MANAGEMENT TEAM

Mr Neil Edwards
Chief Executive

Neil Edwards was appointed as Chief Executive, Chifley Business School, in July 2005. He also became Chief Executive, ETM in February 2007.

Neil has more than 20 years experience in senior management and a longer-standing interest in management development.

Prior to joining Chifley, Neil was chairman of Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC), and also Commissioner of State Services Authority. He was appointed Executive Chairman of the (then) Melbourne Port Corporation in March 2003, and remained a Director of PoMC until he was appointed a Director of the Victorian Regional Channels Authority (VRCA) in January 2008 and Chairman in April 2008. Neil is also a Director of the MacFarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health.

From 1999 to March 2003, Neil was secretary and CEO of the Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, with responsibilities for business, science, industrial relations, tourism and regional development. Neil joined the Victorian Government in 1996 as Executive Director, State Development Policy.

Between 1979 and 1996, Neil worked in the Australian Government, from 1994 to 1996 as Division Head in the then Department of Industry, Science and Tourism, but for most of the time with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), where he held several senior executive positions, including as Head of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, in social and cultural policy, and in corporate management.

In 1983-85, Neil served as Private Secretary to successive Australian Ministers for Finance. During 1989-90, he was seconded to the Government of Canada as an Officer of the Privy Council and later as Director-General, Policy, Health and Welfare Canada.

After qualifying in economics and politics, Neil taught politics for 4 years, first at Monash University and then at the University of New England. Neil is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

Simon Christensen
General Manager, Commercial
Deputy Chief Executive

Simon provides strategic leadership and direction to Chifley Business School’s Commercial team. Simon has over 10 years of experience in management training and he contributes to continuous business improvement processes to support the development and delivery of high quality programs.

Simon is also General Manager of Chifley Human Capital—consulting arm of Chifley Business School. His foresight and keen interest in business and management, has earned him the trust and respect of many long-term clients.

His passion to deliver high quality management education and the desire to build strong and competent workforces are his driving forces.

Prior to joining Chifley Business School, Simon was Director of Corporate Training and Consulting at the Australian Institute of Management (AIM), QLD. Simon has served on prominent committees such as Aviation Australia’s Study Skills Council; Queensland Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association; Brisbane Club’s Members Committee and is currently a member of Make a Difference Foundation.

Marni Bradley
National Manager, Corporate Services

Marni brings her experience leading Chifley's Client Care team since 2006 to her role as National Manager, Corporate Services, which also includes overseeing the internal functions of the business. Marni was a senior team member of APESMA's Membership team, and had previously worked for Harvey Norman in both Australia and New Zealand in various administration roles. She takes a personal and practical problem-solving approach to customer service and applies extensive systems experience to the smooth and cost-effective running of Chifley's operations.

Catherine Stephensen
B. Adult & Vocational Teaching, MBA
Manager, Training and Assessment

Catherine adds 18 years of Vocational Education and Training experience to the Chifley Management Team. 'By industry. For industry.' describes perfectly Catherine's approach throughout her VET career, which began in 1990 with TAFE Queensland, after an initial career in horticulture. Her first VET posting was to the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE, where she built, taught in and managed the Horticulture Unit. Catherine went on to positions as the Head of Faculty of Built Environment and Director of Studies for the Department of Manufacturing Technology. On returning to Melbourne in 2003, Catherine worked to guide private Registered Training Organisations through AQTF compliance and built SkillsRec – an RTO delivering Frontline Management – and her own consultancy, Stephensen Training P/L, working primarily with the energy supply industry in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. Catherine is passionate about connecting work and training to deliver measurable skill development.

Michele Lucas
Chief Instructional Designer

Michele leads Chifley's Design and Development Team, which has responsibility for the design, development and production of a range of print and online learning to support Chifley's postgraduate and vocational education and training programs. Michele has many years' experience in the design and delivery of adult and workplace education. She has worked in a number of education and training institutions including Deakin and Melbourne Universities, Deakin Prime, The Australian Insurance Institute, Kangan Batman TAFE and The Construction Skills Training Board.

Michele has managed and worked on numerous training, curriculum development and learning materials projects in a diverse range of industries including vehicle manufacturing, polymer, financial, health, aerospace and aged care. She has delivered a number of national professional development programs in competency-based training, assessment, and language and literacy to vocational and workplace trainers and has developed nationally- and state-accredited competency-based training programs for use in the vehicle manufacturing, transport and aerospace industries. She wholeheartedly believes in the transformational power of learning and education and to this end she is committed to working in partnership with industry clients to customise training programs that achieve measurable business outcomes and develop the capabilities of individual learners.

Paul Large
Manager, Graduate Programs

Paul has been a part of the Chifley team for more than 3 years and brings varied experience in program management in the sport and leisure industry to international HR experience from working in two of UK's leading Universities. Paul's role includes the strategic and operational management of delivering the postgraduate programs to students. Another important part of Paul's role is dealing with external suppliers, agents and University partners both domestically and internationally.