Vice-Chancellor and President
Deakin University
Robin Buckham commenced at Deakin University as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Development) on 2 February, 2009. She is responsible for developing, implementing and managing the University’s strategies, plans and policies in relation to its branding, marketing, student recruitment, Alumni and development activities.
Ms Buckham holds a Master of Commerce (Marketing), Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Education. She has extensive experience in the education sector; marketing and recruitment; product development; human resources; and strategic planning, implementation and management, as evidenced by her impressive employment history.
Ms Buckham began her career as a secondary school teacher for the NSW Department of Education. In 1980 she moved to IBM Australia Limited where she worked as an Administrative Analyst. From 1982 to 1997 Ms Buckham worked in a variety of roles around Australia for metal manufacturer and distributor BHP/Tubemakers of Australia Limited. She was Business Unit Manager of Oil and Gas Pipelines, managing a $200 million steel pipe mill, when she left the company.
In 1997 Ms Buckham commenced employment with the University of Wollongong where she remained until 2008. From 1997 to 1998 she was Director of Human Resources, a role in which she created change management strategies to effectively modernise HR practices. In 1998 Ms Buckham was appointed General Manager of UniAdvice, a position she held until leaving the University of Wollongong in 2008. UniAdvice is one of three areas of the ITC Group – an unlisted public company subsidiary of the University of Wollongong that delivers educational, project management and international development solutions. In this position Ms Buckham enjoyed much success, leading all marketing, domestic and international recruitment, Alumni, community relations, scholarships, fundraising and admissions at the University of Wollongong; setting direction of the University in relation to market position and marketing strategy; and repositioning marketing strategy and material to reflect customer service and relationship marketing in all areas.
At the same time as holding the position of General Manager of UniAdvice, Ms Buckham spent some years lecturing in undergraduate and postgraduate marketing programs, and had stints as Chief Operating Officer, Managing Director and Marketing Manager of ITC Education Limited.
Ms Buckham is currently a member of the Port Kembla Port Corporation Board. She was previously a board member of the Illawarra Institute of TAFE Advisory Council, and a member of the Duke of Edinburgh Commonwealth Study Conference and the Wollongong Stock Exchange Advisory Board. She was also the Director of ITC Education Limited and Director of the International Film School, Sydney.
