Australian Higher Education Heads of Campus
Annual Conference 2015 1-3 July CQU Bundaberg
Draft Program as at 31 Mar 15
Wednesday 1 July
08:30-08:50
Registration
08.50-09:00
Welcome and housekeeping
09.10-10:00
Professor Scott Bowman: Vice Chancellor Central
Queensland University
‘Keynote Address’
10.00-10:30
Morning Tea
10.30-11:20
Dr Caroline Perkins: Executive Director Regional
Universities Network
‘The Regional Universities Network perspective of the higher
education reforms and their impact upon regional universities
and their satellite campuses’
11:30-12:20
Jonathan Chew: ACIL Allen Consulting
‘Quantifying the role of regional campuses in a competitive
and deregulated market’
12:30-13:30
Lunch
13:30-14:20
Associate Professor Robbie Collins: Head of Campus,
Shoalhaven Campus, University of Wollongong
‘Community engagement, the regional development process,
and the Head of Campus Dilemma’
Dr Doug Fraser: University Project Manager Moreton Bay
Regional Council
‘The head of campus dilemma – balancing the expectations of
the university, community and profession’
Afternoon Tea
14:30-15:20
15:20-15:40
15:40-16:10
Assoc Prof Philip Hider: Head of the Virtual Campus
Charles Sturt University
‘Moving toward a Virtual Campus’
16:10-16:30
Open Forum on ‘The issues of accommodating and supporting
distance students at satellite campuses’
17:00
Sunset networking drinks and canapés on the beach
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Thursday 2rd July
09:10-10:00
Trent Pohlmann: Head of Campus - Sydney
S P Jain School of Global Management|
‘The Head of Campus role in a private higher education
provider – less students but more hats to wear’
10:00-10:30
Morning Tea
10:30-11:20
Dr Wayne Graham: Lecturer Faculty of Business University
of the Sunshine Coast
‘Enabling the embracement of new university campuses in
communities: A regional Australia case study’
Dr Harry Ballis: Head of Campus Federation University
Gippsland Campus
‘The challenges and successes of transferring a regional
campus from one University to another’
Lunch
11:30-12:20
12:30-13:30
13:30-14:20
Ms Lisa Wirihana: Lecturer – School of Nursing QUT
Caboolture Campus
‘The lived experience of satellite campus nurse academics: a
phenomenological study.’
14:30-15:20
15:20-15:40
Jodie Duignan: Associate Vice Chancellor, CQU Cairns
Round table discussion: ‘The operation of CBD campuses and
hubs.’
Afternoon Tea
15:40-16:40
Conference discussion:

Report on the US National Association of Branch
Campus Administrators annual conference
16:40-17:00
Election of 2014/15 Steering Committee
19:00-22:00
Conference Dinner – Catalonia Mediterranean Restaurant 58
Miller Street, Bargara
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Friday 3 July
9:00 – 11:00
Professor Andrew Bridges: Associate Vice Chancellor
(Wide Bay & Burnett) CQU -Dean of Human, Health &
Social Sciences
Visit to Primary Industries Research Station. – (transport
provided)
The Bundaberg region is the highest value vegetable growing
region in Australia. It produces over 90% of Australia’s sweet
potatoes and is home to the country’s largest chilli farm. The
region is also one of the biggest producers of a number of
other crops including macadamia nuts, tomatoes and
capsicum. The Bundaberg campus of CQU supports this
industry through a strong research group which includes
innovative collaborations between horticulture and other
disciplines such as Psychology. The group have been
successful in securing Category 1 grant income to fund their
research and is headed up by Professor Phil Brown. Phil’s
appointment is jointly funded by the University and the
Queensland Department Of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry and he therefore splits his time between the
University campus and the Primary Industries Research
Station in East Bundaberg. On Friday morning we will visit
the research station and some local producers to gain an
insight into this industry and the precision research which is
now so important to its viability and sustainability.
An industry of historical importance to the region is aviation.
Pioneer aviator Bert Hinkler grew up in Bundaberg and tested
gliders on the beach at Mon Repos. We will finish the
morning tour at Bundaberg Botanical Gardens which houses
the Hinkler Hall of Aviation. Delegates can purchase a late
morning tea / early lunch from café 1928 and will have the
opportunity to visit the Hall of Aviation which includes
Hinkler’s house that he lived in when based in the UK. It was
transported brick by brick and re-assembled in Bundaberg
when it was threatened with demolition.
