QUT has announced the appointment of new members to its governing body, QUT Council, bringing a wealth of experience from the legal, education, business, tertiary education, and research sectors.
Led by QUT Chancellor Ann Sherry AO, QUT Council oversees the University’s performance, financial sustainability, and strategic priorities, ensuring QUT remains at the forefront of higher education in Australia and globally.
QUT Chancellor Ann Sherry AO said the new Council reflected the University’s commitment to excellence, diversity, and real-world impact.
“Strong governance is the foundation of a thriving university,” Ms Sherry said. “This new Council brings together deep expertise and fresh perspectives from across sectors, ensuring QUT continues to lead with integrity, innovation, and purpose.”
“I’m proud to welcome these outstanding individuals to Council. Their leadership and insight will help guide QUT through the opportunities and challenges ahead, as we continue to deliver transformative education and research for the benefit of our communities.”
QUT Council members include professionals and representatives from higher education, government, commerce, industry, and alumni; elected QUT staff members and students; the Chancellor, Ann Sherry AO; the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Sheil AO; and the Chair of University Academic Board, Professor Lisa Bradley.
External members appointed by the Governor in Council
The Honourable Justice Berna Collier
The Honourable Justice Berna Collier has served as a Federal Court judge since 2006 and holds judicial appointments in Papua New Guinea, the ACT Supreme Court, and the Administrative Review Tribunal. Admitted to practice in multiple jurisdictions, she has held senior roles with Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, and the Australian Law Reform Commission. A former Professor of Commercial Law at QUT, she was awarded the Centenary Medal for her contributions to corporate regulation.
Jane Crombie
Jane Crombie is QUT alumna and a Non-Executive Director and ex-investment executive with 20 years’ experience across the financial services, property, education and not-for-profit sectors. As an executive, she led investment due diligence, portfolio risk and asset allocation for corporate, retail and superannuation clients within a professional services environment. Jane is Lead Independent Director and Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee Chair at Cromwell Funds Management.
Paul Spiro
Paul Spiro is the Chairman of the Brisbane Economic Development Agency and has been a Partner at Gadens for 37 years, including Managing Partner in their Brisbane office for 23 years. Mr Spiro has Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Queensland and is one of Australia’s leading experts in property law and development. He has also served several not-for-profit agencies.
Additional members appointed by Council
Mick Gooda (continuing member)
Mick Gooda, a proud Gangulu man from Central Queensland, is a senior executive with over 25 years’ leadership in Indigenous affairs. He has held prominent roles including Co-Commissioner of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, and Chair of Queensland’s Stolen Wages Reparations Taskforce. Mr Gooda has also served on the Referendum Council, led the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health, and contributed to numerous boards and advisory groups. He is currently an independent member of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission.
Chris Hancock AM
Chris Hancock AM is the former Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet), having retired in June 2025. He led AARNet from 2004, achieving significant growth and transformation for the network during his time. Under his leadership, AARNet expanded its national and international infrastructure, enhanced its service offerings to include cyber security and collaboration services, and strengthened its position as a critical enabler of research and education in Australia. As well as holding previous management roles at various telecommunications companies, Mr Hancock also serves on a number of boards.
Adjunct Professor Susan Rix AM (continuing member)
Adjunct Professor Susan Rix AM, a Consultant at BDO and Accredited Family Business Advisor, is a highly respected business leader with over 35 years’ experience in accounting and corporate advisory. A Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she specialises in governance, succession planning, and business efficiency. Adjunct Professor Rix has held numerous board and leadership roles, including Chair of AEIOU Foundation, Harcourts Group, and Trustee of QPAC, and is an Adjunct Professor at QUT Business School. Her contributions have been recognised with a Churchill Fellowship and the Medal of the Order of Australia.
Karen Spiller OAM CF (continuing member)
Karen Spiller OAM CF, a QUT Council member since October 2021, brings extensive leadership experience in primary and secondary education and across national and state not-for-profit boards. She has chaired the Association of Heads of Independent Schools and Independent Schools Queensland, and currently serves on boards including Independent Schools Australia and Yalari. Her contributions have been recognised with multiple awards, including a Churchill Fellowship and the Medal of the Order of Australia, and she is an invited member of the International Education and Training Advisory Group to Trade and Investment Queensland.
Elected staff representatives
Academic staff representative: Associate Professor David Nielsen (continuing member)
Associate Professor David Nielsen, a QUT Council member since November 2016, is an Associate Professor in the QUT School of Architecture and Built Environment. He teaches integrated design and documentation with a focus on building information modelling, and his research explores the intersections of German architectural history, industrialisation, and Orientalism. His work examines figures such as Bruno Taut and Adolf Behne, and themes including expressionism, exhibition architecture, and botanical glasshouses. He is the author of Bruno Taut’s Design Inspiration for the Glashaus and History of the Mauser Rifle in Chile, and is currently researching German Orientalism and the history of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
Academic staff representative: Associate Professor Melanie White
Associate Professor Melanie White is an Associate Professor in QUT’s School of Psychology and Counselling, with previous roles at the University of Southern Queensland and CARRS-Q. Her teaching spans behavioural neuroscience, applied cognitive psychology, and psychopharmacology of addictive behaviours. Holding a PhD in the field of behaviour genetics from QUT, her research focuses on cognitive function and its role in motivation, behaviour, and mental health, with particular interest in impulsivity, executive function, neurodiversity, and engagement. Her current studies explore these factors in relation to chronic pain, eating and substance use behaviours, and participation in e-health programs across clinical and non-clinical populations.
Professional staff representative: Stacey Lowe
Stacey Lowe has extensive experience at QUT and is currently Manager, Support for Learning (Language and Learning) with the Learning and Teaching Unit in the University’s Education Portfolio.
Elected student representatives
Following recent university-wide elections, two students have been elected to serve two-year terms on the QUT Council: Bachelor of Engineering student William Lane has been appointed as the undergraduate representative and PhD student Natasha Kitano has been appointed as the postgraduate representative.
QUT would also like to acknowledge the significant contributions and commitment of the outgoing QUT Council members Dominic McGann, Paul Lindstrom, Dr Susan Pond AM, Associate Professor Yvette Miller, Dianne Nilsson, Euan Tiernan and Deepika Sharma.
QUT Council will meet for the first time in its new composition on 23 October.
Media contact:
Rod Chester
QUT Media
07 3138 2361 / 0407 585 901 (After Hours)
