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Governance

To provide a framework whereby the Institute is equipped with independent academic advice, HELI’s Board of Directors delegates the academic governance of the Institute to the Academic Board. The Academic Board comprises academic staff from other higher education providers, tertiary education practitioners, members of the Institute’s academic staff and a representative of the Institute’s alumni.

The Academic Board operates independently of the ownership and management of the Institute to assure the academic integrity of the Institute’s courses.

The Academic Board has responsibility for academic policymaking, academic administration and oversight of the educational processes. This ensures that the Academic Board maintains appropriate control over the administration of the curriculum to allow educational objectives to be achieved. The Academic Board is chaired by one of its independent members.

Governance Charter Document

Constitution

Governance Chart

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Standards & Accreditation

ACCREDITATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

The Higher Education Leadership Institute (HELI) is an institute of higher education and provider of higher education courses to students, delivering accredited higher education courses. The courses are accredited with TEQSA. HELI has developed its courses to help professionals develop the requisite eLearning knowledge, skills and understanding to work effectively in educational and related professional settings.

All courses delivered by HELI,that lead to higher education award that are issued by HELI are recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). AQF qualifications are recognised all around Australia and by other countries. Further information about AQF qualifications is available at www.aqf.edu.au.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

HELI is an Institute of Higher Education and provides of higher education courses with the Australian Government’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), Australia’s independent national regulator of the higher education sector. National CRICOS Provider code: 03845H. HELI’s HE provider registration code is PRV14266.

COURSE ASSURANCE

HELI is a member of an approved Tuition Assurance Scheme for Australian domestic students and conforms to the requirements of the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) established by the Australian Government for overseas students. This assures current and intending students of HELI courses that lead to a HELI issued AQF award that they will be offered a suitable alternative course or have unspent pre-paid tuition fees refunded if HELI cannot provide the course for which the student has paid.Further information about HELI’s tuition assurance arrangements is available here.

COMPLIANCE WITH COMMONWEALTH, STATE OR TERRITORY LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

HELI ensures that its policies and procedures meet the requirements of Commonwealth or State and Territory legislation which are relevant to the Institute’s operations, including:

  • Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA)
  • Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000
  • Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) Act 2011
  • Higher Education Standards Framework established under the TEQSA Act 2011
  • The National Code 2018
  • Various Commonwealth and State legislation, including that concerning Privacy and Personal Information, Health and Safety, Access and Equity, Workplace Harassment, Victimisation and Bullying, Anti-discrimination, Equal Opportunity and Human Rights

The staff of the Institute are provided with information about legislation that affects their duties through briefing sessions, guidelines, and policies, and through HELI’ Staff SharePoint. Students are provided with information about legislation that affects their participation in their studies through student resources, course details, policies, on administrative forms, and through the Institute’s website at www.heli.edu.au

FINANCIAL STANDING

Auditor’s Report

Director’s Declaration

INSTRUMENT ESTABLISHING HELI

The document by which HELI is established

QUALITY ASSURANCE

HELI has established a Quality Framework which sets out the common principles, criteria and processes for quality assurance at HELI. The Institute designed its quality framework to provide a robust and coordinated approach to quality enhancement which embraces “all of institution” in order to foster a continuous quality improvement approach. The Institute’s Quality Framework is guided by its Governance Charter, strategic and business planning, including risk management, development of policies and procedures, course design and evaluation, collection and analysis of feedback from stakeholders, analysis of statistical data (metrics), moderation of assessment and benchmarking activities. For more information regarding HELI’s Quality Framework, please click here.

Board Of Directors

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Emeritus Professor Annabelle Duncan

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Mr. John Cameron

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Emeritus Professor
Anne Cummins

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Professor Josh Pienaar

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Dr Scott Dickson

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Ms Kirsti Nunn

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Audit & Risk Committee

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Mr. John Cameron

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Emeritus Professor
Anne Cummins

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Mr Michael King

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Professor Emeritus L.Z. (Zbys) Klich

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Professor Clive Smallman

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Emeritus Professor
Toni Downes

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Academic Board

Professor Josh Pienaar

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Professor Dawn Bennett

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Adjunct Professor
Sally Robertson

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Emeritus Professor
Jo-Anne Reid

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Dr Scott Dickson

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Associate Professor Michelle Cavaleri

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Mr Matthew Farago

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Professor Gary Day

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Associate Professor Ahmad Saedisomeolia

