The Academic Board is the primary source of advice to the Governing Council on matters relating to learning, teaching and scholarship; oversees all academic functions of the Academy, including academic governance, curriculum development, delivery and assessment. The Board provides academic leadership, exercises and promotes freedom of speech, and guides scholarship and staff research.
The functions of the Academic Board are:
- Assisting and advising the JMC Academy Governing Council on all matters relating to and affecting the Academy’s teaching activities and its educational programs, including:
- Rules governing awards and courses of study
- Admission of students
- Curriculum review process
- Assessment moderation process
- Recommending to the Governing Council the awarding of all academic qualifications.
- Recommending to the Governing Council the submission to TEQSA of completed applications for the accreditation of new courses and accreditation of existing courses.
- Overseeing and monitoring course delivery across all campuses and receive reports on same.
- Overseeing the development and implementation of academic policies and procedures and reporting and recommending to the Governing Council on same.
- Overseeing quality of learning, teaching, and scholarship.
- Ensuring students and lecturers have the opportunity to provide feedback on their educational and teaching experiences.
- Advising on educational aspects of the Academy’s Strategic Plan and Risk Management Plan.
- Developing academic aspects of the Quality Enhancement Framework.
- Developing detailed advice on new academic developments, priorities, and innovations.
- Receiving reports from and overseeing the work of the following Academic Board Committees:
- Learning and Teaching Committee
- Scholarship Committee
- Course Advisory Committees
- Curriculum Design and Delivery Committees
- Reporting directly to the Governing Council on the above matters.
Appointed Members
Emeritus Professor Peter Flood
Professor Flood is a distinguished Australian academic with five decades of activities as a scientist, geologist, and higher education administrator. He has First Class Honours and a Master of Science from the University of New England, and a PhD from the University of Queensland. In addition, he holds a Diploma from Harvard University in Educational Management.
He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of New England and has served as Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney. Professor Flood has held previous appointments at the University of Hong Kong and the University of Miami. He lectured at the University of Queensland (1972-1979), the University of New England (1980-2009), and the University of Sydney (2013-2014).
Professor Flood has more than a decade of experience in the private Higher Education sector having held roles as Provost, Dean, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Governing Council, Chair of Academic Board, Academic Board, Course Advisory Committee, and Director. His specialisation is academic quality assurance and regulatory compliance. He has advised institutions regarding TEQSA Registration and Accreditation, Re-Registration and Re-Accreditation, including the application for Self-Accreditation.
Emeritus Professor Peter Flood
Professor Flood is a distinguished Australian academic with five decades of activities as a scientist, geologist, and higher education administrator. He has First Class Honours and a Master of Science from the University of New England, and a PhD from the University of Queensland. In addition, he holds a Diploma from Harvard University in Educational Management.
He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of New England and has served as Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney. Professor Flood has held previous appointments at the University of Hong Kong and the University of Miami. He lectured at the University of Queensland (1972-1979), the University of New England (1980-2009), and the University of Sydney (2013-2014).
Professor Flood has more than a decade of experience in the private Higher Education sector having held roles as Provost, Dean, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Governing Council, Chair of Academic Board, Academic Board, Course Advisory Committee, and Director. His specialisation is academic quality assurance and regulatory compliance. He has advised institutions regarding TEQSA Registration and Accreditation, Re-Registration and Re-Accreditation, including the application for Self-Accreditation.
Professor Bem Le Hunte
Professor Bem Le Hunte is an internationally published novelist and an expert in the field of Creative Intelligence (thinking creatively across disciplinary constraints). She is the Director of Learning and Teaching in the TD School at UTS, as well as the founding course director of the multi-award-winning Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation (BCII). She teaches creative thinking, theory and practice across many disciplines from anthropology to media and creative writing – and works with academics from across all faculties at UTS as well as with an industry partnership base of over 2,000 individuals, to create and support this world-first, multi-award-winning future-facing transdisciplinary degree.
In her previous professional life, Bem has focused on digital innovation, educating consumers, clients, students and colleagues on the creative potential of next generation technology since the time she was creative director on the launch of Microsoft Windows ’95. She has worked through three decades across a broad range of creative industries, from advertising and journalism, to publishing and new media. She’s been a creative consultant, creative director, brand consultant and copywriter (in the UK, Australia and India) for over 500 brands across a diverse range of media – covering the world’s most successful blue-chip companies to social enterprises and start-ups.
Bem’s research interests lie in learning for individual and collective transformation, as well as in the thinking, theory and practice of creativity. She has a passion for introducing trailblazing educational and organisational innovation, and a belief that our stories and our work as educators have the power to change the world.
