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Leadership
This page showcases our
Board of Directors
and Academic Board
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Professor John Tarrant (Chairman)
Professor John Tarrant brings over four decades of leadership experience spanning
the education, legal, technology and resource sectors. As Chairman of the Australian
Guild of Education Pty Ltd, Professor Tarrant leverages his diverse expertise to
guide the organisation’s strategic vision and governance, ensuring its commitment to
academic excellence and innovative practices.
Professor Tarrant’s professional journey includes key roles as a director of
companies across Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, operating in higher
education, mining, oil and gas, and investment industries. He has served as
Managing Director, Chairperson, and committee leader, driving impactful initiatives
across private and publicly listed organisations.
His extensive academic career includes as a professor in law at the University of
Western Australia. Professor Tarrant holds an impressive array of academic
qualifications, including two doctorates in law. His publications, spanning five seminal
books, reflect his expertise in areas including equity, personal property, and legal
remedies. Professor Tarrant is a former barrister and public notary and has practiced
commercial, administrative, and military law.
His passion for education is evident in his commitment to higher education
leadership, with past roles including Chairperson of Polytechnic Institute Australia
and Director of Australia Advance Education Group. With a dedication to fostering
academic innovation and organisational excellence, Professor Tarrant’s leadership at
AGE ensures a robust and future-focused foundation for the institution’s growth and
impact.
Jim’s career spans over 40 years of contribution, leadership and management in education.
He is highly published and widely recognised for his contributions to international and
transnational education, research and university management.
In 1977 he graduated from the Royal Central School and University of London and worked in
professional theatre and performing arts before moving into teaching where he specialised in
secondary arts education in urban settings. Later, during his MA studies at King’s College
London, he was seconded to the West Indies where he researched and taught on the island
of Tobago before eventually relocating permanently to Australia.
In 1991 Jim moved to Griffith University to teach on their B.Ed and new BPA degree
courses. Whilst at Griffith he developed the theory of critical ethnodrama research, a field of
practice-based study which has become embedded in numerous arts and education courses
around the globe. Jim’s research led to extensive publication activities and international
presentations.
In 1999 he accepted the position of Professor & Foundation Dean of Education and Creative
Arts at Central Queensland University where he later served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Academic & Research until moving to VU in Melbourne in 2006. At Victoria University, Jim
was (interim) Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Industry prior to taking up the position
of Executive Director of Higher Education for Abu Dhabi Government’s ADEC.
During Jim’s years with Abu Dhabi’s education reform council (ADEC) he was (amongst
many other things) significantly involved in contributing to the formation of quality and
standards frameworks for tertiary entities, the establishment of New York University, Abu
Dhabi, and La Sorbonne’s Abu Dhabi Campus and as the Vice Chancellor of ECAE, a
teacher education university for Emirati students.
In late 2013 Jim moved from the Gulf to Malaysia (or rather Sarawak, Borneo) to head Curtin
University’s university campus there. As CEO, President and PVC, Sarawak, he continued to
work closely with state and federal government representatives and agencies in cementing
the Curtin Sarawak Campus’s role as a fully accredited foreign branch campus in Malaysia.
At the end of his time in Malaysia Jim’s contributions to Higher Education were recognised
by Curtin University awarding him Professor Emeritus status. Since returning home in 2020
he has been occupied as an HE management and transnational operations consultant
located in Melbourne.
Emeritus Professor
Jim Mienczakowski
Tracy Harris brings over 30 years of leadership experience to the international education sector, spanning universities, pathway providers, federal government, and the not-for-profit sector.
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As Principal of Tracy Harris Solutions, she leverages her expertise in international education to support clients across leadership, governance, communication marketing, and stakeholder engagement.
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Tracy is a regular contributor to international education online media source, The Koala News and is a Board member for the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA).
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She previously led Swinburne College, a university pathway provider, as General Manager and Dean, and served as Executive Director, Global Development and Performance at RMIT University, where she was responsible for its transnational education portfolio.
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Tracy’s public service career includes senior roles with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), including overseas postings in Latin America and Southeast Asia, and as ASEAN Education Commissioner and Trade Commissioner (Singapore). She also held positions in the international arm of the former Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, focusing on scholarships, stakeholder management, bilateral and multilateral engagement, and education policy.
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Tracy holds a Master of Marketing (Monash), Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Hons) (Canberra) and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (RMIT). She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
ACADEMIC BOARD
Dr. Tim Weir was appointed Chair of the Academic Board in 2024.
