More than 60 delegates joined Advance HE’s Australasian All Members meeting 2024 either online or in person, kindly hosted by Western Sydney University.
Delegates were joined by Advance HE’s Chief Executive, Alison Johns, and Executive Director, Membership Innovation and Development, Kathryn Harrison Graves, both in Australia to visit members and partner organisations as well as attending the members meeting and ASAB annual general meeting.
The Australasia Strategic Advisory Board (ASAB) provides strategic input to ensure Advance HE’s operations and services meet the needs of members and partners across Australasia.
Professor Liz Johnson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Deakin University, Chair of Advance HE’s Australasian Strategic Advisory Board, welcomed the input of delegates at the meetings, with representation from across the region helping to set out shared challenges and promoting a collaborative approach to membership.
Alison Johns, Advance HE CEO, said, “I am so pleased to have been able to attend the Members and Board meeting in person. Advance HE is in a privileged position to work with the sector in local, regional and global settings. The time spent with colleagues here reinforces my view that there is much to share and to learn from each other in multiple contexts. There’s also so much energy and determination to put lessons into practice as we work together to enhance higher education wherever it’s delivered. Advance HE takes pride in being part of that work and we look forward to continuing to support our members deliver their strategies.”
A key part of the members meeting was to hear from senior leaders reflecting on their national context and their global perspectives as to how higher education can successfully overcome challenges ahead.
Alison Johns updated members on a number of Advance HE initiatives in support of members in the region including: Aurora Australia (an initiative for women’s leadership development); exploratory work in partnership with CAULLT (Council of Australasian University Leaders in Learning and Teaching) to understand the priorities in development needs of the Learning and Teaching community; and a new portfolio of member benefit projects specifically targeted at member needs in Australasia. These projects include: enabling access and progression through Education Development Curricula; Learning and Teaching Reward, Recognition and Progression Excellence; and promoting inclusive leadership. She also introduced Advance HE’s first Head of Partnerships based in the Australasia region, Fiona Whittenbury, who took up the role in January this year.
Advance HE has been working with institutions in Australasia for over ten years. There are 34 member institutions in the region and more than 8,300 Advance HE Fellows. Advance HE also works with SAGE who offer the Athena SWAN gender equity charter in Australia. 43 institutions have achieved an Athena SWAN Bronze award in Australia to date.