The Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board governs and is responsible for all academic matters at Kaplan Higher Education. The Academic Board’s key mandate is to ensure that Kaplan Higher Education’s courses, outcomes, student experiences and success are of the highest quality. The Academic Board and its Committees develop, implement, endorse and review academic policies, and monitor the delivery of Kaplan Higher Educations subjects and courses. The Kaplan Higher Education Academic Quality and Governance Framework outlines the terms of reference of the Academic Board and its subcommittees. Academic Board members Dr Michael Evans (Chair) Qualifications Doctor of Philosophy Master of Business Administration Bachelor of Economics Kaplan contribution Chair, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Chair, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Career overview Dr Michael Evans is an independent academic consultant. Prior to Mike’s retirement from Kaplan Higher Education in August 2018, he was responsible for the Academic oversight of all Kaplan Higher Education operations in Australia. This includes driving the academic strategic direction of all areas of Kaplan’s higher education business including Kaplan Business School, Murdoch Institute of Technology, Bradford College and Kaplan Professional’s online postgraduate finance courses. Prior to joining Kaplan Mike was a Professor of Management and Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Business and Law at Southern Cross University in Australia. Mike has a wide range of business experience, with skills in managing, consulting, teaching and research. His recent research has focused on regional development and the business implications of climate change. He also has interests in valuation, innovation, commercialisation, and value creation within organisations. He has undertaken a wide range of applied research and consulting assignments for clients including reviews of strategic planning and implementation, performance measurement and evaluation, valuation and financial analysis. Mike has also been actively involved in executive education activities, with a focus on accounting, finance and strategy. He has consulting, research and teaching experience across Australia, in Asia and in Europe. Mike has a wealth of experience in Asia, having been involved in business development for universities since 1987, focused on Singapore, Malaysia and China. He has managed academic and business activities across 10 countries. Mike’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics, Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Philosophy. Mike also holds a prestige Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA) designation. Dr Tania Aspland Qualifications Doctor of Philosophy Master of Education Bachelor of Education Bachelor of Arts Diploma of Teaching Kaplan contribution Member, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Member, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Dr Tania Aspland is the Vice President, Academic for Kaplan Business School and Kaplan Higher Education. Tania has been employed in higher education and the university sector since 1980. During the past twenty years she has focused her expertise around several areas of scholarship, including teacher education, postgraduate pedagogy and higher education curriculum studies. Tania is a highly respected academic, having recently held the roles of Professor in Teacher Education at the Australian Catholic University in Sydney and Dean, Education Policy and Strategy where she has provided high-level advice on teacher education, governance and policy. Tania is also the current President of the Australian Council of Deans of Education and sits on a number of boards for the Australian government. Tania’s research focus has been on educational policy, leadership and reform, higher education curriculum and teacher education. Professor James Adonopoulos Qualifications Doctor of Philosophy Master of Business Leadership Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Relations) Kaplan contribution Academic Dean, Kaplan Business School Academic Dean, Kaplan Higher Education Chair, KBS Teaching & Learning Committee Member, KHE Teaching & Learning Committee Member, KBS Academic Board Member, KHE Academic Board Member, KBS Grade Ratification and Assessment Committee Career overview Dr James Adonopoulos’ PhD thesis was centred on the ways in which leaders influence employee engagement during organisational crises and significant change. Prior to his appointment as the Academic Dean at Kaplan Business School and Kaplan Higher Education, he was employed as a sessional member of staff at Macquarie University and the University of Technology, Sydney. His academic history is supported by practical corporate experience as a leader in a variety of industries, such as financial services and contact centres, at which his most noteworthy achievements were in relation to his employees’ engagement, performance and retention. In combination with his books and fortnightly newsletter, his insights on workplace relations are read by 100,000 people every month. For more than a decade, he has worked with hundreds of organisations as a