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  • Academies Australasia Polytechnic (AAPOLY)

ACADEMIC BOARD

The Academic Board (AB) oversees the development and quality assurance of higher education courses at Academies Australasia Polytechnic (AAPoly). Experienced academics and professionals who possess academic, discipline-based expertise, academic management and professional experience sit on our Academic Board. They provide independent oversight to promote the academic quality of our programs, facilitate governance of academic processes and advise the Board of Directors (BOD) on the future strategic development of the educational activities of AAPoly.

PURPOSE OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD

The following are main functions of the AB:

  1. to oversee academic integrity and the pursuit of free intellectual enquiry;
  2. to oversee the development and review of existing and new Higher Education courses and programs;
  3. to be responsible for the maintenance of the quality of teaching and learning;
  4. to recommend to the BOD the granting of awards to qualified Higher Education students;
  5. to be responsible for the development, application and review of academic policies;
  6. to be responsible for the formulation, implementation and review of academic and educational plans;
  7. to minimise, mitigate and manage academic risk; and
  8. to ensure academic activities are consistent with best practice, are benchmarked (externally and internally) and are compliant with regulatory standards including the Higher Education Standard

AAPoly Academic Board Charter

COMPOSITION OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD

Professor Gary O’Donovan (Chair)
PhD, Victoria University; GradDip (Commercial Data Processing), Footscray Institute of Technology; GradDipEd, Western Australian Institute of Technology; BBus (Acc), Footscray Institute of Technology

Academic Lead – Accreditation at the University of Tasmania (UTAS). During his time at UTAS he has held a number of senior positions including DVC (International), PVC (Students and Engagement), PVC (Global Engagement), Executive Dean (Tasmanian School of Business and Economics), and Professor of Accounting and Corporate Governance. Professor O’Donovan has been a member of the AAPoly Academic Board since 2017.

EmPr Kim Watty (External)    
Doctor of Philosophy, Royal Melb Inst. of Technology, Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching and Learning, RMIT, Master of Accounting, RMIT, Bachelor of Business, Philip Institute of Technology, now RMIT

Kim Watty is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Accounting, in the Faculty of Business and Law. She held senior leadership roles including Deputy Dean, A/Dean T&L, A/Dean Quality, Standards and Accreditation and Deputy Head, Accounting Economics and Finance. Kim has published widely in her area of specialisation, accounting education, both nationally and internationally and has been successful in securing in excess of $1 million in competitive research funding over the past decade. Kim was the academic lead in the Deakin Business School for initial AACSB (2016) and EQUIS (2019) accreditation.

Dr Mohan Dass – (Representative of Teaching Staff)
PhD, Deakin University; MBA, University of East Asia, Macau; BA(Hons), University of Science, Malaysia; GradCertEd (Tertiary), Federation University Australia, Digital Skills & Digital Marketing, Accenture, Online Teaching, University of New South Wales

Responsible for Academic Integrity & Quality. Former Academic Dean, AAPoly. Served in several key public and private sector managerial roles, namely the State Economic Development Authority, Malaysia and HR Manager of an US MultiNational Company. Later served in academia as Deputy Vice President, Deakin University Programs, Malaysia, and Program Director for the Masters of Management at Swinburne University, Melbourne. Experience and expertise in public and private sector management, the promotion of international academia, relationship & management, international partnership development, and academic program evaluation and consultation. Member of Malaysia Australia Business Council and editor board member of International Journal. Areas of research cover international business; change management; marketing; international HR; talent management; and, contemporary teaching and learning.

Associate Professor Sunny Vinnakota – (Academic Dean, Acting) (voting)
Doctor of Philosophy (Internet & Digital Marketing), Teacher’s University, India; MBA (Change Mgt & Strategic Mgt), MBus (Hosp), MBus (Marketing Mgt), Victoria University; Master of Arts (Psychology), Teacher’s University, India; Master of Arts (Tourism Management), Kakatiya University, India; Certified Practising Marketer (CPM), Certified Project Management Practitioner(PRINCE2®)

Extensive lecturing experience covering a range of subjects, including Marketing Management, Organisational Behaviour, Leadership, International Business, and Tourism and Hospitality Management at University Sunshine Coast, Charles Darwin University, Holmesglen Higher Education, RMIT and Federation University Australia, among others. Previously served as Change Management Consultant and Analyst for Public Transport Victoria, and Training Manager and Assistant Human Resource Development Manager for the Westin, Melbourne. Areas of research include digital & social media marketing, sustainable tourism, innovative entrepreneurship in the hospitality industry, and perspectives of technologies in changing the face of Higher Education.

John G. Adnams OAM – (non-voting cross member from the Board of Directors)
BCom, University of Melbourne; AAIB, Associate of the Australian Institute of Bankers

Four decades of experience in the banking industry. Served in senior positions with the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited. Company Director and consultant of Westpac Banking Corporation. President of Small Business Mentoring Service with extensive involvement in business mentoring and training. In 2013, received Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to business and commerce, and to the community.

Joanna Kelly – (non-voting)
MBA, Torrens University Australia; Masters (Marketing and Management), University of Economics, Poland; Diploma of Community Welfare, MIT International College

As the Chief Executive Officer of Academies Australasia Polytechnic, Joanna Kelly is responsible for managing the overall operations and resources of the company and its academic and corporate activities. With almost 2 decades’ experience in international education management, working both domestically and overseas, she also holds the position of Chief Executive Officer at Discover English, Skills Training Australia and Language Links International, which are part of Academies Australasia Group. She has served as a member of the senior management team of Academies Australasia as Group General Manager, English. Utilising her diverse skillset in marketing, management, operations and student services and a focus on best practice teaching and learning, she strives to deliver excellent student experiences while achieving business goals. Joanna is a Board Member of English Australia and Language Links International, sought after for her focus on business strategy and quality education.

Dr Walied Askarzai – (non-voting)
PhD, University of Western Sydney; MBA, Southern Cross University; BEc University of Western Sydney; GradCert (Research Studies), University of Western Sydney

Responsible for preparing, delivering and assessing units of competency, contributing to innovation, reviewing courses, and facilitating online learning activities. Extensive experience lecturing a range of subjects, including Business and Economics, Management Dynamics and Marketing Principles, Entrepreneurship and Human Resource Management with University of Western Sydney College, Holmes College and Melbourne Institute of Technology, among others.

Moinul Mustafa – (Group Compliance Manager)
Masters (Industrial Relations and HRM), University of Sydney; Master of Information Systems, (University of Wollongong); Bachelor of Business Administration (American International University – Bangladesh); Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (Torrens University Australia)

As the Group Compliance Manager, Moinul Mustafa is responsible for compliance and quality assurance of several RTOs and a Higher Education provider within Academies Australasia Group. He has more than a decade of teaching and learning design experience at various Vocational and Higher Education providers in Australia and overseas. He also held Training and VET Coordinating positions for 8 years before moving into the group compliance role. His experience as a VET coordinator involves participating in past ASQA audits and working with learning design projects for several VET qualifications. His experience in compliance and quality assurance includes senior responsibilities in AAPoly’s recent applications to TEQSA for new degrees, VET scope applications to ASQA for several RTOs, and state funding applications.

Alumni Representative

Nominated annually from Academies Australasia Polytechnic graduates.

The Academic Board established the following committee to oversee the implementation of Academic Governance Policies, Processes and Strategies.

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