Academic Board Membership
The Academic Board is the peak academic governance body at UNE. The board’s functions are defined under Section 21 of the UNE By-law as advising the Council and the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer on all developments and initiatives relating to and affecting the University’s teaching and research activities and its educational programs. Further functions are as delegated by the Council.
The Academic Board is the body that oversees academic governance at the University. The Academic Board is the link between the University’s internal quality assurance arrangements and the accountability of the Council for the quality of the higher education the University offers and for meeting the requirements of the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Academic Board:
- exercises academic governance of UNE on behalf of Council through institutional oversight;
- provides leadership in academic governance and quality at an institutional level;
- provides academic oversight of the quality of teaching, learning, research and research training;
- sets and monitors institutional benchmarks for academic quality and outcomes;
- provides advice to Council and management on academic matters, including advice on academic outcomes, policies and practices.
- reviews and endorses academic policies and monitor their effectiveness;
- monitors and reports on academic risk;
- ensures students have opportunities to participate in academic governance.
- exercises its academic governance functions in all areas of benchmarking and quality assurance, including in relation to:
- student participation and attainment, encompassing admission, credit and recognition of prior learning, orientation and progression, learning outcomes and assessment, qualifications and certification;
- learning environment, encompassing facilities and infrastructure, diversity and equity, wellbeing and safety, student grievances and complaints;
- teaching, encompassing course, design, staffing, learning resources and educational support;
- research and research training;
- institutional quality assurance, encompassing course approval and accreditation, academic and research integrity, course monitoring, review and delivery with other parties; and
- representation, information and information management encompassing representation of course offerings, information for prospective and current students and information management.
Academic oversight assures the quality of teaching, learning, research and research training effectively, including by:
- developing, monitoring and reviewing academic policies and their effectiveness;
- confirming that delegations of academic authority are implemented;
- critically scrutinising, approving and accrediting or advising on approving and accrediting, courses of study and their associated qualifications;
- maintaining oversight of academic and research integrity, including monitoring of potential risks;
- monitoring and initiating action to improve performance against institutional benchmarks for academic quality and outcomes;
- critically evaluating the quality and effectiveness of educational innovations or proposals for innovations;
- evaluating the effectiveness of institutional monitoring, review and improvement of academic activities; and
- monitoring and reporting to the corporate governing body on the quality of teaching, learning, research and research training.
In exercising its functions, Academic Board will consider the University’s objects, Strategic Plans and Values as well as academic and emerging risks.
The Terms of Reference of Academic Board provide further information regarding the membership, functions and conduct of the board.
Membership
Member | Name | Process | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Professor Adrian Walsh | Elected by Academic Board membership | until October 2026 |
| Deputy Chair | Professor Ljiljana Brankovic | Elected by Academic Board membership | until first meeting 2027 |
| Deputy Chair | Associate Professor Shahid Islam | Elected by Academic Board membership | until first meeting 2028 |
| Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer | Professor Chris Moran | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor | Professor Simon Evans | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) | Professor Chris Armstrong | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) | Professor Peter Anderson | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Executive Principal, Education Futures | Sue Crew | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Executive Principal, Student Journey | Tanya Pelle (acting) | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Executive Director, Future Students, Engagement and Technology | Dr Neil Durrant | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Executive Dean Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education (HASSE) | Professor Nathan Wise | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Executive Dean Faculty Medicine and Health (M&H) | Distinguished Professor Kim Usher | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Executive Dean Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law (SABL) | Professor Sujana Adapa | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Director, Oorala Aboriginal Centre | Samantha Fowler | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Chair of Teaching and Learning Committee | Professor William Billingsley - Associate Professor Tristan Taylor (on leave Feb-Dec 2026) | ex officio | until December 2026 - for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Chair of Curriculum Committee | Professor Rachael Adlington | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Chair of Research Committee | Professor Brian Wilson | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Chair of UNE Student Council (or nominee) | Madeleine Hobbs (Nominee) | ex officio | for the period they hold the ex officio role |
| Level E representative (HASSE) | Professor Adrian Walsh | Elected by eligible Level E Academic staff | until mid-year 2026 |
| Level E representative (M&H) | Professor Rikki Jones | Elected by eligible Level E Academic staff | until June 2028 |
| Level E representative (SABL) | Professor Ljiljana Brankovic | Elected by eligible Level E Academic staff | until mid-year 2026 |
| HASSE D/E representative | Professor Finex Ndhlovu | Elected by eligible HASSE Faculty Academic staff | until mid-year 2026 |
| HASSE D/E representative | Professor Pep Baker | Elected by eligible HASSE Faculty Academic staff | until June 2026 |
| M&H D/E representative | Associate Professor Ida Twist | Elected by eligible M&H Faculty Academic staff | until mid-year 2027 |
| M&H D/E representative | Associate Professor Adam Rock | Elected by eligible M&H Faculty Academic staff | until mid-year 2027 |
| SABL D/E representative | Professor Mark Perry | Elected by eligible SABL Faculty Academic staff | until mid-year 2027 |
| SABL D/E representative | Associate Professor Eric Ghosh | Elected by eligible SABL Faculty Academic staff | until mid-year 2027 |
| HASSE B/C representative | Dr Catherine Volpe Johnston | Elected by eligible HASSE Faculty Academic staff | until June 2028 |
| HASSE B/C representative | Dr Christina Kenny - Associate Professor Tristan Taylor (on leave Feb-Dec 2026) | Elected by eligible HASSE Faculty Academic staff | until mid-year 2026 - until mid-year 2026 |
| M&H B/C representative | Associate Professor Shahid Islam | Elected by eligible M&H Faculty Academic staff | until mid-year 2027 |
| M&H B/C representative | Dr Elaine Gilbody Towner | Elected by eligible M&H Faculty Academic staff | until mid-year 2027 |
| SABL B/C representative | Associate Professor Tanveer Hussain | Elected by eligible SABL Faculty Academic staff | until June 2028 |
| SABL B/C representative | Associate Professor Jonathan McLachlan | Elected by eligible SABL Faculty Academic staff | until mid-year 2028 |
| Professional staff HEO6-HEO10 | Ben Gooley | Elected by eligible Professional Staff | until mid-year 2026 |
| Professional staff HEO6-HEO10 | Fiona Pearson | Elected by eligible Professional Staff | until mid-year 2027 |
| Undergraduate student | Ellen Mackenzie | Elected by students | until 30 June 2027 |
| Undergraduate student | Elizabeth West | Elected by students | until 30 June 2027 |
| Postgraduate coursework student | Cody Mitchell | Elected by students | until 30 June 2027 |
| Postgraduate HDR student | Steph Rey | Elected by students | until 30 June 2027 |
Academic Board meetings are held in person on the UNE Armidale campus and via videoconference (Zoom) from 1:00pm - 3:30pm Tuesdays (unless otherwise advised).
Observers (right of attendance and debate)
Director Governance and University Secretary
Observers are welcome to attend Academic Board meetings but are asked to seek an invitation from the Chair by emailing academicboard@une.edu.au at least one week prior to the meeting.
