Meet The Board of Directors
Professor Dharmendra Sharma (AM)
Chairman
Professor Sharma is a former Chair of University Academic Board and currently Professor of Computer Science at the University of Canberra (2014-2019). He had been the Dean of the Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering from 2007-2012 and as Head of School of the School of Information Sciences and Engineering from 2004-2007. He has assumed various senior leadership roles in universities for over twenty years and had been made a University Distinguished Professor in 2012.
Prof Sharma’s research background is in the Artificial Intelligence areas of Planning, Data Analytics and Knowledge Discovery, Predictive Modeling, Constraint Processing, Fuzzy Reasoning, Brain-Computer Interaction, Hybrid Systems and their applications to health, education, security, digital forensics and sports. He has published over 310 research papers, and other research and applied articles. He has supervised to completion over 36 higher degrees research students and over 87 Hons and Master’s level projects. He has received several competitive research awards and grants, and recognition for his academic and research leadership initiatives. He has developed and led a strong industry and international university partnerships for courses, research and innovation.
Prof Sharma has regularly served on several industry, academic, and research bodies including company boards, government advisory and policy committees. He had completed his PhD in AI from ANU and postgraduate qualifications in Computer Science from the University of New South Wales and postgraduate and undergraduate qualifications in Mathematics and Science from USP. He has been an academic for over 40 years.
Prof Sharma was recognised as part of the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours with the award of Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to computer science and higher education.
Mr. Peter Burgess
Director
Peter Burgess is Executive Director of EdBiz Pty. Ltd., an Australian education consultancy that he helped establish in 1988. EdBiz demonstrates extensive expertise in leadership, business improvement and change management as it applies to transnational education, transfer pathways and education policy and strategy. Peter’s career has spanned academic, government and corporate roles, including senior academic and administrative positions with Bradford, Deakin, RMIT and Macquarie Universities. He has also worked as a Team Leader and consultant with AusAID, World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as well as on behalf of domestic and foreign government agencies, education institutes across all sectors, corporates, and professional associations in more than 20 countries.
Peter holds a MA (distinction) from Lancaster University, Diploma of Business from Caulfield Institute of Technology along with other Certificates, awards and commendations. He is an advisor to UK NARIC, the official UK national agency for recognition of international qualifications and skills and has previously held external advisory positions with Australia government Tertiary Education Quality & Standards Agency (TEQSA) and before that, the Australian Universities Quality Agency. Peter was past President of Australia’s TNE University Forum and the inaugural Convenor of the IEAA TNE Special Interest Group. He has published widely on TNE and international education and is well known internationally for his contributions to the various sectors engaged in international education.
Mr. Rizwan Ahmed
Executive Director
Rizwan Ahmed has over 20 years broad business management experience which includes 14 years in the private education sector.
His specialist skill areas pertain to all aspects of academic leadership, strategic planning, curriculum and assessment development, efficient administration practices, international marketing and regulatory authority compliance within Universal Institute of Technology, Universal English and Universal Higher Education. Prior to entering the education sector, Rizwan had a proven track record in small business ownership and development in the telecommunications sector across Australia.
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Rizwan’s life goal has always been “to make a difference in the lives of others”. Being in the education sector has allowed him to serve the educational needs of his clients with the aim of helping them to enhance their career options and lead a better lifestyle.
He continues to pursue his passion by establishing and running educational institutions that are committed to excellence in learning and innovation not only in Australia but worldwide.
Rizwan is passionate and devoted to continual education and holds a Masters of Enterprise from University of Melbourne, Graduate Diploma of Information Technology from Swinburne University and Bachelors of Science (Electronics) from Osmania University.
Davina McArthur
Director
Davina McArthur is a management consultant with specialist experience in higher education. Currently, she works as a Principal in Sydney for Nous Group, an international management consulting firm. Through almost a decade working for Nous, and in previous consulting roles, Davina has developed knowledge and expertise in the areas of strategy, transformation, program design, delivery and evaluation and social and public policy.
Her career has been built around her deep interest in social impact and change. Each role she has held has involved understanding and enabling social change through improved organisational performance. This has been particularly in education around supporting access and equity.
Prior to joining Nous, Davina work as a social and public policy consultant for AECOM and as the acting program coordinator for the Indigenous Governance Awards with Reconciliation Australia. Davina has a Masters of Law (Government and Commercial Law) and a Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Commerce (Political Science and International Business), both from the Australian National University. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has been an advisory board member at the Centre for Media Transition (UTS) since it was established in 2017.