speaker, facilitator and consultant, helping them successfully lead change, engage staff, and improve performance. This work has taken him to almost a dozen countries, working with clients that include McDonald’s, American Express, Coca-Cola, Qantas, Optus, Ernst & Young, Gucci, Toyota and many government departments. Dr Meredith Lawley Qualifications Doctor of Philosophy, USC Master of Business, USC Bachelor of Business, UQ Kaplan contribution Member, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Member, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Career overview Professor Meredith Lawley is currently a Professor of Marketing at University of Sunshine Coast. Meredith has extensive experience in the delivery of higher education programs both within Australia and internationally. Meredith has a strong academic interest in the areas of marketing, consumer behaviour, international and online education. She is a member of the editorial review boards for both the Asian and European Journal of Marketing and has been an active TEQSA Expert since 2014 Dr Susan Oakley Qualifications PhD (Sociology), Flinders University BA (Hons), Flinders University Kaplan contribution Member, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Member, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Chair, Murdoch Institute of Technology Grade Ratification & Assessment Committee Chair, Kaplan Professional Grade Ratification & Assessment Committee Chair, Kaplan Business School Grade Ratification & Assessment Committee Career overview Professor Oakley is Head, School of Social Sciences within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Adelaide. The School is divided into four departments: Anthropology and Development Studies; Asian Studies; Geography, Environment & Population; Sociology, Criminology and Gender Studies; and Politics & International Relations. The School is also affiliated with seven research centres, institutes and development units. Susan’s research expertise is two‐fold: the relationship between planning, governance and urban regeneration; and youth homelessness. Susan is an active member of the Centre for Housing, Urban & Regional Planning. Dr Robin Woellner Academic qualifications: Bachelor of Arts/Law Kaplan contribution Member, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Member, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Career overview Robin Woellner was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Law, Business and the Creative Arts), James Cook University, Townsville and prior to that the Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Law and Foundation Dean of the College of Law and Business at University of Western Sydney. Robin has also served in various executive positions including as Vice President of the Australian Business Deans Council. Robin is the lead author of Australia’s pre-eminent tax textbook, “Australian Taxation Law”, and has researched and published extensively. Robin is a well-known and respected commentator on all tax matters. Professor Mike Wood Academic qualifications: PhD (Economics), University of Western Australia Bachelor of Economics (Honours), University of Western Australia Kaplan contribution Chair, Murdoch College Joint Academic Committee Member, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Member, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Career overview Professor Wood has considerable experience working on boards and committees, often as chair. In addition to chairing the Curtin Business School Executive between 1999 and 2006. Professor Wood was for six years the chairman of the WA Government Salaries and Allowances Tribunal which sets remuneration for Members of Parliament, the judiciary, senior public servants and local government leaders. He was the Chair of the Kaplan pathway college, MIT, at Murdoch University and subsequently a member of the MIT-Murdoch Academic Sub Committee until 2021. He has had considerable experience in the not-for-profit sector, having been Chairman of the Board of Daughters of Charity (W A) Inc. and later Chairman of Members (Trustees) of Ruah Community Services. Professor Wood has been the voluntary chairman or member of over 60 assessments of business schools around the world over the last 16 years. The assessments provided advice to the European Foundation for Management Development on the accreditation of business schools for the quality of their work. Matters such as strategy, positioning, innovations in teaching and learning, on-line learning, recognition of prior learning, teaching quality, research output, international partners, student feedback and finances were included among the standards reviewed. Bryan Ashenden Academic qualifications Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Commerce Kaplan contribution Member, KHE Academic Board Career overview Bryan Ashenden is Head of Financial Literacy & Advocacy at BT, leading a team of professionals committed to supporting the adviser community with technical, regulatory, policy and research support. Bryan brings to the role many years’ experience, the last 16 spent with BT. With qualifications in Law, Commerce and Financial Planning, Bryan also has an industry specialist designation in Self Managed Superannuation Funds.
The Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board governs and is responsible for all academic matters at Kaplan Higher Education. The Academic Board’s key mandate is to ensure that Kaplan Higher Education’s courses, outcomes, student experiences and success are of the highest quality. The Academic Board and its Committees develop, implement, endorse and review academic policies, and monitor the delivery of Kaplan Higher Educations subjects and courses. The Kaplan Higher Education Academic Quality and Governance Framework outlines the terms of reference of the Academic Board and its subcommittees. Academic Board members Dr Michael Evans (Chair) Qualifications Doctor of Philosophy Master of Business Administration Bachelor of Economics Kaplan contribution Chair, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Chair, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Career overview Dr Michael Evans is an independent academic consultant. Prior to Mike’s retirement from Kaplan Higher Education in August 2018, he was responsible for the Academic oversight of all Kaplan Higher Education operations in Australia. This includes driving the academic strategic direction of all areas of Kaplan’s higher education business including Kaplan Business School, Murdoch Institute of Technology, Bradford College and Kaplan Professional’s online postgraduate finance courses. Prior to joining Kaplan Mike was a Professor of Management and Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Business and Law at Southern Cross University in Australia. Mike has a wide range of business experience, with skills in managing, consulting, teaching and research. His recent research has focused on regional development and the business implications of climate change. He also has interests in valuation, innovation, commercialisation, and value creation within organisations. He has undertaken a wide range of applied research and consulting assignments for clients including reviews of strategic planning and implementation, performance measurement and evaluation, valuation and financial analysis. Mike has also been actively involved in executive education activities, with a focus on accounting, finance and strategy. He has consulting, research and teaching experience across Australia, in Asia and in Europe. Mike has a wealth of experience in Asia, having been involved in business development for universities since 1987, focused on Singapore, Malaysia and China. He has managed academic and business activities across 10 countries. Mike’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics, Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Philosophy. Mike also holds a prestige Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA) designation. Dr Tania Aspland Qualifications Doctor of Philosophy Master of Education Bachelor of Education Bachelor of Arts Diploma of Teaching Kaplan contribution Member, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Member, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Dr Tania Aspland is the Vice President, Academic for Kaplan Business School and Kaplan Higher Education. Tania has been employed in higher education and the university sector since 1980. During the past twenty years she has focused her expertise around several areas of scholarship, including teacher education, postgraduate pedagogy and higher education curriculum studies. Tania is a highly respected academic, having recently held the roles of Professor in Teacher Education at the Australian Catholic University in Sydney and Dean, Education Policy and Strategy where she has provided high-level advice on teacher education, governance and policy. Tania is also the current President of the Australian Council of Deans of Education and sits on a number of boards for the Australian government. Tania’s research focus has been on educational policy, leadership and reform, higher education curriculum and teacher education. Professor James Adonopoulos Qualifications Doctor of Philosophy Master of Business Leadership Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Relations) Kaplan contribution Academic Dean, Kaplan Business School Academic Dean, Kaplan Higher Education Chair, KBS Teaching & Learning Committee Member, KHE Teaching & Learning Committee Member, KBS Academic Board Member, KHE Academic Board Member, KBS Grade Ratification and Assessment Committee Career overview Dr James Adonopoulos’ PhD thesis was centred on the ways in which leaders influence employee engagement during organisational crises and significant change. Prior to his appointment as the Academic Dean at Kaplan Business School and Kaplan Higher Education, he was employed as a sessional member of staff at Macquarie University and the University of Technology, Sydney. His academic history is supported by practical corporate experience as a leader in a variety of industries, such as financial services and contact centres, at which his most noteworthy achievements were in relation to his employees’ engagement, performance and retention. In combination with his books and fortnightly newsletter, his insights on workplace relations are read by 100,000 people every month. For more than a decade, he has worked with hundreds of organisations