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Dr John Read

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Dr Scott Dickson

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Assoc Prof Beulah Moses

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Academic Board Sub Committees

annabelle duncan

Emeritus Professor Annabelle Duncan

Independent Chair

BSc Otago U, NZ; MSc Otago U, NZ; PhD La Trobe; PSM, FTSE, FRSN

Emeritus Professor Annabelle Duncan is a Microbial Ecologist by training, who was educated at Otago University in New Zealand, La Trobe University, and Monash University. She has completed a Senior Executive Management course at Harvard University as well as the Director’s course and the Advanced Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She worked sixteen years at CSIRO, initially as a research scientist and later in science management. As the Chief of CSIRO Molecular Science for six years, she supervised the spin-off of six start-up companies.

From 2005–2007 she was Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Bio21 Institute at the University of Melbourne. From 2007–2010 she was the Executive Director, Science Collaboration at the Biosciences Research Centre, a joint venture between La Trobe University and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

Emeritus Professor Duncan has acted as an adviser to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on biological weapons control and in this capacity represented Australia at international arms control meetings. She was awarded a Public Service Medal in 1996 and an Honorary DSc from Murdoch University in 2005 for her work in arms control. She has also served as a biological weapons inspector with the United Nations in Iraq.

In 2019 she was awarded an Honorary DSc from La Trobe University for achievements in academia and contributions to science.

Emeritus Professor Duncan joined the University of New England in late 2010, initially as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). She later became the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and in late 2014 was appointed the Vice-Chancellor, serving in this role until mid-2019.

She currently serves as a non-executive director on boards and chairs the NSW Physical Sciences Fund.

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Mr. John Cameron

Director/Chair, Audit and Risk Committee

M Com (Hons) UNSW

Mr. John Cameron was the Chief Operating Officer at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and was responsible for the coordination of strategy and service delivery across a range of specialist administrative functions, covering Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal Services, Planning, Properties and Secretariat. He was also the Secretary to the University Senate and the Company Secretary for ACU. He is a Master of Commerce (Honours) from the University of New South Wales.

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Emeritus Professor Anne Cummins

Independent Member

BEd (Canberra CAE); MA (MQ); GradDipEd (Catholic College of Education Sydney), MEDL (ACU); GAICD

Emeritus Professor Cummins has extensive experience in educational leadership and governance and has served on several incorporated and advisory Boards including the ACT Board of Studies, The Australian Catholic University Senate Limited, Marymead Child and Family Services Limited, Marist Youth Care Limited, St Edmunds’ College Canberra Limited, the Council of St Ignatius College Riverview Limited and Sydney College of Divinity Limited.

From 2009 to 2018 she served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning and Teaching) at the Australian Catholic University and before that as Dean of Students at the Australian Catholic University in 2008 and 2009.

Emeritus Professor Cummins worked for many years in the Catholic secondary education system as a teacher and secondary college principal in New South Wales and the ACT. She is currently a Director of Catholic Schools NSW Limited, the Chair and Director of Catholic Employment Relations Limited, The Chair of the Stewardship Commission of the Sisters of St Joseph.

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Professor Josh Pienaar

Independent Member

Chair Of The Academic Board
BSc (CM), MBA, GCTAE, PhD, FAIB, FRSN, GAICD, PFHEA

Professor Pienaar is an experienced academic leader with extensive expertise in academic governance, quality assurance, and higher education strategy. He has held senior executive roles across multiple Australian universities, driving transformative initiatives in curriculum innovation, digital learning, and institutional governance.

Professor Pienaar has served as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students) & Registrar at the University of Southern Queensland and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at CQUniversity, where he led sector-leading strategies to enhance student success, regulatory compliance, and academic integrity. He is the Founder and Co-Director of Higher Education Quality Standards and Assurance (HEQSA), a consultancy specialising in corporate and academic governance, organisational development, leadership, and business strategy. He is also Deputy Dean at the University of Technology Sydney’s Faculty of Design, Architecture, and Building, leading governance reform and strategic academic initiatives.

As a recognised governance expert, Professor Pienaar has chaired multiple academic boards and governance committees, overseeing policy development, regulatory compliance, accreditation processes, and strategic institutional reforms. He is a trusted advisor on academic and corporate governance for universities, regulatory agencies, and professional associations in Australia and internationally.

He is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building and the Royal Society of New South Wales, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. As a TEQSA Expert, he has provided extensive consultancy in governance, curriculum development, and higher education policy.

