Our board and management

Open Universities Australia is Australia’s leading higher education marketplace. Our Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team harness their expertise and passion to shape our future.

Board of Directors

Professor S. Bruce Dowton

Chairman & Nominee Director – Macquarie University

Professor Bruce Dowton was appointed Vice Chancellor of Macquarie University in 2012. He’s a paediatrician, clinical geneticist, molecular biologist, researcher and academic, and served as a senior medical executive at several organisations.

Paul Beard

Nominee Director – University of South Australia
Chair – Finance, Audit & Risk Management Committee

Paul Beard is Chief Operating Officer at the University of South Australia, overseeing finance, facilities, IT, and library. Joining the UniSA executive in 2001, Paul previously held senior finance roles in the private and public sector.

Professor Liz Burd

Nominee Director - Griffith University

Professor Liz Burd was appointed as Provost of Griffith University in 2022. She previously served as Pro Vice Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at the University of Newcastle (Australia).

David McCall

Nominee Director – Swinburne University of Technology

David McCall is the Head of Strategy and Commercial Management at Swinburne University, leading strategy, delivery, commercial and product management. David joined Swinburne in 2015, previously in senior positions in finance and digital.

David Menarry

Nominee Director - Curtin University

David Menarry joined Curtin University in 2004 as Chief Financial Officer. David’s strategic financial leadership and rigorous financial management strengthens Curtin’s financial position, enabling improved research and teaching outcomes.

Professor Sharon Pickering

Nominee Director – Monash University

Professor Sharon Pickering is the Interim Deputy Vice‐Chancellor (Education) and Senior Vice President of Monash University. She previously served as Dean of Arts at Monash University and prior to that as the Head of the School of Social Sciences.

Professor Sherman Young

Nominee Director – RMIT University

Professor Sherman Young is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) and Vice-President of RMIT University.

Stuart Elmslie

Chief Executive Officer

Stuart Elmslie was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in January 2018. Previously, Stuart was Chief Financial Officer and Executive General Manager of Corporate Services from February 2016.

Anthony Elliott

Chief Operating Officer

Anthony Elliott is OUA's Chief Operating Officer. Anthony’s passion for business transformation and continuous improvement has shaped much of his career.

Catherine Reynolds

Chief Customer Officer

As Open Universities Australia’s Chief Customer Officer, Catherine Reynolds is responsible for driving outcomes and experiences for all customers.

Andi Saunders

Chief People Officer

Andi joined OUA in 2021 as Head of People Experience, bringing over 20 years' People Experience and HR expertise to Open Universities Australia.

Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.

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With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

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This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.

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Monash University is a dynamic and diverse university with over 50,000 students, over 200,000 alumni and a network of powerful international alliances. It is widely recognised for its excellence and innovation in teaching, scholarship and research. Monash University is a member of Australia's prestigious Group of Eight leading universities.

One of Australia's largest dual-sector institutes, offering both TAFE and higher education, RMIT University proudly delivers work-related education and practical research relevant to current business and community needs. More than 96,000 students study with RMIT, and many of their degrees are available through Open Universities Australia.

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Swinburne University of Technology leads the way with innovative and new ways of teaching, learning and thinking. It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.

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The University of South Australia, UniSA, is ranked in the top 10 universities nationally and amongst the very best young universities in the world. They offer over 200 world-class degrees that are informed by industry and delivered with a highly practical approach to teaching and learning. In fact, they are South Australia’s number one university for graduate careers. They are a valuable partner with Open Universities Australia.

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