Liz Harris has over 30 years of experience in vocational education and training. She holds several graduate degrees and leadership certifications. Her career highlights include serving as the CEO of Challenger Institute of Technology, where she led the organization to numerous state and national awards. She has also held advisory roles for the Australian government. Harris has published works and presented widely at international conferences on topics related to vocational education, leadership, and workforce development.

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CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL DETAILS
Name: Liz Harris PSM
Email: lizharris38@gmail.com
Educational Qualifications:
Master of Education
Thesis Topic: Learning Organisations
Murdoch University
Graduate Diploma Tertiary and Adult Education
Equivalence granted
Murdoch University
Graduate Diploma Language Studies
Edith Cowan University
Bachelor of Arts (Communications)
University of South Australia
Diploma in Teaching of English as a Second Language
Royal Society of Arts, London
CEO Leadership Program (Women’s Leadership Forum)
Harvard Business School, Boston
Professional Coaching Certification
New Ventures West, San Francisco
Appointments and Awards:
• 2015 Adjunct Professor (School of Business) Notre Dame University
• 2015 Ministry of Education Singapore, five year appointment as international expert, Expert Review
Panel for Quality Assurance of national vocational education system, Singapore
• 2014 Australian Honours Public Service Medal for Service Excellence
• 2009 Winner WA Telstra Business Woman of the Year, Community and Government
• 2012 - Present : Director Australian Institute of Management (AIM) Board and Chair, Australian
Institute of Management Advisory Board
• 2011 - 2013: Commonwealth Ministerial Principle Committee for Tertiary Education Quality and
Pathways (TEQPPC), Committee Member ( Ministerial appointment)
• 2010 – 2013 : Murdoch University, Senate Member, Audit and Risk Management Committee Member
and Honorary Awards and Ceremonial Committee Member
• 2008 : Australia 2020 Summit participation by invitation from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
• 2006 - 2014 : Training Accreditation Council (TAC), State training regulation authority
member (Ministerial appointment)
• 2006 – 2007 : Ministerial Task Force for Skilling Western Australia’s Defence Industry
(Ministerial appointment)
Professional Memberships:
• Australian Institute of Management (AIM)

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Curriculum Vitae
EMPLOYMENT Liz Harris
CHALLENGER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – Chief Executive Officer
Strategic leadership of the organisation with responsibility for 1000 full-time staff, a budget of $150 million, assets of $250
million and delivery of training to 24,000 students annually. Responsible for the provision of quality vocational education
and training services to industry and community both in WA and internationally, and for the achievement of high level
strategic goals for government. Providing advice to the organisation’s board and Governing Council, and Minister for
Training on matters related to the Institute, with full accountability for all achievements of the Institute. Led the organisation
to win multiple state and national awards including 3 Premier’s Awards, Western Australian Training Provider of the Year
and Australian Training Provider of the Year.
2003 - 2006
CHALLENGER TAFE - General Manager Training Research and Development
Leadership of the organisation’s training, research and strategic development with responsibility for leading 600 staff and
a $30 million dollar budget. Member of the organizational corporate executive, contributing to corporate strategic planning,
policy development, and staff professional growth.
1999 - 2003
CHALLENGER TAFE - Director Training Services
Strategic direction and support for the industry and community centres of specialisation encompassing thirteen industry
delivery areas. Responsible for leading 200 staff and with a budget of $10 million.
1997 - 1999
SOUTH METROPOLITAN COLLEGE OF TAFE- Manager Training Services
Management of training delivery in the business and service industry areas leading 120 staff and fifteen academic delivery
teams.
1996 - 1997
MURDOCH UNIVERSITY- Research Project Director
Strategic research activity within the School of Education, including undertaking Commonwealth funded research into
workplace learning with a particular focus on the development of learning organisations.
1993 - 1996
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TRAINING AUTHORITY (ANTA) - National Project Director
Leadership responsibility for the design, development and implementation of a $5 million ANTA funded national staff
development strategy for the Australian Vocational Education and Training system.
1992 - 1993
DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING - Adult Literacy
Services Bureau - State Manager Professional Development
1990 - 1992
DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING, Adult Migrant
Education Service, Industry Education Unit - Industry Consultant
1987 - 1989
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL & FURTHER EDUCATION (SA) - Industry based lecturer
1986 - 1987
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SRI LANKA - Lecturer, Teacher Training
1979 - 1981
TOKYO LANGUAGE INSTITUTE, JAPAN - Lecturer Corporate and Business Communication
1977 - 1978
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, FIJI - English Language Teacher

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Curriculum Vitae
SELECTED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Liz Harris
Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) Research Conference:
Panel Presentation: Constructing VET Futures
Perth April 2013
International Technical and Vocational Education Conference, Singapore
Governance and Leadership (by invitation)
Singapore November 2012
Vocational Education Capability Assessment Forum
Using the Capability Assessment Tools as a VET development strategy
Sydney November 2012
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
Working Collaboratively, presentation with Shell and Curtin University (by invitation)
Perth October 2011
Abu Dhabi Vocational Education & Training Institute - ADVETI
Building Vocational Skills (by invitation)
Abu Dhabi May 2011
Women in Leadership Conference, CBH Group
Women in Leadership (by invitation)
Perth May 2011
Women’s Advisory Council - Women of the 21st
Century Symposium
Women in Leadership (by invitation)
Perth
June 2010
Business and Professional Women WA State Conference
Exploring the Meaning of Leadership, (by invitation)
Perth June 2010
International Women’s Day Forum
Exploring the Meaning of Leadership, (by invitation)
Perth February 2010
TAFE Governance & Regulations Forum (by invitation) Melbourne February 2010
City of Swan Annual Conference
Women in Leadership, (by invitation)
Perth February 2010
Institute of Public Administration Australia
Still Breaking through (by invitation)
Perth December 2009
National VET Women Leaders Forum
Challenger Impact Model: Adding value to Industry and Community
(by invitation)
Melbourne November 2009
Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Diversity Forum
Building a Gender Balance in Senior Executive Positions (by invitation)
Perth September 2009
Institute of Business Skills Australia
Building a New Delivery Practice (by invitation)
Perth September 2009
Department of Education District Schools Conference
Working with Schools to Meet the needs of Disengaged Youth (by invitation)
Perth August 2009
State Training Conference
Building a New Practice - The Challenger TAFE Journey
(keynote presentation by invitation)
Perth May 2009
Lunchbox Lunchlist Business Forum
The Leadership Journey (by invitation)
Perth May 2009
OECD/DEEWR Big Skills International Conference
Transformation or Obsolescence – Building a New Practice in VET (by invitation)
Sydney March 2009
Institute of Office Professionals Conference
Women in Leadership (by invitation)
Perth March 2009
Lunchbox LunchList Business Forum
The Leadership Journey (by invitation)
Perth June 2008
Women’s Leadership in VET National Forum
Implementing the Four Paradigm Model of Service Delivery at Challenger TAFE
(by invitation)
Melbourne October 2007
Department of Education and Training Forum
Implementing the Four Paradigm Model of Service Delivery (by invitation)
Perth April 2007

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Curriculum Vitae
SELECTED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Liz Harris
Department of Defence Industry Division
Defence Industry Pathways-Strategy for Skills Growth (by invitation)
Perth August 2006
Department of Education and Training Forum
Developing alternative pathways through Vocational Graduate Diplomas
(by invitation)
Perth November 2005
PUBLICATIONS
Harris, E (2013). Continuing a Culture of Learning, Campus Review
Harris, E. & Volet, S. (1997). Developing a Workplace Learning Culture, Australian National Training
Authority and Murdoch University, Perth.
Harris, E. (1996). Developing competence through innovative work based learning strategies in Australian
Training Review Sept. 1996 National Centre for Vocational Research, Adelaide.
Harris, E. (1995). Workplace Communication in Action. Literacy Update No. 17, DEET, Melbourne.
Harris, E. (1994). Training to catch up. Literacy Link, 12(4), 10 DEET, Melbourne.
Harris, E. (1994). TAFE National Staff Development Committee Literacy Strategy Update:
Professional Development Projects. Literacy Update, 10, 6 – 7, DEET, Melbourne.
Harris, E. (1994). Outline of proposed ANTA National Staff Development Committee (NSDC) Project. In
Brooks, B and Harris, E (Eds.) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Projects (VET) Conference Report.
ANTA NSDC, Melbourne.
Harris, E. & Nevard, J (1994). Developing a State Professional Development Program in McDonnell, S &
Treloar, A (Eds.) Voices of Experience: A Professional Development Package DEET Melbourne.