Academic Board

Role

The Academic Board oversees the educational processes involved in designing, delivering and assessing ISN courses.

Functions

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The Academic Board is delegated the powers and authorities to carry out the following functions:

• approve new courses and changes to existing courses consistent with registration and accreditation requirements;

• monitor and approve student results and scholarships;

• oversee and monitor the academic quality of programs and courses;

• initiate academic reviews and improvements;

• develop, approve and implement academic policies and procedures; and

• report to the College Council consistent with the objects and purposes of ISN and its colleges.

Emeritus Professor Joyce Kirk

Deputy Chair, Academic Board

Professor Joyce Kirk is a highly experienced higher education consultants pecialising in quality assurance, governance, and international education. Her consultancy work is grounded in extensive senior leadership experience, including roles as Chair of the Academic Board and Dean at UTS, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students) at RMIT University, and interim positions such as President of RMIT Vietnam and Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of New England.

She has made significant contributions to institutional and program reviews, audits, and accreditation assessments across public universities and private providers in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. Her expertise draws on her experience as an Honorary Auditor with the Australian Universities Quality Agency and engagements through her listing on the Tertiary Education Quality and Standard Agency Register of Experts.  Professor Kirk has served as an expert reviewer with the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science andTechnology in Papua New Guinea, the Academic Quality Agency for New Zealand Universities, the Vanuatu Qualifications Authority and the Samoa Qualifications Authority.

In Australia Professor Kirk has carried out reviews of academic and corporate governance for more than ten universities and several Higher Education Institutes in five Australian states and territories, working at times in partnership with experts.  She has also carried out reviews of compliance with international education legislation and standards for several universities and Higher Education Institutes, again in partnership.  Professor Kirk hasbeen involved in the assessment of regulatory and standards compliance on behalf of professional accreditation bodies in fields as diverse as medicine, optometry, dietetics and information management.

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Currently Professor Kirk is a member of the Council and Audit and Risk Committee of Charles Sturt University,  a member of the College Council and Chair of the Academic Board of ISN Psychology and a member of the Academic Board and Chair of the Course Advisory Committee of the Australian National Institute of Management and Commerce (IMC).

Professor Jaclyn Broadbent

Deputy Chair, Academic Board

Professor Jaclyn Broadbent serves as Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Experience at Deakin University in the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic. She is also a Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE). Previously, Jaclyn has been the Pro Vice-Chancellor Sessional Academic Experience, Deputy Head of School and Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning) in the School of Psychology at Deakin.  With doctorates in both Psychology and Education, her research focuses on online self-regulated learning and the development of teaching strategies to enhance student success. She has an interest in using feedback and digital technologies (such as GenAI) to improve outcomes in large student cohorts. Jaclyn has $2.2 million in research funding, 57 articles and book chapters and has achieved 7800+ citations, an H-index of 30 and i10 index of 39 (Google Scholar). Broadbent's expertise extends to university policy and governance, where she plays a key role in shaping academic standards and direction through her committee work. Recognised for her innovative teaching, she has received the Australian Award for University Teaching and Deakin's Teacher of the Year award (twice)

Professor Rob Kapsa

Independent Member, Academic Board

Robert Kapsa is the inaugural Professor of Biofabrication and Tissue Engineering at RMIT University and Head of Research (Neurosciences) at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM). He is a biochemist, molecular and cell biologist specialising in development of molecular, regenerative cell and gene therapies for damaged and diseased muscle and nerve, with particular focus on Neuromuscular disorders. He pioneered gene editing technologies (1998-2005) that saw the first correction of the mutation that caused DMD in humans and muscular dystrophy in the mdx mouse model of DMD.

 

Professor Kapsa’s clinical guidance along his professional path has come several key mentors: With Prof Ed Byrne (Neuromuscular Disorders) Pr Kapsa’s focus on muscle disease was realised in his establishment of Australia’s first genetic diagnostic facility for mitochondrial disorders and then by his involvement in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with Prof Ed Byrne; With Prof Graeme Clark (Electrophysiology and Materials Science), he established Bionic Technologies Australia (ahich generated a spinout called Polyactiva) and gained a working knowledge of device implant translation; With Prof Wayne Morrison (Tissue Engineering), he gained expertise in developing biodegradable implants for tissue engineering applications.

 

In his current capacity at RMIT, Pr Kapsa continues to build world class Biofabrication and Tissue Engineering activities that will form flagship activities within the new multi-institutional collaborative BioMedical Engineering hub, the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD) located at SVHM.

Professor Kathryn Nicholson Perry

ISN Psychology Dean, Academic Board

Professor Kathryn Nicholson Perry is passionate about the role psychology plays as a discipline and profession in creating positive change for individuals and for increasingly diverse groups and communities. This conviction is underpinned by her direct experience in professional practice, her history of impactful research and now over 15 years in academic leadership. Throughout her career she has sought to maximise the opportunity psychology can offer to the community, often stepping into emerging areas of practice and research. This includes working with people affected by stigmatised conditions, such as those with HIV/AIDS, or where access to services is limited for myriad reasons, for example people living with spinal cord injury. In 2009 Kathryn decided to make the move into academia in line with her desire to help address psychology workforce challenges by investing in the next generation of researchers and practitioners. In each of her academic leadership roles, most recently as Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) at the Australian College of Applied Professions, she has set the bar high for creating transformative educational environments where theory can be translated into impactful practice. Kathryn has contributed widely to the profession, including as Deputy Chair of the APS Division of Psychology Research, Education and Training, and more broadly to interdisciplinary societies such as the Australian Association of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy where she is currently Treasurer. Kathryn is especially focused on inclusion and diversity, and is committed to supporting the ambitions of students from all walks of life and parts of Australia to fulfil their academic goals and so contribute to the good of our society.

Associate Professor Thomas Hammond

ISN Psychology Associate Dean, Academic Board

Associate Professor Thomas Hammond is a clinical psychologist and board approved supervisor with 16 years of international experience working across healthcare, higher education, management consulting, and professional sport sectors.

 

Tom has previously held senior leadership and executive roles, highlights include developing wellbeing strategy and the student success portfolio at Ormond College – The University of Melbourne, leading a primary care mental health service and strategic consulting services in Canada and Australia. In 2018 he was appointed as the psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic Team.

 

Tom also holds an Adjunct appointment at the University of Winnipeg, his research is focused on clinical sport psychology, subjective wellbeing, and organisational performance.

Felicity Garland

ISN Psychology Academic Staff Representaive, Academic Board

Felicity is a clinical psychologist and board approved supervisor with over 14 years’ experience in psychology and mental health. She has worked with provisional and early career psychologists to support and develop their capacity to perform the duties of a psychologist with autonomy, integrity, and expertise. Felicity has worked in private practice, education and forensic settings, crisis support, and with first responders. She is passionate about providing best practice client-centred support. In therapy, Felicity routinely utilises therapeutic paradigms including cognitive behaviour therapy, schema therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, acceptance and commitment therapy, and attachment-based strategies for a range of presenting problems. Felicity has also lectured postgraduate and undergraduate students at Deakin University and Edith Cowan University.