Courses Accreditation Committee — election of academic staff

Candidates in ballot paper order

• Bronwyn O’Brien
• Valery Combes
• Philip Birch
• Shankar Sankaran
• Annette Dowd
• George Tian
• Lisa Pont

Candidates’ statements

Bronwyn O’Brien

I am pleased to submit a nomination for the UTS Courses Reaccreditation Committee. With extensive experience as Program Director for the Faculty of Science’s Medical Science, Pre-Medicine and Honours courses, I bring a deep understanding of curriculum design, academic standards, and student-centred learning. Over the years, I have led multiple course reviews, implemented evidence-based improvements, and collaborated across disciplines to ensure our programs remain rigorous, relevant, and aligned with industry and research developments. I am passionate about maintaining the integrity and innovation of UTS’s academic offerings and committed to upholding the university’s reputation for excellence. My familiarity with accreditation processes, combined with a strong track record in academic leadership, positions me to contribute meaningfully to the committee’s work. I look forward to supporting the continuous improvement of our courses and ensuring they meet the evolving needs of students, staff, and the broader community.

Valery Combes

I am currently the Associate Head of School (Education and Students) in the School of Life Sciences (Science) and I believe I am well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the UTS Course Accreditation Committee. My role involves oversight of curriculum design, student experience, and academic quality, giving me a comprehensive understanding of the factors that underlie the delivery of a course. I work closely with program directors and subject coordinators to ensure the courses we offer are aligned with UTS standards and sector expectations. I also bring experience in leading course accreditation and re-accreditation, implementing feedback, and supporting improvement initiatives. Serving on the committee would allow me to not only consolidate my knowledge of the accreditation process but also ensure academic excellence and student-centred learning in our current and new courses.

Philip Birch

I bring extensive expertise in course governance and reaccreditation, grounded in leading UTS Criminology through its first full accreditation cycle (2022–2025). Under my leadership, the discipline has expanded year on year with enrolled load increasing from 45.8 (year 1) to over 540 EFTSL (year 4). The course attracts a highly diverse student body, including strong representation from low socio-economic, first-in-family, and non-traditional student cohorts, aligning with UTS’s widening participation priorities. Currently leading the reaccreditation process, I am overseeing an evidence-based evaluation of course performance, student outcomes, and policy compliance. Steering this growth has required rigorous alignment with the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF), Academic Board policy, and faculty QA processes. With 18 years’ experience in the university sector, I bring expertise in curriculum mapping, admission standards, and policy interpretation to inform the Committee’s oversight of course accreditation and quality assurance.

Shankar Sankaran

Professor Shankar Sankaran joined UTS in 2006 and has over18 years of experience in undergraduate and postgraduate accreditation at universities in Australia and overseas. He volunteers as a program accreditation team member as well as a team lead for the Project Management Institute ‘s (PMI) Global Accreditation Centre (GAC) since 2007. He served on the PMI’s Global Accreditation Board for six years and served as its chair for a year. He is also an external assessor for University of Malaya’s postgraduate programs and advises Norwegian University of Science and Technology on accreditation matters. He was a course director of the Master of Project Management Program at UTS for six years and has carried out internal accreditation for that course as well. He is a passionate educator who believes in the quality of education provided by UTS.

Annette Dowd

I am a physicist and senior lecturer with extensive experience in curriculum design and renewal across large first-year service subjects and specialist programs. In my previous role as Program Director for Biomedical Physics, I prepared and revised course proposals for university accreditation. I have served on the Faculty Board in Science, as Associate Head of School (Education and Students) for the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and currently as Responsible Academic Officer for coursework and misconduct, applying policy and supporting colleagues through course renewal and quality-assurance processes.

I seek election to the Courses Accreditation Committee to contribute practical experience with course development, academic standards and policy implementation. My aim would be consistent and evidence-based decisions that maintain course integrity and fairness in admission and articulation arrangements across UTS.

George Tian

As the newly appointed Director of Academic Programs (Law), I am committed to strengthening curriculum quality, academic integrity, and alignment with university-wide learning and teaching priorities.

Serving on the Courses Accreditation Committee would provide an opportunity to contribute a legal and interdisciplinary perspective to the review and accreditation of coursework programs, while supporting the University’s broader goals in academic governance, policy development, and quality assurance.

Over my 17 years at UTS Law, I have developed and coordinated multiple core and elective subjects across undergraduate and postgraduate levels, led curriculum renewal initiatives, and embedded AI and digital capability into learning design. As Lead Chief Investigator on several interdisciplinary AI projects — including a recent Key Technology Partnership grant on AI-Generated Fake Law Detection and Regulation — I bring extensive experience in collaborative innovation and cross-faculty engagement.

I would be honoured to contribute to the University community through excellence, inclusivity, and innovation.

Lisa Pont

As Deputy Head of School (GSH) (2023-2025) and Chair of the Health Faculty Courses Committee (FCC), I have led and supported curriculum governance, development, review, and quality improvement and assurance across a diverse portfolio of health courses at UTS. My learning and teaching experience includes coordinating major curriculum redesigns, ensuring alignment with professional standards, and embedding evidence-based, student-centred approaches within tertiary curricula and I have contributed to curriculum governance internally as a member of the UTS Academic Board (2020–2023), and externally as Chair of the Australian Pharmacy Council Assessment Advisory Committee (2024– current), and member of the APC Assessment Committee (2020–current). My collaborative leadership style encompasses curriculum innovation, accreditation, and stakeholder engagement. I am dedicated to upholding the committee’s remit to ensure academic rigour, relevance, and compliance with regulatory frameworks, and to fostering transparent, consultative governance processes that advance the quality and reputation of UTS courses.

How to vote in an online ballot

1. Note your candidate choices and preference order
2. Log in to UTS: Elections Online Polling Booth
3. Choose the election you wish to vote in
4. Select the candidates you wish to vote for
5. Check your vote
6. When you are ready, choose 'submit' to record your vote.

Conduct

Participants in elections (candidates, their representatives and voters) are expected to follow the same high standard of conduct and behaviour during the campaign process as is expected on campus generally. The behaviour of election candidates and their representatives should meet expected standards of conduct. See Code of Conduct for UTS Elections.

Concerns about security due to election-related conduct should be reported to UTS Security. Phone +61 2 9514 1192, or dial ‘6’ on any UTS phone.

Further information

The schedule for this election has information about the election rules, Returning Officer and Courses Accreditation Committee.

See Voting for information about votes, confidentiality and results.