University where he was responsible for the budget, forecasting and reporting on financial performance as well as commercial analysis of university programs and assessment of future opportunities. Travis is on the board of the Australian Universities Senior Finance Officers Group and represents Southern Cross University at the Australian Deputy Vice-Chancellors Corporate group.

Maree Gosper is currently an Honorary Fellow at Macquarie University. She has over 25 years’ experience in the higher education sector, much of which was at Macquarie University as a teacher, researcher, academic and organisational developer. She was Associate Professor Academic Development (eLearning), Head of Academic Development, and Director of Technologies in Learning and Teaching at Macquarie University (2004-2014). Prior to this, Maree re-designed physics practicals at the University of Technology, Sydney and taught mathematics at the University of South Australia.  In more recent times, Maree has been working in the non-university sector contributing to academic governance, quality and compliance across six institutions and through her work with the Chairs of Academic Boards Forum. Her areas of expertise encompass cognition and learning, curriculum development, eLearning, strategic planning and development.

Tim Harms is a communications engineer who specialises in cybersecurity.  He is currently Principal Consultant for Contauro AG in Switzerland working on cybersecurity in air traffic control and defence. After graduating from RMIT University in 1985, Tim worked as Development Engineer for Design Two Thousand Pty Ltd, Australia and Vicom Australia Pty Ltd, Australia. Moving to Switzerland in 1993, he continued working as a Development Engineer, this time for ABB Infocom AG. In 1993 he was appointed Test Engineer, Application Engineer, and finally Product Manager for Schmid Telecom AG in Zurich, specialising in air traffic management. From 2009, Tim worked for Crypto International AG as Product Manager, Senior Radio Systems Engineer developing Secure IT and Radio encryption systems for civilian and military customers, including IT applications for messaging and tracking.

Dr Atif Ahmad (PhD, CPP) is a Professor at the University of Melbourne, where he serves as Deputy Director of the Academic Centre of Cyber Security Excellence, located in the Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology. Atif’s expertise is in crisis management and organisational practice specific to cybersecurity. Over the course of his 25+ years at the University of Melbourne, Atif has researched, educated and managed a research team dedicated to studying how organisations respond to critical cyber attacks and develop defence capabilities. Dr Ahmad’s expertise extends beyond academia: he is a highly sought-after consultant, having worked for leading consulting firms WorleyParsons and Pinkerton. As an executive producer and storyteller, Atif commissioned a series of teaching films that depict real-world cybersecurity practices. These have garnered multiple awards, including the “Best Original Screenplay” at the London International Film Festival. For a more comprehensive overview of Dr Ahmad’s work, visit his website: https://www.atifahmad.me/.

Emeritus Professor Julianne Reid is a Higher Education Consultant with a strong interest in university governance, especially that relating to learning and teaching, and in the treatment and management of diabetes.  She retired from the role of Associate Provost at Curtin University in 2024, where she was responsible for growing academic capability through initiatives to improve excellence in teaching, engagement, research and innovation across the university. She has substantial leadership experience in university governance, strategy and learning and teaching through previous roles as the Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching at Curtin University, Interim DVC Academic at RMIT University; Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching in the College of Science, Engineering and Health at RMIT; Chair of The Academic Board at RMIT; and a member of RMIT Council.  Professor Reid is a strong promoter of pathway programs such as vocational education and enabling programs, to improve accessibility of students from all backgrounds, but in particular disadvantaged backgrounds.  She is currently Chair of Academic Board at Curtin College.

Dr Puneet Kaur is Dean of the Australasian Academy of Higher Education. An experienced university lecturer with 20+ years delivering high-quality instruction in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology, Dr Kaur is a proactive academic leader, dedicated to fostering a dynamic learning environment through innovative pedagogy and student-centred mentorship. Puneet is committed to advancing institutional initiatives, promoting research excellence, and strengthening cybersecurity education to prepare students for evolving industry challenges. Since beginning her career as a university academic in 2005, Puneet has demonstrated a strong commitment to student-centred education. She is passionate about enhancing higher education curriculum and pedagogy to create engaging learning experiences for her students. A recognised researcher, Puneet has received a Faculty Research Appreciation Award and holds a granted patent for an IoT-based healthcare management system. Her work is supported by numerous publications and a major funded research project in the field of information technology. Committed to excellence in higher education, she focuses on advancing industry-relevant skills, fostering academic integrity, and preparing graduates for emerging technological challenges.