Tim is the Deputy CEO of Armstrong Institute. Prior to this appointment, he served as Dean at Acknowledge Education and other roles in tertiary institutions in Australia and the United States.
His academic work focuses on the intersection of creativity and business, as well as in compliance and governance in tertiary education. Dr. Weir has presented and published in Australia, Canada, the United States, and in the UK.
Dr. Weir holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Miami (FL, USA), a Master of Music from Florida International University (USA), a Master of Business Administration (CSU), Graduate Diploma in Education (UC) and a Bachelor of Music (ANU).
Dr Tim Weir (Chair)
Dr Laura Hougaz
Dr Laura Hougaz has 20 years’ experience in higher education across both the public and private higher education systems. She has worked with senior academics, managers and policy makers.
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She has created, developed and implemented innovative international educational programs and projects, with a focus on addressing barriers to employment.
Laura has received numerous academic and community awards, and has attracted major national and international funding for a broad range of research projects and international study abroad and employment programs
Her book Entrepreneurs in Family Business Dynasties, published by Springer Publishers, offers insights into how multigenerational family businesses successfully survive into thriving family dynasties, and identifies personal and ethical values that contribute to successful multigenerational family dynasties.
Dr David Morgan is a tertiary education professional with over seventeen years of experience in a variety of institutions and roles. His recent work has involved complex academic integrity investigations, planning an academic integrity strategy, ensuring compliance with the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF) and other regulatory legislation including assessing professional accreditation concerns, program review requirements and staffing to meet the HESF.
David has experience in developing policies for tertiary education providers, ensuring VET compliance in RTOs, institutional registration, designing and obtaining accreditation of courses for both VET (1) and Higher Education (14), writing reports, implementing academic integrity processes, managing academic administration, implementing governance restructures, migrating student management systems, and I am familiar with the requirements of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), Education Services to Overseas Students (ESOS) Act, the National Code, Higher Education Support Act (HESA), Victorian HESG Contracts, Skills First Funding and ASQA Delegations obligations, he also has experience managing teams of staff: academic, professional and interns. David has been his employers' contact person for regulators and participated in relevant professional networks.
David’s background is in IT, and he has previously worked in software development combined with the employer and volunteer projects.
He holds a Master of Higher Education from Macquarie University and a Doctorate in Theology from the University of Durham.
Dr David Morgan
Emeritus Professor Greg Whateley
Emeritus Professor Greg Whateley completed a Diploma of Teaching (with majors in
Music and Psychology), a Bachelor of Education (Curriculum Design and Development), a
Bachelor of Music Education (with a music pedagogy focus), a Graduate Diploma in
Educational Administration (with a focus on Organisational Behaviour), a Master of
Education (Music) - with a focus on Assessment and Evaluation - and a Doctorate in Virtual
Pedagogy – specifically related to creating a Virtual Conservatorium. Throughout his
teaching career he has maintained a keen interest in how and why people learn.
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Dr Whateley began his teaching career (1974 –1988) in the areas of music and arts
education at both primary and secondary level. He has taught at every level of formal
education (K – PhD) and has either, taught and/or researched, in four States and five
Countries. During this time, he also taught at Tertiary Level in the areas of music education.
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He commenced his fulltime work in the tertiary sector at the University of Tasmania in Hobart
(1989-90) as a Lecturer in Music Education. He moved to Griffith University on the Gold
Coast (1991-1999) as a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Music Education. He served as Head of
School - Arts and during that time managed the Film and Television Music post- graduate
awards at the University and the Queensland Conservatorium of Music where he also
served as Deputy Dean (External Relations). He became Associate Professor and Director
of the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (2000-2003) where he co-founded (with
Professor Ian Bofinger) Australia’s first ‘Virtual Conservatorium’. He also held the position of
Head of School - Arts and Manager, Business Initiatives in the Faculty of Education and
Creative Arts.
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He took the position of General Manager and Professorial Head of School at the Australian
Institute of Music (2004 – mid 2005). He also held the position of Senior Visiting Fellow at
the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales (2006 - 2008) and Director of
Education and Quality at the National Centre for Language Training (an International Centre
of Excellence at the University of New South Wales) from mid-2005 to end 2008. Greg held
the position of Senior Visiting Fellow at Wesley Institute (2005- 2011) where he chaired the
Academic Board and managed the Master of Music program (Arts Management strand). In
2008 Greg was appointed Principal of the Australian International Conservatorium of Music.
He was also Consulting Chair of Arts Management at the Sydney Opera House in
association with the Australian Institute of Music. In 2011, Greg accepted the post of Deputy
Dean at UWS College, University of Western Sydney and later became Professor and Dean
of The College (Western Sydney University). For seven+ years Greg was the Chair of the
Academic Board at the Australian Institute of Music (AIM). Greg’s teaching areas include
Teaching Pedagogy, Human Behaviour, Organisational Leadership, Organisational
Behaviour, Critical Management, Qualitative Research Methodology and Music History &
Form.
