New senior executive set to join CDU

Charles Darwin University has announced the appointment of its Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President Operations.

Mrs Meredith Parry, who will take up the newly created role based in Darwin on 26 September, has worked in the VET and higher education sectors in Australia and New Zealand for the past 25 years.

Most recently she was Chief Operating Officer for the Unitec Institute of Technology based in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest technical institute that delivers 150-work oriented programs ranging from certificate to doctorate levels. 

During her seven years at Unitec, Mrs Parry was a key member of the executive leadership team with a number of roles, including leading the institute through transformational change.  

The Acting Vice-Chancellor of CDU, Professor Sue Carthew, said Mrs Parry had held senior management roles within the higher education sectors in Australia and New Zealand.

“Meredith comes with particular strengths in transformational change, leadership, and knowledge of and experience in dual sector education organisations,” Professor Carthew said.

“She will have a central role in supporting CDU through transformational change while it embraces the opportunities and challenges outlined in the university’s new strategic plan, Connect Discover Grow.”

Previously Mrs Parry was General Manager of UniCentre, an organisation affiliated with the University of Wollongong, and Chief Executive of the Wollongong Conservatorium.

Mrs Parry said she was looking forward to returning to Australia where she had established her career in the sector at a registered training organisation, in adult education and at a university.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President Operations position has superseded the position of Chief Operating Officer at CDU.