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Dr Scott Dickson

CEO | ECA Higher Education

PhD Education (UNE), MEd (UOW), BEd (UOW) 

Dr Dickson commenced his professional career as a physical education teacher, then further education led him to an academic role at the University of New England in Armidale (1991-2004) where he completed his PhD in the development and assessment of occupational competencies and used elite soccer referees as a case study. Dr Dickson assumed the role of Dean at the Australian College of Physical Education in 2004 where he facilitated an expansion of their program offerings, diversifying delivery methods and improved the quality of the institution through numerous academic initiatives. In 2012 Dr Dickson was appointed as Dean at The Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP) and was responsible for leading multiple business units that comprised of Navitas Professional Institutes such as ACAP, the Navitas College of Public Safety and Health Skills Australia. During his tenure at Navitas, Dr Dickson led a series of successful course accreditation and registration processes culminating in NPI being awarded self-accrediting authority in March 2017. During his academic career, he has led research projects for many national sporting organisations and departments of education; served on numerous national and state-based committees, and most recently served on a Federal Government’s QILT committee charged with overseeing the introduction of quality indicators in high education. Beyond his work, Scott is an avid sportsman. Whilst having been active in soccer and cricket for many years, he now is a keen cyclist. He regularly commutes to work by bike and regularly participates in annual Gran Fondos such as L’Étape du Tour in the Snowy Mountains and the Bupa Challenge in Adelaide.
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Dr Scott Dickson

Executive Director

PhD Education (UNE), MEd (UOW), BEd (UOW) 

Dr Dickson commenced his professional career as a physical education teacher, then further education led him to an academic role at the University of New England in Armidale (1991-2004) where he completed his PhD in the development and assessment of occupational competencies and used elite soccer referees as a case study. Dr Dickson assumed the role of Dean at the Australian College of Physical Education in 2004 where he facilitated an expansion of their program offerings, diversifying delivery methods and improved the quality of the institution through numerous academic initiatives. In 2012 Dr Dickson was appointed as Dean at The Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP) and was responsible for leading multiple business units that comprised of Navitas Professional Institutes such as ACAP, the Navitas College of Public Safety and Health Skills Australia. During his tenure at Navitas, Dr Dickson led a series of successful course accreditation and registration processes culminating in NPI being awarded self-accrediting authority in March 2017. During his academic career, he has led research projects for many national sporting organisations and departments of education; served on numerous national and state-based committees, and most recently served on a Federal Government’s QILT committee charged with overseeing the introduction of quality indicators in high education. Beyond his work, Scott is an avid sportsman. Whilst having been active in soccer and cricket for many years, he now is a keen cyclist. He regularly commutes to work by bike and regularly participates in annual Gran Fondos such as L’Étape du Tour in the Snowy Mountains and the Bupa Challenge in Adelaide.
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Ms Kirsti Nunn

Director/Group CFO

Kirsti Nunn has a diverse and extensive work experience spanning over several industries and roles. Kirsti serves as the Chief Financial Officer at the Education Centre of Australia since August 2022. From October 2019 to August 2022, Kirsti worked as the CFO/COO at The Peninsula Montessori Association Ltd (PMAL), where she successfully developed and implemented a strategic plan to navigate the challenges of COVID-19, resulting in increased profit and student enrolments.

Kirsti’s previous roles include serving as the Financial Controller, Retirement Villages at Aveo Group from November 2015 to June 2019, where she provided financial strategic direction to 95 retirement communities and managed a large team across multiple states. Prior to that, she worked as a Senior Finance Manager – Decision Support & Financial Planning at UNSW Australia from June 2013 to November 2015, leading strategic projects and managing multidisciplinary teams. Kirsti’s earlier experiences include roles in large public companies such as Stockland and Westfield where she worked as senior finance manager across finance projects and large full function finance departments.

Throughout her career, Kirsti has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, strategic planning, change management, and financial management skills.

Kirsti has an extensive education history, demonstrating a dedication to furthering her knowledge and expertise in various fields. Kirsti is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Laws at University of New England and will complete the degree in 2026. Prior to this, Kirsti obtained a Master’s degree in Fraud and Financial Crime from Charles Sturt University specializing in Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation, a Master’s degree in Accounting from Macquarie University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Macquarie University, with a specialization in Business/Managerial Economics. She became a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) through CPA Australia in 2001 and is now a Fellow of CPA Australia.