Deakin University makes senior appointments

Deakin University has announced five new appointments to its senior team.

The Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, Professor Sally Walker, said she was delighted to announce the new appointments.

"These are all highly experienced, talented people who will build on Deakin's strengths and leadership in marketing and development, teaching and research, rural and regional engagement and quality improvement," Professor Walker said.

"Deakin is growing and it is achieving significant success in attracting staff of the highest quality.

"I welcome these new leaders to the University and look forward to their contribution to the University progressing its Strategic Plan, Delivering Effective Partnerships."

The new appointments are:

• Ms Robin Buckham as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Development)
• Associate Professor Susan Kilpatrick as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Rural and Regional)
• Professor Gael McDonald as Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law
• Professor Jennifer Radbourne as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Education
• Ms Heather Sainsbury as Director, Quality Improvement

Ms Robin Buckham is currently Manager Marketing ITC and General Manager of UniAdvice at the University of Wollongong. Ms Buckham will take up her role with Deakin in February 2009, with responsibility for developing and implementing the University's strategies, plans and policies in relation to its branding, marketing, student recruitment, alumni and development activities.

Associate Professor Susan Kilpatrick is currently Director of the Department of Rural Health at the University of Tasmania. Her wide range of experience includes having worked in three Faculties at the University of Tasmania - Health Science, Education and Business, and serving as Director of the Centre for Research and Learning in Regional Australia. Associate Professor Kilpatrick will take up her position at Deakin's Warrnambool Campus in February 2009.

Professor Gael McDonald is currently Vice-President (Research) at Unitec in New Zealand. She has held a number of senior positions including Vice-President (International) and Dean of the Faculty of Business at Unitec. Professor McDonald holds a PhD from the London School of Economics and she is a Research Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management. She will take up the role of Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law at Deakin in January 2009.

Professor Jennifer Radbourne commenced in her role as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Education in September this year after being the Head of the School of Communication and Creative Arts at Deakin. Before joining Deakin in 2006, she was Head of the School of Management at the University of the Sunshine Coast and she had also worked as Director of the Queensland University of Technology's Hong Kong Business Program.

Ms Heather Sainsbury is currently a member of the Strategic Planning and Quality Office at the University of Wollongong. She has also held positions as Assistant Director, Strategic Planning, and Quality Project Coordinator at the University of Wollongong. Ms Sainsbury will be responsible for managing the planning, accountability and evaluation aspects of the University's annual Planning, Resourcing and Evaluation Cycle and leading the development of quality assurance and quality improvement policies and practices in all areas of the University's operations.