Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise Services)

Michael Thomas

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise Services) leads the Enterprise Services Division of the University of Southern Queensland.

Michael is a member of the University’s senior executive team responsible for the University’s organisational performance, development and improvement through strategic leadership of the corporate services that underpin the successful operation of the University.

Michael provides specialist advice and support to the Vice-Chancellor and senior executives on the strategic positioning of the University’s physical, information, financial and human resources, as well as corporate planning, business intelligence and reporting, audit and risk, legal services and other corporate business management.

The Enterprise Services Division comprises of the People Portfolio, Information and Communication Technology Services, Finance and Business Solutions, Facilities Management, Legal Services, Planning and Improvement and Risk Management, Compliance and Insurance Services.

Background

Michael has had extensive experience in leading and managing a diverse range of corporate service functions across the education and training sectors. Michael commenced at UniSQ  in January 2018 in the newly created role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise Services). Prior to joining the University, Michael spent ten years in various leadership roles within TAFE Queensland.

Most recently as Chief Operating Officer TAFE Queensland for three and a half years, Michael helped shape organisational strategy and the alignment of group resources and activities to deliver strategic and performance objectives. As part of the inaugural Executive Team appointed upon the formation of the new TAFE Queensland Statutory Body in July 2014, Michael played a key role in guiding the organisation through a period of significant sectoral reform, which included the introduction of full contestability and full fee deregulation in the Queensland VET market. Prior to this Michael supported the establishment of key strategy and governance arrangements as part of the transition of training operations from the then Department of Education and Training to the new TAFE Queensland statutory body as well as leading the amalgamation of the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE and Wide Bay Institute of TAFE as part of the TAFE Reform Program.

Previously Michael held corporate services leadership roles at the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, Bremer Institute of TAFE and the Queensland Studies Authority.

Michael holds a degree in Banking and Finance from the Queensland University of Technology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Management (HR) from the University of Southern Queensland.