Council members

Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM

Chancellor

Lisa Paul AO PSM is the Chancellor of the University of Canberra. Lisa is passionate about the University’s ambition in driving equality of opportunity and its commitment to Canberra and the region.

Lisa led higher education, science, research and innovation policy for the federal government as the longest-serving Secretary for the Department of Education, serving five Prime Ministers and nine Cabinet Ministers between 2004-2016. Lisa has continued to serve the education, science, research and innovation sectors as Chair of the Audit Committee of the Australian Academy of Science, Honorary Professor at the Australian National University Crawford School of Public Policy, Enterprise Professor at the University of Melbourne School of Government, member of Council at Bond University, and as a Director of Navitas and the Future Battery Industry Cooperative Research Centre.

Recently, Lisa was Co-Chair of an Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Deputy Chair of a Review of National School Reform Agreement. From 2018-2021, Lisa was Chair of Headspace, Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation. Lisa is currently a Director of the Smith Family and the Australian American Leadership Dialogue. Lisa is an Officer of the Order of Australia, a recipient of the Public Service Medal and the Academy Medal from the Australian Academy of Science.

Ms Patricia Kelly PSM

Deputy Chancellor

Patricia is Deputy Chancellor, Chair of Council’s Legislation Committee and a member of both the Finance Committee and the Nominations and Senior Appointments Committee.

She is also a Council Member at the Australian Institute of Marine Science. She chairs the Australian Square Kilometre Array Regional Centre and Co-operative Research Australia (formerly the CRC Association). She is a Director of DMTC Ltd.

Prior to her current roles, Patricia had a public sector career spanning over thirty years. Between 2013 and 2018 Patricia was Director-General of IP Australia (the Australian patent and trademark office). Before joining IP Australia, Patricia was a Deputy Secretary in Commonwealth departments responsible for industry, science and innovation from 2004 -2013.

Patricia has a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in communication and is a graduate (and current member) of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Christine Williams

Ministerial Appointee

Christine joined the University of Canberra Council because her eldest daughter was studying at the University of Canberra at the time. She wanted to use her environmental sustainability skills to reduce the carbon footprint of the campus and help guide its future development, including the retention and cultivation of native plant life.

Christine has skills in economics, data science, risk management, sustainability and cybersecurity. She is a Registered Climate Active Consultant (Organisations, Events and Precincts).

Christine is on the University of Canberra’s Planning and Development Committee and Audit and Risk Management Committee. She is also Chair of the Energy Safe Victoria Technical Advisory Committee, a director of St John Ambulance Australia Ltd, an Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) ACT Division Council member and Deputy Secretary of the Economics Society of Australia (ACT Division). She has completed the Australian Company Director’s Course with Order of Merit, Mastering the Boardroom, and the International Company Director’s Course. She has over thirty-five years of experience as a director.

Christine has worked in the finance industry, in the Tasmanian State Service to branch head level, and in the Australian Public Service (APS). She was a Senior Executive Service (SES) officer for 14 years in a variety of agencies and roles including Indigenous Affairs and the Department of Social Services. She is best known in the public service community for having founded the ABS Centre for Data Integration. She left the APS in May 2020 to undertake a series of private sector roles including two at C-suite level.

Christine currently works in cyberassurance for the Department of the Treasury.

Ms Alice Tay

Ministerial Appointee

Alice Tay is a commercial lawyer with 30 years’ experience in the establishment of entities, intellectual property, capital raising, acquisitions and sales, contracting and governance. She retired in 2018 as a partner at Meyer Vandenberg and is now focussed on utilising her experience to build healthy, vibrant, innovative and strong communities through her non-executive board and committee appointments. The University of Canberra has a particular interest as it is the university established for Canberra. As an overseas student and migrant who settled and prospered in Canberra, her appointment to the Council is an opportunity to contribute back to the community. Education and research are the foundation to a fulfilled and successful community.