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‘Keynote address’
Biography for Professor Scott Bowman
Professor Bowman began his professional life as a radiographer, undertaking radiography
training at the Northampton School of Radiography in the UK. He worked as a senior
radiographer in a number of hospitals in London before becoming a student teacher at Guys
Hospital Radiography Education Centre. He became a principal lecturer at South Bank
University when the centre at Guys amalgamated with that university. Professor Bowman then
became the Head of the Department of Radiography and Imaging Sciences at the University
College of St Martin. He was also appointed the foundation Dean of the Faculty of Health
Science and Community at St Martins before moving to Australia to take up the position of
Head of the School of Medical Radiations at Charles Sturt University. At Charles Sturt
University he later became the foundation Head of the School of Clinical Sciences. Professor
Bowman then moved to the University of South Australia where he was appointed Dean of the
Whyalla Campus and the foundation Director of Regional Engagement. He then moved on to
James Cook University to become Pro Vice Chancellor (Cairns and Academic Planning &
Development) with further appointments as Pro Vice Chancellor Corporate and Commercial
and Deputy Vice Chancellor University Services and Registrar. In August 2009 he was
appointed the Vice Chancellor and President of CQUniversity Australia.
‘The Regional Universities Network perspective of the higher education reforms and
their impact upon regional universities and their satellite campuses’
The Regional Universities Network (RUN) supports the Government’s higher education
reforms as the sector is under financial pressure. The participation of regional Australians in
higher education must continue to grow for regional development and the good of the nation.
Sustainable funding is required to retain and grow the demand driven student system,
including to sub-bachelor degrees to provide more pathways for less well-prepared students.
Government cannot be relied upon to provide increased funding per student place into the
future. Satellite campuses may be under more pressure in an environment where sustainable
funding of the sector is not assured. RUN supports reforms based on the principles of access,
participation and fairness; efficiency and effectiveness of operations, that respects the
autonomy of institutions and the need for accountability and value for money of the public
investment in higher education; and a powerful and innovative culture across each
university’s research, teaching and community engagement activities. Continuing funding
uncertainty will be detrimental for the sector and students.
Biography for Dr Caroline Perkins
Caroline is a geologist by training and has a B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Melbourne
and a Ph.D in geology from the University of New England. She has worked as an exploration
geologist in Australia and Fiji, and undertook post-doctoral research at the Australian
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National University determining the age of gold, silver and copper, lead, zinc deposits in
eastern and northern Australia.
She has 15 years’ experience as a senior public servant working for the Commonwealth in
higher education, research, science and radioactive waste management policy and programs.
In February 2012 she was appointed as the inaugural Executive Director of the Regional
Universities Network, a group of universities with their headquarters outside capital cities.
‘The head of campus dilemma – balancing the expectations of the university,
community and profession’
There are many explicit and implicit expectations placed upon a satellite campus. These can
be grouped under those stemming from the university, the community, and the profession.
Explicitly the university will require brand consistency, revenue generation, and a
contribution to corporate objectives. Implicitly though, it may require deference to existing
power structures, restrained initiative and limited decision making authority to remind the
campus who is ‘boss’. The expectations from the community are more pronounced with
local comprehensive campuses and relate to quality teaching for their students, employment
outcomes, contributions to the social and economic wellbeing of the region, and genuine
localised community engagement. In the case of specialist campuses, they will usually focus
on their responsibilities to the profession and accreditation requirements. It is the role of the
head of campus to balance and manage these expectations, but their ability to achieve this is a
function of their authority as determined by the campus management model under which they
operate. The head of campus dilemma relates to where these expectations are misaligned, or
where a sudden change upsets the established balance, leaving the head of campus exposed,
and in some cases, in an irreconcilable situation.
‘Quantifying the role of regional campuses in a competitive and deregulated market’
The role of regional university campuses are an accepted truism in the Australian tertiary
education landscape. Regional university campuses both stimulate aspiration and create
opportunities, and in doing so make a direct contribution in terms of regional participation
rates, educational attainment, and the knowledge and skills based of the region as a whole.
Despite the recent stalling of mooted higher education reforms in Australia, the debate around
necessary policy and regulatory changes to improve sustainability, accessibility and the
prospects for growth and innovation will persist. This presentation will look at the role
regional university campuses and how this could change under various reform scenarios. For
Australia’s regions, there are three key areas of reform to consider: deregulated prices and the
impact this could have on not only the institutions but individual campuses; the impact of
non-university higher education providers receiving public subsidies and implications for
regional competition; and the likely benefits of the extension of demand-driven funding to
sub-bachelor courses.
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Biography for Jonathon Chew
Jon is a Principal at ACIL Allen Consulting’s Brisbane office. He undertakes public policy
development, modelling, analysis, and program reviews with a focus on the VET and higher
education sectors. In recent years, Jon has undertaken a number of projects analysing
participation in tertiary education at a regional and sub-regional level in North Queensland,
the Sunshine Coast, the Moreton Bay region, and eight regions in Western Australia. These
projects collate, analyse and benchmark regional performance for a range of education and
labour market indicators, drawing on a wide variety of national, state, and institutional data
sources.
In 2007-08, and again in 2010-11, Jon worked with Professor Ross Garnaut on the Garnaut
Climate Change Review. Jon is on the board of Conservation Volunteers Australia, one of
the largest environmental organisations in Australia, which works to attract and manage
volunteers to participate in projects that protect or enhance the environment.
