New business leader at Alice campus

New Business Central Team Leader Sajjad Rana has come a long way since his days as a security officer at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics.

At the time he was new to Australia and undertaking language training, having recently arrived from Pakistan. 

“I worked at the Sydney Olympic Village, and was located for some of the time at the protocol entry point where the team officials and dignitaries came through,” Mr Rana said.

“Among the dignitaries I encountered were Princess Anne, and the then-Opposition Leader Kim Beazley. I also saw and met many of the athletes, including our own Ian Thorpe who was very personable despite all the hype surrounding him at the time.”

Mr Rana said he moved to adult vocational education as a security trainer and later became a trainer manager.

“I’ve worked for several registered training organisations on the east coast for the past 12 years, mostly in the field of business and leadership,” he said.

Mr Rana moved to Alice Springs this month to take up the team leader’s position.

“The first thing to impress me was the passion that people have for the community,” he said.

“I am exploring how we might grow Business Central. One idea is to offer diploma and advanced diploma courses to students outside of Alice Springs.  

“We have the software, the infrastructure and the expertise to do this.”

Mr Rana said Business Central would continue to offer face-to-face courses in business, retail, accounting, human resources, leadership and management.

“I’m also about to travel to Tennant Creek and to the bush communities where we deliver our courses to meet stakeholders and to learn their needs first-hand.”