Greg recently retired as Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer at Group
Colleges Australia (2016 - mid 2024). He continues researching and writing in the areas of
Quality Management and eQuality. Greg retired from teaching Management and Leadership
in October 2020. He is author of more than 900+ publications and advises in the areas of
accreditation, quality assurance, government reporting, eLearning, mLearning and
bLearning. He is currently a Member of the Editorial Board for the International Journal of
Innovation, Creativity and Change; a Reviewer for the British Educational Research Journal;
Chair of the Board of Directors, Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts (Sydney);
Chair of the Academic and Examination Board of Hitmaker Global Academy (Singapore);
Chair of the Board of Directors of KIHE (Sydney); Chair of the Invigilator Plus Advisory
Board and Immediate Past President, Musicum20 (3013-2024). Greg is also a Fellow of the
Australian Institute of Management; a Fellow of the Australian College of Research; a Fellow
of the Centre for Scholarship and Research; and a Fellow of the Australian Society of
Authors. He is also a Member and Immediate Past President of the Musicum20 international
consortium and think tank.
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Emeritus Professor Greg Whateley is currently Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and
Executive Dean (ED) with the Australian Guild of Education in Melbourne
Associate Professor Tom O’Connor completed a Bachelor of Arts (with majors in English and Legal Studies and a Diploma of Education (with English, Drama and Business Studies). He then went on to complete a Graduate Diploma of Educational Administration, a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education, a Master of Education (Contemporary Language Education) and a Master of Arts (Online Education), a Master of Educational Policy (International) and a Doctorate in Postmodern Theory. He also has a Graduate Certificate in Migration Law and Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.
Dr. O’Connor commenced his teaching career in secondary schools focusing on English, Drama and Media Studies. He has taught at secondary schools in Australia,the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States. In Australia he worked a CRC St.Albans where he became English Co-ordinator. He held leadership positions at CRC Sydenham and As Deputy Principal-Curriculum he oversaw the successful amalgamation of three schools into the Caroline Chisholm Catholic College. He was part of the team that created the first VCE English curriculum (1988). He combined his secondary teaching with lecturing at Griffith University and Central Queensland University in Arts and Business education. Dr. O’Connor developed the Business Curriculum for the Saudi VET sector (2001) before he moved full time into higher education as Head of Business at Ras Al Khaimah Women’s’ College (2002-5), part of the Higher Colleges of Technology system of the United Arab Emirates.He was appointed Project Manager to develop the Victoria International School Sharjah, a joint project between the governments of Victoria and Sharjah (UAE)designed to bring Australian pedagogy to the Emirate.
He returned to Australia to take up the role of Curriculum Director and Acting Principal at Thomas Carr College. He commenced partnerships with Lianyungang Foreign Language School, and Wenzhou No.21 School to deliver the VCE in China(2012). He then moved to Firbank Grammar School as Head of Transnational Education, where he expanded the number of schools delivering VCE offshore toten, making Firbank the largest provider of VCE offshore. Dr O’Connor has recently completed a term as Executive Dean at Universal Business School Sydney where he instrumental in the expansion of the Melbourne and Adelaide campuses.
Dr. O’Connor has written and directed musical productions throughout his career.“Here’s to Macbeth” was staged in Melbourne and performed at the University ofCalifornia, Davis. “Test – a Cricket Musical” was sponsored by the Sunshine CityCouncil and performed on the Kinder Smith Reserve, Braybrook. He produced the first ever version of “Pirates of Penzance” in the Middle East at the Ras Al Khaimah Sailing Club, sponsored by the Ras Al Khaimah Police Department. “HeartQuest – a celtic opera” was performed at the “Feile an Phobail” in Belfast, Northern Ireland aspart of the peace process and was sponsored by the European Union and the State Department of the United States Government. “Heartquest” was performed at the Athenaeum theatre in July 2002.
Dr O’Connor is currently a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society and the Institute of Management and a consulting Principal at Shanghai Normal University Tianhua High School.
Associate Professor Tom O’Connor (Academic Director)