Biography for Dr Doug Fraser
Doug Fraser is currently the Manager of the Moreton Bay Regional Council University
Precinct Project. Prior to this he was the Director of the USQ Springfield Campus from
December 2005 to December 2013. Before this he was employed as the USQ Springfield
Project Manager, responsible for all aspects of establishing the Campus. Included within this
role was the development and implementation of the high autonomy business unit model for
the campus. Doug extended this work through the completion of a Doctorate examining
management models for satellite university campuses throughout Australia.
‘Moving toward a Virtual Campus’
About two thirds of CSU’s students study outside of a physical campus. Philip’s talk will
highlight some of the issues of particular importance to online students at CSU, and some of
the major challenges in building a virtual campus that aims to be more than the sum of its
parts.
Biography for Assoc Prof Philip Hider
Philip is a full-time head of school as well as a part-time head of campus. Whereas he’s been
the latter for less than a year, he’s been the former for over six years, and is an Associate
Professor of Library and Information Management. He’s been at CSU since 2003 and is
based partly on its campus at Wagga Wagga, NSW, and partly in Melbourne, where he
resides.
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Round table discussion: ‘The operation of CBD campuses and hubs.’
University Campuses can range from large regional self-contained communities with
sprawling grounds, purpose built buildings, and recreation facilities; through to inner city
office block operations with little to no recreation related facilities. Over the years some
Universities have trialled operating both styles – in effect providing two distinct campus
operation sites (regional and CBD) in one geographical location.
This will be an interactive session that aims to draw upon the experience of participants with
regard to the challenges and opportunities associated with the different campus models in a
rapidly changing social, economic and political landscape.
‘The Head of Campus role in a private higher education provider – less students but more
hats to wear’
The S P Jain School of Global Management commenced operations as an Australian-registered
higher education provider in December 2012. It operates offshore campuses in Dubai, Mumbai
and Sydney. Interestingly, the institution was founded more than ten years ago with its first
campus in Dubai opening in 2004. It subsequently expanded to other regions. Trent’s
presentation will cover the journey of the School from its inauguration in 2004 to becoming
Australian-registered in 2012, along with the strategies behind S P Jain’s choice of campus
locations. In discussing the global structure and profile of S P Jain, Trent will highlight the
responsibilities of the Head of Campus role in this smaller and specialised - yet widely
dispersed - private business school.
Biography for Trent Pohlmann
Trent joined the S P Jain School of Global Management in July 2013 following four years at
the University of New England (UNE) as a Head of College. Prior to joining UNE, Trent was
at Central Queensland University (CQU) where he completed his first degree. During his time
at CQU he worked in senior roles responsible for student welfare and operations. He also held
part-time teaching and research responsibilities and served a twelve-month tenure on the
Council of CQU. As Head of Campus at S P Jain, Trent’s role encompasses overall
management of the School’s Australian operations and ex-officio membership on the Academic
Board. Trent holds a first class honours degree in science from CQU and a Master of Business
Administration with distinctions from Curtin University.
‘The lived experience of satellite campus nurse academics: a phenomenological study’
Education has been deemed a priority for measurable community health and wellness. The
value of university education as a crucial pathway for employment, culture, values and personal
autonomy is also recognised. In the past, access to tertiary level education was often difficult
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for people who live in regional areas. To address that difficulty, the delivery of higher education
in satellite campuses has become an increasing occurrence in the international and Australian
landscape. Satellite campuses of universities in regional areas have enabled access, research,
economic development and local services to improve community outcomes. Consideration
should be given to the fact that the cohort of students at satellite campuses starts their university
journey with different attributes to their urban counterparts. They are predominantly mature
age, first in family to attend university and of low socio-economic status, with family and time
commitments. Academics who teach these students at satellite campuses provide a significant
contribution to successful student outcomes. However, the role of an academic at a satellite
campus is often misunderstood. It is multi-dimensional, frequently undervalued and poorly
resourced. This research provides a new and essential insight into the experiences of nursing
academics who teach at satellite campuses of Australian Universities.
Using a
phenomenological approach, 21 nursing academics from universities around Australia were
interviewed to provide a detailed, descriptive explanation of this phenomenon through the eyes
of those academics that live it.
Biography for Lisa Wirihana
Lisa is a Registered Nurse, Endorsed Midwife, PhD candidate and Lecturer. Her current
role is the Academic Coordinator for Nursing at the Caboolture campus of QUT, where she
has worked for the past eight years. Her previous experience spans 30 years of Nursing in a
variety of areas including Intensive Care, Maternity and Nurse Management. Lisa has a
keen interest in social justice and equity.
Biography for Jodie Duignan-George
Jodie has recently assumed the position of Associate Vice-Chancellor (Cairns and Far North
region) at CQUniversity where she is tasked with the establishment of a new CBD Campus.
With a background in Social Science and close to 20 years experience working in higher
education (from teaching through to commercial and corporate management) Jodie has broad
knowledge of issues facing the sector.
Jodie has a keen interest in community development with particular expertise in business
development. She is a member of a number of boards and committees and is an active
member of the communities she services.
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