TAFE Gippsland today announces that Chief Executive Officer, Laura Macpherson, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Bendigo Kangan Institute. Laura will conclude her time with TAFE Gippsland later this month, with her final day being Thursday 25 September.
During her time as Chief Executive Officer, Laura has provided inspirational and strong leadership, guiding TAFE Gippsland to record organisational performance and positioning the Institute as a leader in vocational education and training. Under her stewardship, TAFE Gippsland has:
- Being named Victoria's Large Training Provider of the Year in 2023, recognising excellence in delivery, innovation, and impact.
- Achieved the highest organisational levels ever recorded of student satisfaction, industry engagement, regional market share, student contact hours, and staff engagement.
- Positioned itself as Victoria's leading TAFE Institute in clean energy skills, through the development of the Clean Energy Centre, due to open early next year, supported by formal partnerships with major energy providers and proponents.
- Established the Koorie Advisory Committee and significantly strengthened engagement with First Nations communities and partner organisations.
- Addressing learner inequity through developing and delivering programs specifically for under-represented cohorts experiencing intersectional disadvantage.
- Launched the Strengthening for Success program, uplifting organisational capacity to meet the growing demands of industry, government, and the wider community.
- Strengthened strategic partnerships with Federation University to expand pathways and opportunities for students across the region.
- Implemented a product and innovation portfolio designed to meet the evolving needs of industry, while enhancing revenue and brand through the introduction of new training products.
TAFE Gippsland Board Chair, Paul Buckley PSM, said:
“Laura has made an outstanding contribution to TAFE Gippsland, leaving the organisation stronger, more resilient, and more future focused than ever before. On behalf of the Board, I extend our thanks for her commitment to our students, staff, industry and communities, and we wish her every success in her new role.”
Mr Buckley also confirmed that interim arrangements will be communicated shortly, while the Board undertakes a comprehensive search for TAFE Gippsland’s next Chief Executive Officer.