Bem has written four novels: the latest is ‘Elephants with Headlights’. Her novels, short stories, articles and commentaries are published internationally to critical acclaim.
Principal Higher Education Leadership and Advisory Roles:
At University of Technology Sydney
o Director of Teaching and Learning, TD School, 2020 - Present
o Acting Associate Dean Teaching and Learning (Strategy), 2019 - 2021
o Founding Director of the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation (BCII), 2014 - Present
At University of New South Wales
o Lecturer, Faculty of Arts, 2012 - 2014
Academic Publications
o 4 books
o Over 30 refereed articles and chapters (sole authored and co-authored)
Professor Bem Le Hunte
Professor Bem Le Hunte is an internationally published novelist and an expert in the field of Creative Intelligence (thinking creatively across disciplinary constraints). She is the Director of Learning and Teaching in the TD School at UTS, as well as the founding course director of the multi-award-winning Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation (BCII). She teaches creative thinking, theory and practice across many disciplines from anthropology to media and creative writing – and works with academics from across all faculties at UTS as well as with an industry partnership base of over 2,000 individuals, to create and support this world-first, multi-award-winning future-facing transdisciplinary degree.
In her previous professional life, Bem has focused on digital innovation, educating consumers, clients, students and colleagues on the creative potential of next generation technology since the time she was creative director on the launch of Microsoft Windows ’95. She has worked through three decades across a broad range of creative industries, from advertising and journalism, to publishing and new media. She’s been a creative consultant, creative director, brand consultant and copywriter (in the UK, Australia and India) for over 500 brands across a diverse range of media – covering the world’s most successful blue-chip companies to social enterprises and start-ups.
Bem’s research interests lie in learning for individual and collective transformation, as well as in the thinking, theory and practice of creativity. She has a passion for introducing trailblazing educational and organisational innovation, and a belief that our stories and our work as educators have the power to change the world.
Bem has written four novels: the latest is ‘Elephants with Headlights’. Her novels, short stories, articles and commentaries are published internationally to critical acclaim.
Principal Higher Education Leadership and Advisory Roles:
At University of Technology Sydney
o Director of Teaching and Learning, TD School, 2020 - Present
o Acting Associate Dean Teaching and Learning (Strategy), 2019 - 2021
o Founding Director of the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation (BCII), 2014 - Present
At University of New South Wales
o Lecturer, Faculty of Arts, 2012 - 2014
Academic Publications
o 4 books
o Over 30 refereed articles and chapters (sole authored and co-authored)
Professor William Randall Albury
Professor WR Albury has deep understanding and extensive experience in academic governance. He has held many higher education advisory and leadership roles such as:
- At University of New South Wales:
- Head of School of History and Philosophy of Science
- Chair, Faculty of Arts
- Vice-Chair, Professorial Board
- Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- At University of New England:
- Dean, Faculty of Arts
- Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
- Chief University Ombudsman
- At other Higher Education Institutions:
- External Assessor, MSc course in ‘Science, Technology and Society’, Griffith University
- Member, BA Course Advisory Committee, Macarthur Institute of Higher Education (now part of Western Sydney University)
- External Reviewer, ‘Science and Technology’ unit for BA students, Catholic College of Education Sydney (now part of Australian Catholic University)
- External Reviewer, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Melbourne
- Deputy Chair, Course Advisory and Review Committee, Campion College Australia
- Chair, Academic Board, JMC Academy
Academic Publications
- 5 books (2 as sole author, 2 as co-editor, 1 as translator with introduction and annotations)
- Over 80 refereed articles (sole authored and co-authored)
- Over 80 book reviews in academic journals
Professor William Randall Albury
Professor WR Albury has deep understanding and extensive experience in academic governance. He has held many higher education advisory and leadership roles such as:
- At University of New South Wales:
- Head of School of History and Philosophy of Science
- Chair, Faculty of Arts
- Vice-Chair, Professorial Board
- Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- At University of New England:
- Dean, Faculty of Arts
- Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
- Chief University Ombudsman
- At other Higher Education Institutions:
- External Assessor, MSc course in ‘Science, Technology and Society’, Griffith University
- Member, BA Course Advisory Committee, Macarthur Institute of Higher Education (now part of Western Sydney University)
- External Reviewer, ‘Science and Technology’ unit for BA students, Catholic College of Education Sydney (now part of Australian Catholic University)
- External Reviewer, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Melbourne
- Deputy Chair, Course Advisory and Review Committee, Campion College Australia
- Chair, Academic Board, JMC Academy
Academic Publications
- 5 books (2 as sole author, 2 as co-editor, 1 as translator with introduction and annotations)
- Over 80 refereed articles (sole authored and co-authored)
- Over 80 book reviews in academic journals
Elected Members (Fixed Term)
Chris Pickering
Chris Pickering studied Jazz Drums at The Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and played drums and guitar in a few well-known Australian groups before embarking on a solo career as a singer-songwriter in 2005. Since that time, he has recorded and released four full-length albums and four EPs of critically acclaimed original material, and in 2009 relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. Based there as a professional musician until 2013, he gained solid support and recognition from the Nashville songwriting and performing community, and toured and performed all over the United States and parts of Europe.
