Both are Council-appointed members and will officially commence their terms on 1 October 2026.
Ms Carol Vale
Ms Carol Vale, a Dunghutti woman and UNE alumna, joins the Council as the inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designated member for an initial one-year term.
Ms Vale has approximately 30 years of experience in Aboriginal affairs, public policy and community development, including senior roles across the NSW and Queensland governments. In 2013 she founded Murawin Pty Ltd, a national Indigenous consultancy focused on social impact, research, place strategy and reconciliation action planning. She was named Indigenous Businesswoman of the Year in 2024.
Her connection to UNE runs deep. Ms Vale is a descendant of Frank Archibald, the highly regarded Armidale community member after whom UNE's Frank Archibald Memorial Lecture series is named. She also delivered the 2023 lecture. On Council, she will work with local Elders and the broader Aboriginal community to implement UNE's new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultation Framework, supporting stronger cultural leadership across the University.
Mr Nicholas Flood
Mr Nicholas Flood has been appointed to a three-year term, bringing senior technology, digital and industry experience to the Council.
Mr Flood is a distinguished UNE alumnus, having completed an undergraduate degree in education and commerce, a Master of Commerce, and a Master of Business Research (Honours) at UNE, where he was a resident of St Albert's College and Vice-President of the Golden Key International Honour Society. He later completed an MBA at the University of Sydney.
Mr Flood joined IBM as a graduate and has since risen through the ranks to become the youngest person to be appointed as Managing Director of IBM Australia and New Zealand in the subsidiary's 92-year history.
Beyond IBM, Mr Flood serves as a Director of the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network and is a member of the Board of Advice at the University of Sydney. His expertise in digital strategy and governance aligns with the needs identified in the Council's recent Skills and Expertise Matrix review.
Both Ms Vale and Mr Flood are proud alumni who have expressed a desire to give back to the University. UNE welcomes them to the Council and wishes them success in these roles.
