BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is the formally constituted governing body, which includes independent members, exercising competent governance oversight of the Institute. The Board is accountable for all the Institute’s operations in or from Australia, including accountability for the award of higher education qualifications, for continuing to meet the requirements of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (HESF 2021), and for the Institute’s representation of itself.
The role of the Board of Directors is to govern the entity, set the Institute’s strategic direction, approve its financial plan and organisational policies, and ensure the Institute complies with the law and meets its obligations.
The Board of Directors (‘the Board’) is the principal governance body of the Institute. The governance model includes two standing committees of the Board:
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The Risk Committee (RC) supports the Board by providing an objective non-executive review of the effectiveness of the Institute’s financial reporting and risk management framework, and oversight of the implementation and operation of the Institute’s risk management framework;
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The Academic Board supports the Board’s academic governance responsibilities to ensure the Institute fulfils its academic responsibilities as an Institute of Higher Education.
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TIM JENNISON [CHAIR]
As CFO for ACG Education, Tim held overall financial responsibility for the group’s operations in tertiary education, university pathways, and private schools, with operations over SE Asia and Australasia. During his tenure, the group achieved strong growth, both organically and through acquisitions, and also underwent multiple successful ownership changes. Prior to ACG Tim worked in Mergers & Acquisitions for twenty years, predominantly out of Singapore, where he was Managing Director and head of the SE Asian team for an international investment bank. Tim is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Directors and Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
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MR EDWARD SLADE
Mr Edward Slade is the Managing Director and founder of Schoolhouse Solutions, a consultancy and corporate finance firm focused on the education sector. He was previously a Managing Director of CLSA Ltd, a leading investment bank headquartered in Hong Kong, and has a career of over 30 years in Finance with groups such as Flemings, BZW, Credit Suisse and ABN Amro Rothschild. He has a BA and an MA in Modern Languages and Philosophy from Oxford University. Mr Slade began advising education groups in 2005 when he raised equity for Raffles Education, a leading Singapore-based higher education provider. Since 2013 he has focused primarily on advising education groups, and has advised China Maple Leaf Educational Systems, Crimson Education, News Corp, Brookes Education, Matrix Education, Australian Homestay Network, Australian Institute of Business, IU University of Applied Sciences.
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PROFESSOR GEOFFREY CRISP
Professor Geoffrey Crisp is a specialist consultant in higher education, focusing on university transformation projects and academic development programs. He has extensive expertise in assessment practices and curriculum design for both traditional and online learning. Geoffrey excels in designing frameworks for academic evaluation and peer review to enhance educational quality.
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DR KAREN TRELOAR
Dr Karen Treloar is a strategic leader in higher education with a proven track record in developing innovative approaches to quality assurance, governance, and professional accreditation. She excels in delivering practical policy solutions and managing complex projects under tight timelines, while effectively engaging diverse stakeholders. With deep expertise across the tertiary education sector, Karen is skilled in conducting organizational reviews and using data-driven insights to drive improvement.
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FEROZ ALI
Feroz Ali is a distinguished entrepreneur and leader in the education and creative industries, with a career spanning over 30 years across New Zealand and Canada. His strategic vision and business acumen have driven the successful establishment, acquisition, and expansion of enterprises across diverse sectors, including education, fashion, aviation, and technology.
As a seasoned executive, Feroz has a proven track record in launching new ventures, navigating complex mergers and acquisitions, and scaling businesses for sustainable growth. His leadership extends to advisory and board roles in both private and government-owned organizations, where he provides strategic direction and governance expertise.
With an entrepreneurial mindset and a deep understanding of industry dynamics, Feroz continues to shape the future of education and business, fostering innovation and global expansion.
ACADEMIC BOARD
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PROFESSOR GEOFFREY CRISP [CHAIR]
Professor Geoffrey Crisp is a specialist consultant in higher education, focusing on university transformation projects and academic development programs. He has extensive expertise in assessment practices and curriculum design for both traditional and online learning. Geoffrey excels in designing frameworks for academic evaluation and peer review to enhance educational quality.