Alice has a strong background in audit and risk at a board level and has chaired a number of A&R committees. She is a graduate of the AICD and a Fellow of the Governance Institute.

Alice’s other current Board and Committee positions include:

• Gambling and Racing Commission ACT - Deputy Chair and Chair, Audit and Risk Committee
• National Heart Foundation – Director, Chair, Risk, Audit and Governance Committee, Member, National Board Executive Group and Member, Investment Committee
• Master Builders Association ACT - Member, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
• The Fly Program – Director (a health promotion charity start-up with a unique early and post clinical intervention program using nature and recreational fly-fishing as a tool for mental fitness)
• Project Independence - Member, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (a social housing initiative aimed at providing home ownership for Australians with an intellectual disability)
• Community Housing Canberra Ltd, Director, Member of Risk and Audit Committee
• Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund (ACT Government), Member

Dr Michael Schaper

Ministerial Appointee

With substantial experience across government, business and in academia, Michael is now a professional company director. He has previously served as the ACT Small Business Commissioner, Deputy Chair of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, CEO of the Canberra Business Chamber, and as Dean of a number of university business schools. He currently sits on a number of boards for the private sector, federal and state governments, and on the national board of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is particularly keen in building stronger and more effective relationships between the university, the local ACT business community, and different levels of government.

Mr David Sturgiss

Ministerial Appointee

David is an experienced non-executive director and chartered accountant working on boards and finance, audit and risk management committees in the higher education sector. He has been on the Council at the University of Canberra for 6 years and is Chair of the Finance Committee and the Investment Committee, as well as a member of the Planning and Development Committee.

During his career, David has held several non-executive director and committee roles in companies and institutions in the higher education and media sectors. This has ranged from startups, development companies, not-for-profit, industry bodies as well as commercial broadcasters. Prior to his work as a non-executive director, he had a 25-year senior executive career in the university and media sectors holding chief financial officer, general management and manager director roles.

Having worked as an executive in the higher education sector and knowing what a positive impact education can have on the functioning of the community, David has been keen to apply his financial and business skills to assist in the governing of the University of Canberra.

He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, an Associate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Senior Member of the Finance and Treasury Association and has a BCom from UNSW.

Mr Andrew Giumelli

Elected Postgraduate Student

Andrew nominated for University Council to represent the voice of students in major decisions at the University. Having been involved in the Student Representative Council in his undergraduate degree and working in several University and UCX roles while studying, he has a solid understanding of the University and how best to affect change. He hopes to use this knowledge and experience at UC to bring new life to the student voice at UC and support fellow student leaders to navigate the University structures and policies to succeed in their roles.

Andrew graduated from UC with a Bachelor of Engineering and Network and Software Engineering (BE Network&SE) (Honours) in 2022 after taking a year off, he started his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2023. Andrew currently works at UCX where he supports the operations of the organisation and oversees student experience initiatives. He is passionate about building the best possible experience for students at UC. Outside of Work and Uni, Andrew loves live music and volunteering with Rotary. He is the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Hall and looks after major projects in this role.

Ms Mushtaha Ahmed

Elected Undergraduate Student

Mushtaha has extensive experience in student leadership and representation. As the President of the UC Student Representative Council and former President of the UC Leadership Club, she leads initiatives to enhance student services and advocate for the student voice. Mushtaha has also volunteered with the Red Cross Humanitarian Settlement Program and supported new students as a mentor. Additionally, she has represented pharmacy students in the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's Early Career Pharmacists (ECP) Student Ambassadors program and contributed to improving mental health services through her involvement with the Headspace Youth Reference Group.

Mushtaha chose to serve on the University Council to ensure that the perspectives and needs of students are central to key university decisions. She believes that a strong, student-centered approach is essential for fostering a vibrant and supportive campus environment. Her goal is to create meaningful change by advocating for policies that enhance student well-being, inclusivity, and engagement across all aspects of university life.