Board Members
The VRQA’s work is directed by a board made up of members drawn from education and training sectors, including government and non-government schools, vocational education and training, private and public registered training organisations, higher education, and further education.
Board membership is by ministerial appointment. These appointments ensure that the composition of the board includes members who are highly regarded in the area of school education and post-school education, provide a fair and balanced reflection of the diversity of the community, reflect both metropolitan and country interests, and provide sufficient management and regulatory expertise.
Stuart Hamilton AO
Chair
Stuart Hamilton is the Chief Executive Officer of Open Universities Australia. Mr Hamilton held the position of Secretary of the Victorian Department of Education and Training (2001-2002) and Director of the Innovation Economy Advisory Board (2002-2003). Stuart was Chair of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (2004-2006) and is Secretary of the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. He was Executive Director of the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (1996-2001) and worked in the Commonwealth public service for many years, including the Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Deputy Secretary (1987-1988); Health, Housing and Community Services, Secretary (1988-1993); and Environment, Sport and Territories (Secretary 1993-1996). Mr Hamilton holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Economics; he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford (1971–1974).
Peter Annett
Member
Peter Annett is a part-time education consultant in Catholic education. From 1993 to 2005, he held the position of Deputy Director of Catholic Education in Melbourne and prior to that was Director of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. He has over 40 years experience in education as a teacher and administrator and is a former member of the National Catholic Education Commission and the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria.
Brian Boyd
Member
Brian Boyd is the Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council. He is a member of several government committees (including the Building Industry and Manufacturing Industry Consultative Committees), and has specialist industry skills in scaffolding and rigging. He was Victorian Organiser and National Safety and Industrial Officer for the Builders Labourers' Federation from 1979 until he was elected Secretary. Mr Boyd's formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Diploma in Education.
Professor Wendy Brabham
Member
Wendy Brabham is the Director of the Institute of Koorie Education at Deakin University. Wendy is a member the Institute of Koorie Education Board and the Deakin University Academic Board. She was a member of the Victorian Qualifications Authority board and holds the office of treasurer of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc, with which she has worked for 15 years. Wendy has considerable experience working with Indigenous communities and in education.
Professor Gerald Burke
Member
Gerald Burke is Executive Director of the Centre for Economics of Education and Training and Professorial Fellow in the Faculty of Education at Monash University. In April 2008 he was appointed to Skills Australia, a new independent statutory body that provides advice on workforce development and future skills needs to the Australian Government. Gerald was Chair of the Victorian Qualifications Authority from 2004 to 2006. He began his career as a government secondary school teacher at Lilydale and Reservoir High Schools before moving to Monash University. Gerald has worked on secondment in the Commonwealth Department of Education and has undertaken several consultancies for government agencies and organisations in Australia and overseas.
Professor Peter Dawkins
Ex officio member
A brief biography of Peter Dawkins appears on the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development website. (www.education.vic.gov.au/about/keypeople/departmentsecretary.htm)
Alan Frees
Member
Alan Frees is the founder and co-owner of the business advisory group, Business Redirections, which was established in 1997 and has acted as an adviser to a number of listed and private companies in a wide range of industries. He is a member, and the immediate past President, of the Mentone Girls' Grammar School Council, where he has served since 1993. Alan is an experienced company director with previous and current directorships in public and private companies, educational bodies and charitable organisations He has also been an adviser to a number of independent schools, a member of the board of the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria since 1998 and is the immediate past chair. Alan has 25 years experience as a commercial/corporate lawyer; he was a Partner in one of Australia's largest law firms, Arthur Robinson & Hedderwicks (now Allens Arthur Robinson) for 13 years.
Howard Ronaldson
Ex officio member
Howard Ronaldson is the Secretary of the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development (DIIRD). He was previously the Secretary of Department of Infrastructure, a position he held from December 2002.
Howard has also held executive positions in DIIRD and the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and was previously the Director of Gaming, the Director of Crown Lands and the Director of Housing in Victoria. He also worked in Canberra as the Chief Executive and Under Treasurer of the Department of Treasury, Australian Capital Territory.
Glenda Strong
Member
Glenda Strong is the Executive Director of the Royal Children’s Hospital Education Institute (RCHEI). This organisation is concerned with providing education support services to children with a wide range of social, emotional and physical health, developmental and behavioural conditions and their families.
Prior to this, Glenda worked in a number of roles in the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) over 27 years. Her experience has ranged from classroom teacher to senior administrator in both the central and regional offices of the department.
Patricia Neden
Member
Patricia Neden is Chief Executive Officer, Innovation and Business Skills Australia. Patricia is well known in the vocational education and training sector particularly in her former role as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, and responsible for Skills Victoria (formerly known as the Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE), and previously as General Manager of the Training Operations at OTTE.
Patricia's experience covers policy, inter-governmental negotiations, national systems implementation and purchasing arrangements with service providers. She has previously held senior positions in other Victorian Government departments, including industry and labour.
Patricia has also spent time in the private sector, working predominantly in information technology and manufacturing in Victoria and overseas, and in the mining industry in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She has extensive knowledge and a strong commitment to innovation, filling the skills gaps and enhancing the VET sector to benefit the Australian economy.
Ms Julie Moss
Member
Julie Moss is the Managing Director of the Photography Studies College (Melbourne). Julie is immediate past National Chair of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training; she is also a member of the National Quality Council; the Victorian Higher Education Advisory Committee and the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre Management Committee. She has served on numerous state and national reference and advisory groups, including the Victorian Qualifications Authority board and has over 25 years experience in the post-compulsory education and training sector.
Professor Pauline Nestor
Member
Pauline Nestor is Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Arts at Monash University. Pauline has 30 years university teaching experience in English Literature, Comparative Literature and Women’s Studies and is the author/editor of eight books. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), a Master of Philosophy and a Doctor of Philosophy; she was awarded a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford from 1978 to 1984.
Roger Peacock
Member
Roger Peacock has expertise in relationships with Asia, international education, and university development. Roger has served at Australian embassies in Thailand, Indonesia and China. He was Executive Director of the Asian Studies Council, Head of the International Division of the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Training and founding head of Australia Education International (AEI), and Vice-Principal (University Development) at The University of Melbourne.