He is now based in Melbourne and has been Head of Music at JMC Melbourne Campus since 2014, since which time he has also gained a Masters in Music from Melbourne University. He still performs occasionally with his band and is currently working on a PhD in Composition at University of Melbourne.
Chris Pickering
Chris Pickering studied Jazz Drums at The Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and played drums and guitar in a few well-known Australian groups before embarking on a solo career as a singer-songwriter in 2005. Since that time, he has recorded and released four full-length albums and four EPs of critically acclaimed original material, and in 2009 relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. Based there as a professional musician until 2013, he gained solid support and recognition from the Nashville songwriting and performing community, and toured and performed all over the United States and parts of Europe.
He is now based in Melbourne and has been Head of Music at JMC Melbourne Campus since 2014, since which time he has also gained a Masters in Music from Melbourne University. He still performs occasionally with his band and is currently working on a PhD in Composition at University of Melbourne.
Kemo Bunguric
Kemo’s teaching methods and influence reflect his own passion and extensive skills in composition, arranging and music technology, especially since he is a piano accordion virtuoso and an Australasian Accordion Champion.
By the age of 13, Kemo had learned early on how important it was to market one’s self as a musician, a concept which he aims to instil in his students. Kemo ensures that his students understand how to develop themselves as well-rounded musicians and teaches them the importance of being progressive within the industry.
Kemo Bunguric
Kemo’s teaching methods and influence reflect his own passion and extensive skills in composition, arranging and music technology, especially since he is a piano accordion virtuoso and an Australasian Accordion Champion.
By the age of 13, Kemo had learned early on how important it was to market one’s self as a musician, a concept which he aims to instil in his students. Kemo ensures that his students understand how to develop themselves as well-rounded musicians and teaches them the importance of being progressive within the industry.
Lance Balchin
Lance is an educator in the creative industries, with over 15 years hands-on experience teaching Photoshop. Lance’s relationship with Photoshop started in 1991 with Version 2.5 (pre layers!) and he has built a substantial understanding of the software over 25 years. Lance currently lives in Brisbane, Australia and was admitted to practice law two years ago.
Lance Balchin is also a children’s illustrator and author who has internationally published two books in the ‘Mechanica’ series with the Five Mile Press, Simon & Schuster, Little Bee Books and Bonnier Publishing. There are a further seven picture books to follow as well as a set of four novels. The books carry a strong environmental message and are written for children aged from 8 to 14.
Lance Balchin
Lance is an educator in the creative industries, with over 15 years hands-on experience teaching Photoshop. Lance’s relationship with Photoshop started in 1991 with Version 2.5 (pre layers!) and he has built a substantial understanding of the software over 25 years. Lance currently lives in Brisbane, Australia and was admitted to practice law two years ago.
Lance Balchin is also a children’s illustrator and author who has internationally published two books in the ‘Mechanica’ series with the Five Mile Press, Simon & Schuster, Little Bee Books and Bonnier Publishing. There are a further seven picture books to follow as well as a set of four novels. The books carry a strong environmental message and are written for children aged from 8 to 14.
Ex-Officio Members (Continuing)
Dr George Markakis
A Chartered Accountant by profession, George joined JMC Academy in 1998 and has held the position of CEO since 2001. During this time he has overseen the acquisition and expansion of campuses and has driven the accreditation and re-accreditation processes both in the vocational and high education sectors. George oversees the operation today across three states, 15 qualifications and over 1,800 students. George is a Doctor of Philosophy (Innovation) and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr George Markakis
A Chartered Accountant by profession, George joined JMC Academy in 1998 and has held the position of CEO since 2001. During this time he has overseen the acquisition and expansion of campuses and has driven the accreditation and re-accreditation processes both in the vocational and high education sectors. George oversees the operation today across three states, 15 qualifications and over 1,800 students. George is a Doctor of Philosophy (Innovation) and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Sue-Ann Stanford
An education management specialist with 20 years experience in the vocational education and higher education sector, Dr Stanford has a proven track record in working with private educational institutions to have them registered, their courses accredited and then assisting them to manage the change from one institutional type to another with regards to regulatory requirements and cultural shifts.
