UAC Board

Professor Denise Kirkpatrick

Non-executive Chair

Chair, Nomination and Remuneration Committee / Appointed July 2020

Denise Kirkpatrick is President, Nan Tien Institute, and recognised internationally for her scholarly contributions in the fields of technology-enhanced learning and quality assurance in higher education. She has been at the forefront of developing strategies to enhance teaching and learning at many of Australia's leading universities, including the University of Adelaide and La Trobe University, as well as Open University UK.

Before joining the Nan Tien Institute, Denise was Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Western Sydney University.

Nicole Grainger-Marsh

Non-executive Director

Appointed January 2016

Nicole Grainger-Marsh is Chief Executive Officer at Asuria Australia. She is a highly experienced senior business leader with over 20 years of experience at renowned global brands such as Yahoo, Telstra, NEC, Accor Hotels and British Telecom.

Specialising in marketing, digital, sales, human services and e-commerce, Nicole has successfully led large, cross-functional teams across the Asia-Pacific and Europe. With a strong focus on balancing social impact with commercial performance and growth, she has extensive expertise in strategic business planning and operations.

Professor Tyrone Carlin

Non-executive Director

Chair, Audit and Risk Committee / Appointed January 2017

Tyrone Carlin is Vice-Chancellor and President, Southern Cross University. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and the recipient of the Law Graduates Association Medal in Law from the University of Sydney. His academic interests and publications include contract and commercial law, financial reporting and public financial management.

Before joining Southern Cross University, Tyrone occupied the positions of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Registrar), Pro Vice Chancellor (Education Operations), Professor of Financial Reporting and Regulation, and Co-Dean of the University of Sydney Business School. He also held a variety of senior academic positions, including Dean of Law at Macquarie University and Director of Academic Programs at Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

Cathy Kovacs

Non-executive Director

Appointed July 2020

Cathy Kovacs is a Company Director and Board Adviser. She has held senior executive roles with large financial services companies including Westpac, Macquarie Group and Bankers Trust. She has strong subject matter expertise in strategy, risk management, technological change, sales and marketing, people leadership and financial reporting.

She currently serves on the boards of three ASX-listed companies: OFX Limited, HUB24 and Magellan Financial Group. She also serves on the boards of Magellan Asset Management, Grapple and Kincoppal Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart.

Professor Eric Knight

Non-executive Director

Appointed April 2022

Eric Knight is Dean and Professor of Strategic Management at Macquarie Business School. He is a passionate advocate for the impact and technology agendas shaping universities, and the synergy between world-class research, real-world teaching and long-term industry, government and community partnerships.

Prior to leading the Macquarie Business School, Eric was Professor of Strategic Management and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research – Enterprise & Engagement) at The University of Sydney and has worked as a strategy consultant at Boston Consulting Group.

In addition to serving on the Board of the UAC, Eric serves on the boards of MQ Health, Sydney Grammar School, the Research Committee of the Committee for Sydney, and on the Business Council of Australia’s Skills, Education and Migration Committee.

Vincent Creighton

Managing Director

Appointed April 2025

Vincent Creighton joined UAC in April 2025, bringing executive experience from some of Australia’s largest online private education companies and, more recently, an innovative edtech start-up. Vincent is also a current student at UTS Connected Intelligence Centre, completing an Entrepreneurial Future PhD in GenAI for Learning.

As Managing Director, Vincent is focused on contributing to a more agile, technology-enabled, future-focused admissions ecosystem, improving service delivery, deepening institutional partnerships, and applying GenAI to create more seamless and scalable experiences for learners and universities.

Professor Hind Benbya

Non-executive Director

Appointed November 2025

Hind Benbya is Dean of the Business School at Western Sydney University and an internationally recognised scholar in digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Her academic work focuses on AI governance, technology enabled innovation and the future of work.

Before joining Western Sydney University, Hind was Professor of Digital Transformation, Head of the School of Information Systems and Business Analytics and Founding Director of the Centre for AI and the Future of Business at Deakin University. She has also held senior leadership and honorary academic roles in Europe and the United States, contributing to major organisational transformation initiatives and industry partnerships.

Hind’s research is published in leading international journals and informs policy, industry strategy and workforce capability development. She serves on advisory boards and expert panels focused on digital transformation, innovation ecosystems and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.

Professor Rachel Gibson

Non-executive Director

Appointed November 2025

Rachel Gibson is Executive Dean, Faculty of Health, at the University of Canberra. She is an established university leader, having worked at multiple institutions and excelled in university administration, research and teaching.

Rachel’s current role focuses on strategic partnerships, program development, quality of learning and teaching, student experiences, digital learning, research development and international engagement.