as a speaker, facilitator and consultant, helping them successfully lead change, engage staff, and improve performance. This work has taken him to almost a dozen countries, working with clients that include McDonald’s, American Express, Coca-Cola, Qantas, Optus, Ernst & Young, Gucci, Toyota and many government departments. Dr Meredith Lawley Qualifications Doctor of Philosophy, USC Master of Business, USC Bachelor of Business, UQ Kaplan contribution Member, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Member, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Career overview Professor Meredith Lawley is currently a Professor of Marketing at University of Sunshine Coast. Meredith has extensive experience in the delivery of higher education programs both within Australia and internationally. Meredith has a strong academic interest in the areas of marketing, consumer behaviour, international and online education. She is a member of the editorial review boards for both the Asian and European Journal of Marketing and has been an active TEQSA Expert since 2014 Dr Susan Oakley Qualifications PhD (Sociology), Flinders University BA (Hons), Flinders University Kaplan contribution Member, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Member, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Chair, Murdoch Institute of Technology Grade Ratification & Assessment Committee Chair, Kaplan Professional Grade Ratification & Assessment Committee Chair, Kaplan Business School Grade Ratification & Assessment Committee Career overview Professor Oakley is Head, School of Social Sciences within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Adelaide. The School is divided into four departments: Anthropology and Development Studies; Asian Studies; Geography, Environment & Population; Sociology, Criminology and Gender Studies; and Politics & International Relations. The School is also affiliated with seven research centres, institutes and development units. Susan’s research expertise is two‐fold: the relationship between planning, governance and urban regeneration; and youth homelessness. Susan is an active member of the Centre for Housing, Urban & Regional Planning. Dr Robin Woellner Academic qualifications: Bachelor of Arts/Law Kaplan contribution Member, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Member, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Career overview Robin Woellner was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Law, Business and the Creative Arts), James Cook University, Townsville and prior to that the Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Law and Foundation Dean of the College of Law and Business at University of Western Sydney. Robin has also served in various executive positions including as Vice President of the Australian Business Deans Council. Robin is the lead author of Australia’s pre-eminent tax textbook, “Australian Taxation Law”, and has researched and published extensively. Robin is a well-known and respected commentator on all tax matters. Professor Mike Wood Academic qualifications: PhD (Economics), University of Western Australia Bachelor of Economics (Honours), University of Western Australia Kaplan contribution Chair, Murdoch College Joint Academic Committee Member, Kaplan Business School Academic Board Member, Kaplan Higher Education Academic Board Career overview Professor Wood has considerable experience working on boards and committees, often as chair. In addition to chairing the Curtin Business School Executive between 1999 and 2006. Professor Wood was for six years the chairman of the WA Government Salaries and Allowances Tribunal which sets remuneration for Members of Parliament, the judiciary, senior public servants and local government leaders. He was the Chair of the Kaplan pathway college, MIT, at Murdoch University and subsequently a member of the MIT-Murdoch Academic Sub Committee until 2021. He has had considerable experience in the not-for-profit sector, having been Chairman of the Board of Daughters of Charity (W A) Inc. and later Chairman of Members (Trustees) of Ruah Community Services. Professor Wood has been the voluntary chairman or member of over 60 assessments of business schools around the world over the last 16 years. The assessments provided advice to the European Foundation for Management Development on the accreditation of business schools for the quality of their work. Matters such as strategy, positioning, innovations in teaching and learning, on-line learning, recognition of prior learning, teaching quality, research output, international partners, student feedback and finances were included among the standards reviewed. Bryan Ashenden Academic qualifications Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Commerce Kaplan contribution Member, KHE Academic Board Career overview Bryan Ashenden is Head of Financial Literacy & Advocacy at BT, leading a team of professionals committed to supporting the adviser community with technical, regulatory, policy and research support. Bryan brings to the role many years’ experience, the last 16 spent with BT. With qualifications in Law, Commerce and Financial Planning, Bryan also has an industry specialist designation in Self Managed Superannuation Funds.
