Mitchell Institute Advisory Board

Professor Peter Dawkins AO is the former Vice-Chancellor and President of Victoria University. He led the introduction of the VU Block Model®, a transformative teaching innovation, and has championed inclusive education throughout his career. From 2022 to 2024, he served as Acting Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia, contributing to national workforce and skills policy. Earlier in his career, Peter held senior roles in the Victorian Government and led the Melbourne Institute at the University of Melbourne. He currently chairs the West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance (WoMEDA), serves as Deputy Chair of the Western Metropolitan Partnership, and is a board member of UniSuper and UniSport Australia. He is also Emeritus Professor of Economics at the Mitchell Institute.

Professor John Firth is a former CEO of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and a leader in curriculum and assessment reform. As a foundation board member of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), John was involved in the development of the first Australian Curriculum NAPLAN and its transition to online delivery, the MySchool website, and associated works. In 2019, John was commissioned by the Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Education to undertake and produce the ‘Review into vocational and applied learning pathways in senior secondary schooling’ (The Firth Review).  He is currently a Vice-Chancellor’s Strategic Fellow at Victoria University.

A long-time public policy advisor, Tom Bentley has worked globally on education and innovation, including as Director of UK think tank Demos and as Deputy Chief of Staff to former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. With a background in public policy, Tom Bentley has worked with institutions across the globe to renew education, community and economic development through inclusivity and innovation. As well as being an author, he has worked as Director of UK think tank Demos, adviser to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Gates Foundation, and as Deputy Chief of Staff to Julia Gillard from 2007-2013. He is currently the Executive Director for Policy and Impact, and a Vice-Chancellor’s Innovation Professor at RMIT University in Melbourne.

Patrick Kidd is CEO of the Future Skills Organisation, leading work to align education and training with evolving industry needs in the Finance, Technology and Business sectors. He has a diverse background in skills training, stakeholder management and leading complex change initiatives. Patrick was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service in the British Army. After relocating to Australia and serving in the Australian Defence Force, he joined Deloitte where he became CEO of the Invictus Games Sydney 2018. For this he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM). Following the Games, Patrick became CEO of the Digital Skills Organisation, helping to build Australia’s digital workforce, before taking up his current role in June 2023.

Jenny Dodd is a national leader in vocational education. With more than a decade of executive experience across TAFE organisations in Tasmania, Queensland and the ACT, she has driven sector-wide reforms and continues to advocate for quality public skills training across Australia. Jenny is currently the CEO of TAFE Directors Australia where she is proud to demonstrate how the public provider is leading quality skills and education outcomes for students and industry. She has led national change programs for the vocational education and training sector and was the ACT representative on the Flexible Learning Advisory Group for many years.

Cathy Whelan is a skilled executive with decades of experience as a community worker, public sector executive, organisational consultant and public entity board member and chair. She has consulted to the elected and administrative arms of Commonwealth, State and Local Governments, Royal Commissions, national and state peak bodies, Aboriginal organisations, universities and a wide range of public entities and for-purpose organisations and networks. She has been an Associate at Mt Eliza Executive Education – Melbourne Business School and has taught at RMIT University and Victoria University. Her board experience includes the Victorian Coastal Council (Chair), the Central Coastal Board (Chair), Group Relations Australia, Maribyrnong Festival Company, Macaulay Credit Cooperative and West Theatre Company (Chair).

Professor Stephen Lamb is a leading education researcher whose work focuses on equity, school performance, and student outcomes. He has a distinguished record of contribution to educational research and policy achieved through an extensive research program and a strong publication record. Stephen has undertaken a variety of high-impact policy research projects for governments, systems and schools and has extensive experience on a wide range of international and national projects on school funding, performance of schools and school systems, influences on student achievement and outcomes, quality of school programs, and school to work transitions. He is currently an Emeritus Professor at the Mitchell Institute.

Mark Burford is a highly experienced policy expert with over 30 years advising governments, businesses and universities across a broad range of public policy areas. His work spans education, climate change, housing, health funding, economic reform, and public sector management. Mark has held senior roles as a public servant, ministerial adviser, policy consultant and think tank leader. He was the founding Chief Executive of the Mitchell Institute where he led work at the intersection of research and real-world policy reform. He currently serves as a non-executive Director of Caraniche, supporting programs that assist some of the most marginalised in our community through behavioural health services.

Professor Andy Hill is an internationally recognised researcher known for his work in neurodegenerative diseases. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research & Impact at Victoria University, Professor Hill drives the university’s ‘Research with Impact’ agenda, focusing on applied research, ethical commercialisation, and embedding ‘Protecting Country’ principles. Previously at La Trobe University, he held several senior roles including Associate Provost (Research and Industry Engagement) and Director of the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science. He also founded and led the university’s Research Centre for Extracellular Vesicles. His research career includes fellowships at University College London, the University of Melbourne, and multiple national research awards and grants.