Dr Peiris brings extensive experience in academic learning support and higher education, focusing on student success through innovative teaching and personalised guidance. As Course Coordinator (Bachelor of Cybersecurity) and lecturer, Sabeetha helps students navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and emerging technologies, and actively contributes to initiatives that strengthen academic integrity, digital literacy, and ethical technology practices. With a background spanning both corporate and academic sectors, Sabeetha integrates research-driven strategies to enhance student learning outcomes. Her PhD research on blockchain’s transformative impact on businesses informs her approach to digital innovation and security. Sabeetha. Passionate about advancing cybersecurity education, she equips students with the skills needed to thrive in the evolving digital landscape while promoting a culture of integrity and lifelong learning. Regularly presenting her research and speaking at prestigious conferences, Sabeetha has received multiple awards and has also obtained the PR 373-ISMS ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Lead Auditor certification from CQI | The Chartered Quality Institute.

Aman is a seasoned Director with over 20 years of experience in the Australian and Canadian tertiary education sector, specialising in leading start-ups, restructuring, and managing multi-campus institutions. He brings deep expertise in leadership, financial management, strategic planning, and human resources development. Aman has played a key role in developing the strategy and process with start-up higher education providers and establishing quality management systems. His leadership fosters a positive, productive work culture aligned with industry standards and long-term institutional goals.

Mark Hatwell has worked in the Australian higher education sector for more than 25 years, holding a broad range of leadership roles. Prior to AAHE, Mark’s most recent positions were as Director, Registration and Courses for the national higher education regulator, TEQSA, and as Associate Director (Academic Services) in the Student and Education Business Services directorate at Monash University. During his 17 years at Monash, Mark also led teams responsible for central student administration functions including Admissions, Enrolments, and Curriculum and Publications, and he previously held a school administration manager role at Swinburne University of Technology. Mark is highly respected across the Australasian higher education sector in institutional policy and as pioneer of an international policy network, co-authoring a best practice guide, regularly facilitating events and presenting at conferences. A former Vice-President on the Board of the Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM), Mark’s contributions to ATEM have been recognised with a Best Practice Award in Policy and Governance, a Fellowship, and a Meritorious Service Award.

Dr Puneet Kaur is Dean of the Australasian Academy of Higher Education. An experienced university lecturer with 20+ years delivering high-quality instruction in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology, Dr Kaur is a proactive academic leader, dedicated to fostering a dynamic learning environment through innovative pedagogy and student-centred mentorship. Puneet is committed to advancing institutional initiatives, promoting research excellence, and strengthening cybersecurity education to prepare students for evolving industry challenges. Since beginning her career as a university academic in 2005, Puneet has demonstrated a strong commitment to student-centred education. She is passionate about enhancing higher education curriculum and pedagogy to create engaging learning experiences for her students. A recognised researcher, Puneet has received a Faculty Research Appreciation Award and holds a granted patent for an IoT-based healthcare management system. Her work is supported by numerous publications and a major funded research project in the field of information technology. Committed to excellence in higher education, she focuses on advancing industry-relevant skills, fostering academic integrity, and preparing graduates for emerging technological challenges.

Christine Plumejeau is a seasoned compliance, governance, and quality assurance leader with nearly two decades of experience across Australia’s education sector. Her career spans key roles at the Victorian Institute of Teaching, Monash University, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), and her current position as the inaugural Quality Assurance Manager at the Academy. Christine brings a dual perspective to this role, having worked on both sides of the regulatory relationship. She has assessed institutional risk as a regulator and managed it as a practitioner; prepared policy advice for Ministers and self-assurance documentation for regulators; and built compliance systems and supported teams through periods of significant legislative change. Deeply committed to education, Christine is passionate about regulatory and quality frameworks that genuinely protect and enhance outcomes for students and their communities. She brings a people-centred approach to compliance and believes that good compliance work, done with genuine respect for the people it affects, is some of the most important work a person can do.