Provide academic leadership, including monitoring the quality of provision
Initiate and maintain appropriate academic governance frameworks and mechanisms
Lead a diverse team of highly skilled people, including academics to develop and deliver innovative and engaging learning experiences
Dr Stanford also worked as Academic Director at MCI Institute and MCI Solutions, Kaplan Professional Education, and at the Think Education Group providing academic leadership, initiating and maintaining appropriate academic governance mechanisms, leading a diverse team of highly skilled people, including academics, subject matter experts, instructional designers to develop and deliver innovative and engaging learning experience and innovate product lines and delivery modes, developing HE courses for re-accreditation.
Projects/consultancies:
- The College, Sydney
- Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP)
- Whitehouse Institute of Design
- JMC Academy
Presentations and Publications:
- Author and co-author of academic journals articles
- Author and co-author of conference papers
Professional Memberships:
- Australian Tertiary Education Managers (individual)
- Higher Education Private Providers Quality Network (institutional representative)
- Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (individual)
Dr Sue-Ann Stanford
An education management specialist with 20 years experience in the vocational education and higher education sector, Dr Stanford has a proven track record in working with private educational institutions to have them registered, their courses accredited and then assisting them to manage the change from one institutional type to another with regards to regulatory requirements and cultural shifts.
Provide academic leadership, including monitoring the quality of provision
Initiate and maintain appropriate academic governance frameworks and mechanisms
Lead a diverse team of highly skilled people, including academics to develop and deliver innovative and engaging learning experiences
Dr Stanford also worked as Academic Director at MCI Institute and MCI Solutions, Kaplan Professional Education, and at the Think Education Group providing academic leadership, initiating and maintaining appropriate academic governance mechanisms, leading a diverse team of highly skilled people, including academics, subject matter experts, instructional designers to develop and deliver innovative and engaging learning experience and innovate product lines and delivery modes, developing HE courses for re-accreditation.
Projects/consultancies:
- The College, Sydney
- Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP)
- Whitehouse Institute of Design
- JMC Academy
Presentations and Publications:
- Author and co-author of academic journals articles
- Author and co-author of conference papers
Professional Memberships:
- Australian Tertiary Education Managers (individual)
- Higher Education Private Providers Quality Network (institutional representative)
- Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (individual)
Dr Catherine Gough-Brady
Dr Catherine Gough-Brady is an award-winning documentary producer and director. She has produced and directed six ABC TV documentary series, including Legal Briefs (2016) and Ethics Matters (2017). Catherine has also created 11 radio features for ABC Radio National.
Dr Catherine Gough-Brady has published in peer-reviewed journals and academic books on the emergent use of video as a method of academic discourse, and the relational nature of documentary production processes. Catherine is an associate editor of ScreenworksJournal.
As a Head of Postgraduate Studies, Dr Gough-Brady is responsible for teaching, curriculum design, staff management and academic leadership, course facilitation and reaccreditation of Master of Creative Industries courses nationally. Dr Gough-Brady contributes to the piloting of innovative educational projects. She also actively participates in Curriculum Design and Delivery Committees and Course Advisory Committees.
Dr Catherine Gough-Brady
Dr Catherine Gough-Brady is an award-winning documentary producer and director. She has produced and directed six ABC TV documentary series, including Legal Briefs (2016) and Ethics Matters (2017). Catherine has also created 11 radio features for ABC Radio National.
Dr Catherine Gough-Brady has published in peer-reviewed journals and academic books on the emergent use of video as a method of academic discourse, and the relational nature of documentary production processes. Catherine is an associate editor of ScreenworksJournal.
As a Head of Postgraduate Studies, Dr Gough-Brady is responsible for teaching, curriculum design, staff management and academic leadership, course facilitation and reaccreditation of Master of Creative Industries courses nationally. Dr Gough-Brady contributes to the piloting of innovative educational projects. She also actively participates in Curriculum Design and Delivery Committees and Course Advisory Committees.
