Board of Directors
The Institute’s Constitution confers powers to the Board to manage and control the business of the Institute. The Board is the corporate governing body of the Institute; the Board Charter outlines the Board’s functions, powers and membership. Per section 3.1 of the Board Charter, the Board is the formally constituted governing body of Johnston Institute and is the ultimate decision-making entity. The Board is ultimately accountable for Johnston Institute and its operations.
Emeritus Professor Archie Johnston
PhD,BSc (Hons),HonFIEAust, FICE, FTSE, FAICD
Independent Member, Board of Directors (Chair)
Emeritus Professor Archie Johnston is a highly experienced higher education leader and non-executive director with more than 30 years of executive, governance and industry engagement experience across Australia and internationally.
He has held senior leadership positions at the University of Sydney, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), James Cook University and the University of South Australia, including roles as Dean, Pro Vice-Chancellor, and Acting Provost. His responsibilities have included academic leadership, institutional strategy, research development, commercialisation and intellectual property governance, as well as cross-sector industry engagement.
Professor Johnston is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE). He has served as Project Director of the National Review of Engineering Education, Chair of the ATSE Education Forum, and as a long-standing peer reviewer for the Australian Research Council (ARC), contributing to national research and higher education policy and evaluation frameworks.
His international experience spans advisory and evaluation roles across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, supporting government and institutional initiatives in engineering, sustainability and research strategy. In 2024, he was appointed a Changjiang Scholar Chair Professor in recognition of his international academic standing and contributions to research collaboration.
He has also contributed to the development and stewardship of more than $50 million in research, industry and philanthropic funding, reflecting extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and resource development across the higher education and innovation sectors.
Dr Karen Treloar
PhD, MBA, GradCertHE, GradDipIR, BA, GAICD
Independent Member, Board of Directors
With over 25 years of leadership experience in higher education regulation, quality assurance, and governance, Dr Karen Treloar has contributed extensively to strengthening academic integrity and institutional quality across Australia and internationally. Her work spans policy development, provider regulation, and academic governance, with a strong commitment to advancing excellence and accountability in tertiary education.
Her previous roles include:
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Director, Engagement Group, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
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Director, Provider Assessment and Engagement, and Head of International, TEQSA
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Audit Director, Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA)
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Manager, Strategic Planning and Review, University of Technology Sydney
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Senior Planning and Policy Advisor, RMIT University
Dr Treloar has represented Australia in numerous international higher education initiatives, including projects with APEC, INQAAHE, the European Quality Agency, and the Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation. She is also a former member of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Accreditation Advisory Committee and a published author on academic integrity and higher education quality assurance.
She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (GradCertHE), a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relations (GradDipIR), and a Bachelor of Arts (BA). Dr Treloar is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
A respected scholar and thought leader, Dr Treloar has published and presented widely on higher education quality, academic integrity, and international regulatory collaboration.
Mr Aman Chand
MCom (Hons), BA, CISA, CIA, CFSA, FCPA
Independent Member, Board of Directors and Independent Member, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (Chair)
Mr Aman Chand brings over 20 years of senior executive experience in risk management, internal audit, governance, and financial oversight across the higher education, government, and financial services sectors. He has extensive expertise in enterprise risk frameworks, compliance, strategic governance, and assurance processes, with a strong record of strengthening institutional accountability and operational resilience.
His previous roles include:
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Chief Audit and Risk Officer, Western Sydney University
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Chief Audit Executive, NSW Treasury
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Executive Audit Manager and Acting General Manager Audit, Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Mr Chand possesses in-depth knowledge of higher education governance and quality assurance, particularly in audit, finance, and regulatory compliance aligned with the Higher Education Standards Framework and TEQSA requirements.
He holds an MCom (Hons) from the University of Sydney and a BA from the University of the South Pacific, and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA), and Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA).
Mr Chris Zhang
M.TertEdMgmt, MBA, B.CompAppSoft
Member, Board of Directors
Mr Chris Zhang is a tertiary education leader and entrepreneur specializing in international education, institutional marketing, and operational governance. With a proven track record in the private education sector, he is dedicated to driving strategic growth, ensuring rigorous compliance, and fostering student success.
Serving previously as Director of a leading private education institution, Mr Zhang successfully led comprehensive student recruitment and retention strategies. He oversaw critical functions including early intervention programs, staff development, budget management, and risk reporting. His leadership in education is heavily informed by his prior corporate tenure at the National Australia Bank (NAB), bringing invaluable expertise in financial analysis, client engagement, and process optimization to his current governance and strategic planning capabilities.
Leveraging a strong background in enterprise systems, digital strategy, and project management, Mr Zhang champions a data-driven, student-centred approach to elevate educational outcomes and institutional performance.
Academically, Mr Zhang holds a Master of Tertiary Education Management from the University of Melbourne, an MBA from Torrens University, and a Bachelor of Computer Application Software from Jilin University. He is actively advancing his executive governance qualifications through the Company Directors Course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Professor Leonard Webster
PhD,MEdStud,BA,DipT,CertA
Ex Officio Member , Board of Directors & Chair of Academic Board
Professor Leonard Webster is a highly respected academic leader with over 30 years of experience in higher education governance, quality assurance, and educational innovation. He has held senior executive and academic leadership roles across universities, government agencies, and private higher education institutions in Australia and internationally.
His previous roles include Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the International College of Management Sydney (ICMS) and Director of Regulation and Review at the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). Earlier in his career, he was an Associate Professor at Monash University and the University of New England, where he contributed to the development of innovative teaching models for flexible and online learning.
Professor Webster has consulted widely for international organisations, including the World Health Organization, Austrade, the Commonwealth of Learning, and the International Council for Distance Education. His scholarly contributions include multiple books and publications on higher education quality, learning design, and narrative inquiry, including the influential volume Using Narrative Inquiry as a Research Method (Routledge, 2019).
He holds a PhD and Master of Educational Studies from Monash University, a Bachelor of Arts from La Trobe University, and teaching qualifications from Deakin University. His professional recognitions include membership in the Australian College of Educators and the Higher Education Private Providers Quality Network.
Ms Helen Fleming
LLM, MA (Merit), LLB
Board Secretariat
Ms Helen Fleming is a senior legal and governance professional with more than 30 years of experience across the corporate and higher education sectors. She is widely recognised as a trusted adviser with expertise in governance, legal risk, regulatory compliance, and institutional policy development.
Her career experience includes:
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University Secretary and General Counsel, Western Sydney University
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Legal Counsel and governance roles, University of Sydney
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Governance and legal adviser to various higher education institutions and not-for-profit organisations
Ms Fleming has contributed extensively to the higher education community through publications and national and international conference presentations on academic integrity, governance, and regulatory compliance. She is a Professional Fellow of Western Sydney University and a Visiting Honorary Fellow of the University of Technology Sydney.
She holds a Master of Laws (LLM), a Master of Arts (MA, Merit), and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), and is admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia.