Introduce yourself in three words or phrases.
Only three words?
What do you like most about your job?
You get to be across every aspect of the business from curriculum design to policy development, to marketing and industry engagement. As CEO, you have a helicopter view of the organisation plus you get to meet so many fascinating, talented and passionate people.
Best work trip/Worst work trip?
Worst trip? I spent a year at LAX one day… well, it felt like a year! I flew in on Delta Airlines using my frequent survivor points. Then, the airplane’s toilet flooded mid flight from Sydney to Los Angeles – it’s a 15-hour flight time for those doing the calculations. I missed my connecting flight to NYC (but my luggage made it through without me) and then spent the next 12 hours on standby.
Best trip? Same trip. Once I arrived in New York City and washed away the 33-hour journey to get there, I had a wonderful time catching up with friends and colleagues and sneaking in some recreational activities – I would highly recommend The Metropolitan Museum of Art, locally referred to as the Met, and the Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
Another very memorable trip was a leadership conference for CQ University’s executive team where we spent time at the Lavarack Barracks, an Australian Army base located in Townsville, with the soldiers learning about their values, training, and experiences. We also had an opportunity to play with some of their equipment, including practicing at their laser shooting range, which was quite an experience for a team that spent most of our days behind a desk.
If you could learn a language instantly, which would you pick and why?
Most definitely Mandarin. My six-year-old daughter is learning and it would be nice to converse with her. Also, the next time we visit China, I would love to go five minutes without Google Translate.
What makes you get up in the morning?
Normally someone shouting that they can’t find their socks, shirt or trousers! Our family is usually up early at 6.30am and out the door by 7am.
Champion/cheerleader which we should all follow and why?
No individual in particular however I’m a big fan of audiobooks and listen to lots of biographies (mostly by business or political leaders but the occasional celebrity). So I would say to follow Audible. I also like their brand campaign “There’s more to imagine when you listen.” A good philosophy for any leader.
The next time we visit China, I would love to go five minutes without Google Translate
Best international ed conference and why?
NAFSA conference in Washington DC. The conference was fine, but the highlight was just walking around the US Capitol and seeing so many historic buildings and museums – the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum was fantastic.
Worst conference food/beverage experience?
When there’s free food and an endless supply of coffee, you can’t complain.
Book or podcast recommendation for others in the sector?
The Golden Passport: Harvard Business School, the Limits of Capitalism, and the Moral Failure of the MBA Elite by Duff McDonald.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins.
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
We’re in the process of establishing Chancellor Institute, a new higher education institution, and UniMinistry Foundation, a registered charity focuses on providing pastoral care and support to students in Australia.
We’re still in the development phase and taking meetings with potential investors and partners – mostly universities.
We’re designing programs that focus on the skills and industries expected to grow in the future, including digital technology, sustainable development, healthcare innovation, and creative industries.
I think that this is a unique opportunity for an overseas university to expand its footprint to Australia, a country renowned for being the world’s third most popular destination for international students, following only the US and UK.
We’re presenting a gateway to the Australian and Asia-Pacific region, offering distinct programs and research opportunities that leverage Australia’s geographic and cultural ties with both the West and the dynamic economies of Asia. This opportunity is ideal for an institution looking for a new foothold in international education markets.