Peter George
As a Producer, Director, Writer, Interviewer and Script Editor, Peter brings a resume of credit and awards to JMC Academy. As a filmmaker, major credits include the award winning documentaries Original Schtick, Schtick Happens, The Dream of Love, Not So Straight and The Triangle Wars, and fiction films Absence and William. Original Schtick won 2 AFI awards and the prestigious Rouben Mamoulian Award at the Sydney Film Festival. Almost all of Peter's films have travelled widely around the globe, including Original Schtick and William, which were invited to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
The Triangle War premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival as part of the MIFF Premiere Fund, and recently won Best Australian Documentary at the inaugural Antenna International Documentary Festival.
In addition to filmmaking, Peter has also worked as a copywriter, a book editor, an industry consultant, an Advertising Account Executive and was the former Editor of If Magazine.
Peter George
As a Producer, Director, Writer, Interviewer and Script Editor, Peter brings a resume of credit and awards to JMC Academy. As a filmmaker, major credits include the award winning documentaries Original Schtick, Schtick Happens, The Dream of Love, Not So Straight and The Triangle Wars, and fiction films Absence and William. Original Schtick won 2 AFI awards and the prestigious Rouben Mamoulian Award at the Sydney Film Festival. Almost all of Peter's films have travelled widely around the globe, including Original Schtick and William, which were invited to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
The Triangle War premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival as part of the MIFF Premiere Fund, and recently won Best Australian Documentary at the inaugural Antenna International Documentary Festival.
In addition to filmmaking, Peter has also worked as a copywriter, a book editor, an industry consultant, an Advertising Account Executive and was the former Editor of If Magazine.
Damian Gascoigne
Damian Gascoigne is an animation artist, specialising in gestural hand drawing. He gained a master’s in design at Kingston University in London and has recently completed a PhD at RMIT, focusing on remix cultures and the survival of hand drawing in the digital era.
Between 1993-2011 Gascoigne worked as an animation director for commercials and short films in London, gaining nominations and awards at top international animation festivals from Annecy to Documenta, and Hiroshima to Zagreb.
Since moving to Sydney in 2012 to set up the new Bachelor of Design Animation at UTS, he has created new works for the Australia Piano Quartet, Customs House Sydney and The Australia National Maritime Museum and exhibited at the NG Gallery Sydney and Bathurst Regional Gallery. In 2020 he was a finalist for the JADA Drawing Prize and is currently a finalist for the 2022 Lester Portrait Prize at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Damian Gascoigne
Damian Gascoigne is an animation artist, specialising in gestural hand drawing. He gained a master’s in design at Kingston University in London and has recently completed a PhD at RMIT, focusing on remix cultures and the survival of hand drawing in the digital era.
Between 1993-2011 Gascoigne worked as an animation director for commercials and short films in London, gaining nominations and awards at top international animation festivals from Annecy to Documenta, and Hiroshima to Zagreb.
Since moving to Sydney in 2012 to set up the new Bachelor of Design Animation at UTS, he has created new works for the Australia Piano Quartet, Customs House Sydney and The Australia National Maritime Museum and exhibited at the NG Gallery Sydney and Bathurst Regional Gallery. In 2020 he was a finalist for the JADA Drawing Prize and is currently a finalist for the 2022 Lester Portrait Prize at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Membership and Meeting Protocols
The protocols for membership and meetings of the Academic Board are as follows:
Membership of the Academic Board shall consist of:
- External members appointed by the Governing Council shall have a post-graduate qualification and university experience in a senior academic position.
- Internal representative members shall be one Head of Department from each campus chosen by the Heads of Department from that campus, and one student representative, as elected by the students.
- The student representative member shall be elected on a rotational basis allowing fair representation of all campuses.
- Ex-officio members: Chair of the Learning and Teaching, Chief Executive Officer, Dean, Associate Dean (Scholarship), Head of Postgraduate Studies.
- The Chair of the Academic Board shall be appointed by the Governing Council from among the external members of the Board.
- The members of the Academic Board are provided with all relevant information prior to meetings and are obligated to preserve commercial-in-confidence information.
Frequency of Meetings
The Academic Board shall meet at least four times per year. Additional meetings may be called with the Chair’s approval.
Secretariat
The Dean is responsible for providing secretariat services to the Academic Board.
Communicating with the Academic Board
For further information on communicating with the Academic Board please contact your local representative.
Learning & Teaching Committee
JMC Academy’s Learning and Teaching Committee is a committee of the Academic Board. It is the principal advisory committee on learning and teaching, assists the Board in carrying out its academic governance and leadership functions and provides recommendations on the maintenance of academic standards and high-quality learning as well as on policy, initiatives, and innovation.