CEO and senior executive Lara McKay has been announced as the new QUT Vice-President (Engagement) and Chief Marketing Officer.
Ms McKay joins QUT from Ormond College at the University of Melbourne where she is the Master and CEO.
She has spent the past 25 years working in senior leadership roles in higher education, Queensland Government, public healthcare and major events. She brings to the Vice-President (Engagement) and Chief Marketing Officer role her extensive skills in stakeholder and government relations, media relations and issues management, higher education communications, marketing and alumni relations.
Ms McKay’s experience includes:
- Ormond College and Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship Master and CEO,
- Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games General Manager, Communications and Marketing,
- The University of Melbourne Executive Director Marketing and Communication,
- Department of Premier and Cabinet, Queensland, Executive Director, State Services, and
- Queensland Health Senior Director, Executive and Ministerial Services.
From 2013-2017 she worked at the University of Melbourne as head of marketing, then marketing and communications after four years in the Queensland public service.
For the past five years, she has led Ormond College, Australia’s largest residential college with a population of 500 students, 80 staff and more than 10,000 alumni, and brings her knowledge, insight and passion for the student experience to the new role.
Ms McKay said she was looking forward to joining the team at QUT in this newly created role.
“QUT has an outstanding history of achievement in research innovation and graduate outcomes for which it should rightfully be very proud,” Ms Mckay said.
“With the present challenges for higher education, it is vital that universities engage dynamically with their communities to showcase the impact they have on a local and global scale. I am extremely motivated to work with teams across the university to amplify the stories of exceptional research and teaching synonymous with QUT,” she said.
QUT Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Christopher Barner-Kowollik said he was looking forward to welcoming Ms McKay to the QUT team.
“Lara has a unique mix of skills and experience that will deliver on achieving the ambitious targets as set out in Connections – the QUT Strategy 2023 to 2027,” Professor Barner-Kowollik said.
“She has a reputation as an innovative leader in marketing and communications in higher education and I know she will bring her experience, insight and passion for the student experience to the new role,” he said.
She also looks forward to returning to Queensland and sharing her first-hand experience at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games as Brisbane heads towards the 2032 Olympics.
She will start in the new role at QUT on November 11.
QUT Media Contact:
Madeline Healy, 3138 3083, m5.healy@qut.edu.au
After hours: media@qut.edu.au
