Former Education Department head Lisa Paul joins AFR Higher Education Awards judging panel

Former head of the federal Department of Education and Training Lisa Paul OA PSM has joined the judging panel for the 2016 Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards, which are presented by UniSuper.

Ms Paul has a distinguished career as a public servant and served 11 years as head of the federal education department and its predecessors until she stepped down in February of this year.

She joins the other members of the judging panel: Denise Bradley AC, a former vice-chancellor of the University of SA and chair of the 2008 Review of Australian Higher Education; Stuart Hamilton AO, a former CEO of Open Universities Australia; Adrian McComb, chief executive officer of the Council of Private Higher Education; Chris Madden AO, a former pro vice-chancellor (international) at Griffith University; Andrew Norton, higher education program director at the Grattan Institute; Alan Robson AO, a former vice-chancellor of the University of WA; and Sally Walker AM, a former vice-chancellor of Deakin University.

The judging panel is chaired by Financial Review education editor Tim Dodd.

The awards are open to all higher education providers, both university and non-university, and will recognise specific initiatives and strategies put in place by institutions in seven key areas.

These are: community engagement, employability (sponsored by Pearson), equity and opportunity (sponsored by YourTutor), facilities innovation, industry engagement (sponsored by TechnologyOne), international education and learning experience.

In addition, there are two awards which recognise individual achievement. The Emerging Leader Award (sponsored by Perrett Laver) will recognise a future leader from a university or other higher education provider. The Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by UniSuper) will be given to an individual with more than 25 years experience in higher education who has made outstanding contribution to the sector.

Entries close on September 11. Entries should be made at afrhigheredawards.com.au, where there are also more details about the awards, including a full explanation of judging criteria.