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DR FAY AMARAL [CEO]
With a strong background in psychology, Fay recently completed her PhD thesis (Auckland University of Technology), focusing on the prevalence of career indecision, self-efficacy, sense of control, and mental health in school leavers transitioning to tertiary studies or work. Fay has a double master’s in psychology and commerce - business management, both with distinction. Her thesis “Cultural integrations in mergers and acquisitions” was awarded Best Short Dissertation in the year of her study. Her experience in lifting and enabling performance is anchored in her strong belief in inclusive, action-oriented and transformational leadership. Fay's leadership journey includes executive leadership roles with well-known brands such as Youthtown, VEGA, ADvTECH Ltd, and working with Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Sony, and the BBC. As the CEO of Youthtown (est. 1932), Fay's inspirational and relational leadership style led to the development of high-quality, outcomes-driven programs and the establishment of significant national community partnerships.
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DR MELISSA SILK [CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER]
With over three decades of distinguished contributions to education and creative practice, Dr. Melissa Silk is a highly respected Sydney-based educator and thought leader in transdisciplinary learning. Passionate about integrating the Arts into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEAM), Dr. Silk collaborates with diverse innovators to design transformative experiences that foster creative intelligence and innovation. Dr. Silk is the co-director of STEAMpop.zone and serves as Chief Academic Officer at Whitecliffe Institute of Creative Arts and Technology. Her pioneering research focuses on developing dynamic learning ecologies that bridge creative intelligence, transdisciplinary education, and the design of preferred futures. A sought-after speaker, she has shared her profound insights at numerous prestigious forums, including her keynote address, "Connected Curiosity," at VALA2024, where she emphasised the transformative potential of integrating the Arts into STEM education. Her impactful work is widely recognised in publications and conferences, underscoring her unwavering commitment to advancing innovative education practices.
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DR SUE-ANN STANFORD [EXECUTIVE DEAN]
Dr. Sue-Ann Stanford is a distinguished professional with a remarkable career in higher education, specialising in academic governance, leadership, management, and regulatory affairs. With extensive experience spanning senior leadership roles, Dr. Stanford has established herself as a thought leader in her field. Her expertise lies in designing and implementing comprehensive academic governance frameworks, leading institutional registration and course accreditation projects, and navigating complex regulatory landscapes. Dr Stanford’s strategic insights and exemplary leadership have bolstered organisational resilience and ensured adherence to the highest industry standards. Widely respected for her intellectual rigour and dedication to excellence, Dr Sue-Ann Stanford is a trusted authority in Australian higher education, inspiring peers and advancing best practices across the sector.
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ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR FIONA MARTIN
Dr Fiona Martin is an Associate Professor at The University of Sydney, Department of Media and Communication. Dr Martin researches digital journalism and dialogic technologies, as well as the uses, politics and regulation of online media (internet, web, mobile and social media) and the implications of these technologies for media industry change. She is the co-author of Sharing News Online (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018) and has contributed to Internet Research Ethics for the Social Media Age (Peter Lang, 2017) and Ethics for Digital Journalists: Emerging Best Practices (Routledge, 2014). She also has a particular interest in public service media online and is co-author and editor of The Value of Public Service Media (Nordicom, 2013) with Gregory F. Lowe. Her current ARC funded projects are Sharing News Online (LP140100148), a Linkage Project with Assoc. Professor Tim Dwyer, Share Wars and Mi9 to explore the nature of news sharing across social media platforms and Mediating the Conversation (DE130101267), analysing the politics and cultures of public commenting on news and opinion websites internationally. She is a member of the Digital Rights and Governance in Australia and Asia research group and a co-convenor of the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences Everyday Social Media research group. Fiona is a former community and ABC radio broadcaster and a cross-media journalist, with fifteen years’ experience as a journalism educator.
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DR KAREN TRELOAR
Dr Karen Treloar is a strategic leader in higher education with a proven track record in developing innovative approaches to quality assurance, governance, and professional accreditation. She excels in delivering practical policy solutions and managing complex projects under tight timelines, while effectively engaging diverse stakeholders. With deep expertise across the tertiary education sector, Karen is skilled in conducting organizational reviews and using data-driven insights to drive improvement.
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DR RAYMOND YOUNG [NZ WHITECLIFFE CAO]
Prior to joining Whitecliffe in 2018, Raymond held a range of teaching, faculty management, and senior academic leadership roles at Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, including the role of Dean of the School of Information and Social Sciences.
Raymond has successfully led programme design, NZQA accreditation and approval of a range of new qualifications, and has overseen the development and national delivery of digital learning resources. He has worked in close partnership with a range of industries to design innovative undergraduate and graduate programmes, specifically in the fields of information science – information systems and technology, web design and writing, technical communication, and library and information management – initial teacher education; and social and community services, and health.