Emeritus Professor Margot Hillel OAM has a professional background in academia including in academic governance. She was Chair of Academic Board at Australian Catholic University for 10 years and a member of the ACU Senate, both elected and ex officio – the senior most governing body of the University – as well as chairing the promotions panels for Levels A-D. She has been a long-term external member of the Academic Board of Catholic Theological College and on the promotions panel of the University of Divinity. Outside academia she has Board experience including chairing the National Board of Directors of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, and chair of the Boards of Impact for Women, an organisation supporting women escaping from domestic violence and that of Cambodian Kids Can that provides education for disadvantaged girls and young women in Cambodia. Margot was awarded an OAM in 2000 for her services to young people’s literature.

Professor Prabal Datta Barua is a highly accomplished award-winning researcher, academic and educationist. Professor Barua has 25 years of global leadership experience in education, health, Information Technology and the Media. His expertise has been instrumental in providing high-level input and commentary on many Australian and overseas universities’ educational strategic policy frameworks.

Professor Barua is a prolific author with over 100 publications in top-tier academic journals and has contributed as a guest editor in many international journals. He has secured over

A$3M in government and industry research grants for conducting cutting-edge research in applying Artificial Intelligence in health informatics, education analytics and ICT for business transformation. He is supervising more than 15 research students at both doctoral and master’s levels.

Professor Barua is the Academic Dean at the Australian International Institute of Higher Education, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), a member of the ICT Industry Advisory Board at UniSQ, a member of the ICT Programs Leadership & Governance Committee at UniSQ; a member of Business in AI steering committee at UniSQ; accredited Higher Degree by Research (HDR) supervisor at UniSQ. Professor Barua is also an Adjunct Professor at Taylor’s University Malaysia, an Adjunct Professor in New England (UNE), an accredited HDR supervisor at UNE, and a Visiting Professor at SRM University of Science and Technology, India. Professor Barua is also an Honorary Professional/Industry Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

Professor Barua is a professional member of the IEEE Computer Society, the Australian Computer Society, The CEO Institute and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Professor Barua is actively involved in volunteer work for the Australian Red Cross and the St Vincent Paul De Society. Prabal is also the Justice of Peace for the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.

Dr Andy West

B. Comm, MBA, DBA, Fellow IML, Member ACS, Member AICD.

Dr Andy West is the Course Director of the Master of Digital Marketing at the University of Technology Sydney. He is also a lecturer in marketing at New York University – Sydney Campus. Dr West’s academic governance involvement with the independent higher education sector commenced at Universal Business School Sydney in 2015, where he was Academic Dean from 2020 to 2022. He has also been on four Academic Boards and three Course Advisory Boards of other independent higher education providers (IHEP). He has been on the steering committee of HEPP-QN since its formation in 2015. Dr West’s academic research has been in the areas of marketing analytics, digital innovation and higher education. He has been the co-author of two books and the author of four book chapters on higher education governance and work-integrated learning. He has published eight peer-reviewed journals and presented at fourteen academic conferences.

Dr Smitha is the Associate Dean (acting) at AIIHE. Smitha has sharpened a distinct combination of skills vital for shaping the future of IT academia. At the heart of her profile is a commitment to empowering the next generation of IT professionals. Having taught both undergraduate and postgraduate students, Smitha has witnessed first-hand the transformative power of education. Smitha has actively participated in the pivotal processes that uphold the quality of education, and this experience has equipped her with a profound understanding of the standards and expectations of the modern-day academic landscape. Every student, every classroom, every research paper has been a chapter in her story of academic commitment. Her goal remains unwavering in the ever-evolving digital age to inspire, educate and push the boundaries of what we know. 

She is currently focused on key areas of research in Teaching and Learning, Cybersecurity and AI in Healthcare.

She is passionate about understanding AI as the cutting-edge technology and advancing in research collaborations. She is currently collaborating with Scanaptics, a leading RIS-PACS-EDI provider, to explore the transformative potential of AI.

Dr. Nirmal Acharya is a distinguished academic leader and marketing professional with over a decade of experience spanning higher education, research, and industry. At AIIHE, he serves as the Course Coordinator and Lecturer for the Bachelor of Business Marketing program, where his innovative curriculum design and strategic leadership have significantly enhanced student engagement and academic outcomes.

Dr. Acharya’s expertise is rooted in his deep understanding of digital marketing and AI-driven research. He has successfully integrated advanced analytics and contemporary theories into course content, while also leading TEQSA accreditation initiatives for multiple postgraduate programs. An active researcher and published author, he has forged international collaborations and supervised higher degree research, ensuring that his work remains at the cutting edge of marketing and technology.

Holding a PhD from the University of Southern Queensland, an MBA from the University of Newcastle, and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Dr. Acharya brings a multifaceted perspective to education. His commitment to excellence and innovation continues to drive AIIHE’s mission to deliver high-quality, research-informed teaching and learning experiences.