COMMITTEES
.
Executive Management Committee
The Chief Executive is responsible for the efficient and effective conduct of DHE’s business. The Chief Executive convenes the Executive Management Committee. The Executive Management Committee assists the CE in the day-to-day running of DHE and ensures a high level of management coordination to support the Chief Executive in achieving the DHE’s strategic and financial objectives.
Members of the Executive Management Committee
Mr Dino Bettiol (Chief Executive and Chair)
Over 30 years’ experience in the tertiary education sector for a large Government provider with 20 years at senior management level. As Vice President International at Melbourne Polytechnic the position was as the most senior executive for all international activities and programs. Over the period this position reported directly to the CEO and involved membership to a number of Boards and Committees.
Dr Alexis Esposto (Dean)
Professor Esposto is the founding Dean at Danford Higher Education having led the establishment of the Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and Bachelor of Business (Digital Marketing). Professor Esposto is a highly influential economist and linguist with expertise in economic development, labour economics, crypto currencies, government policy consulting and international engagement. Alexis has more than 2 decades of experience in high impact academic research and consulting, with his work focusing on Australia, Asia and Latin America. He taught and researched economics and finance at Swinburne University of Technology and provided advice to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in business development matters in Australia and towards Latin America. He also has extensive work experience in Asia, including China, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. He is currently investigating ways of promoting trade engagement between China and Latin America. Professor Esposto has over 70 publications including books, book chapters, and highly ranked refereed journals. Alexis is fluent in 5 European languages.
- Course Advisory Committee
A key function of the Academic Board is to develop courses. To do this effectively, the AB requires advice and recommendations throughout the development of courses. It receives this advice and recommendations from the Course Advisory Committee. The Academic Board convenes a Course Advisory Committee for each broad field of education that DHE delivers to provide industry and content specific advice and guidance in relation to the development and on-going revision of DHE’s higher education courses.
Members of the Course Advisory Committee
- Professor John Lourens
John Lourens is a retired accounting academic with over 30 years’ experience teaching at various Victorian universities. His areas of teaching expertise are corporate accounting, introductory accounting and accounting theory. During his career, John also worked as an internal auditor, a staff scheduling manager and an executive recruitment consultant. In his spare time, John likes nothing better than to indulge his passion of creative writing.
- Dr Adam Sawell
Dr Sawell is a marketing industry expert with over 20 years’ experience in the field. He has provided expert advice to large scale corporations, community and sporting groups, having served as director of a number of boards including the Inner West Community Enterprises and Yarraville West Soccer Club. He currently works at Holstein Australia where he is in charge of staff training in Digital Marketing, Marketing and Communications.
- Professor Denis Vinen
Associate Professor Denis Vinen was previously Deputy Chair of the Accounting, Economics & Finance (AEF) department and Program Director of the Master of Accounting suite of programs in the Faculty of Business and Law at Swinburne University in Melbourne. Denis lectured in taxation in post-graduate and undergraduate courses and is a qualified Chartered Accountant, fellow member of CAANZ and CPA (Aust) and a registered Tax Agent with extensive experience and expertise in providing financial, taxation and investment advice. Denis has been a member of education committee's for CAANZ (formerly ICAA) and CPA Australia and is actively involved as an author and reviewer of the CPA (Aust) Australia Taxation and Advanced Taxation modules & examinations together with managing the professional Accounting Accreditation of Swinburne Accounting programs. Denis has held senior levels of appointments at Swinburne including:
- Deputy Chair (2014 - 2020) Accounting, Economics & Finance (AEF) Department (FBL)
- Program Director (2010 - 2020) - Master of Professional Accounting programs
- Program Director (1998 - 2014) - Master of International Accounting (MIntA) program (delivered offshore in Vietnam)
- Associate Dean International (2008 - 2009) - Faculty of Business and Enterprise Denis completed his Doctor of Business Administration and the title of his thesis was ‘Sustainability of Offshore Business Programs: The Key to Success in Vietnam’.
His main research interests are in international business education and in particular, issues related to offshore education programs. Denis has been a frequent visitor to Vietnam since 1995 specialising in the teaching of taxation, financial management and capital markets and conducting short courses in accounting and finance for Vietnamese companies. Denis has also developed finance and accounting training manuals for staff in the banking sector in Vietnam.
- Dr Michael Valos
Dr Valos is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Marketing at Deakin University. Michael’s academic research has focused on digital marketing and he has won a number of awards in international journals. He regularly facilitates focus groups with leading Australian marketing executives and contributes regularly to CMO magazine.
- Learning and Teaching Committee
The role of the Learning and Teaching Committee is to monitor and report on quality assurance processes for learning and teaching within DHE to ensure that day-to-day academic operations meet quality educational standards. The Learning and Teaching Committee also has responsibility for advising on policy and practice related to learning and teaching in DHE’s higher education courses.
Dr Vinu Nagar (Course Coordinator)
Dr Vinu Nagar is the Course Coordinator at Danford Higher Education. She brings 10 years of teaching and course development experience from her previous role at Swinburne University of Technology. Vinu is a finance specialist with lecturing expertise in Financial Markets, Economics and Trade, Corporate Finance, Business Valuation and International Business. Vinu graduated with her doctorate in 2022.
Her PhD thesis is titled "Examining Portfolio Diversification and Good Governance in Developed, Emerging and Frontier Markets for Australian Superannuation Funds". Her main research interests lie in international financial markets and portfolio diversification”
Librarian - TBA
Academic Staff(s) - TBA
External Academic -TBA
Student Member -TBA
- Risk and Audit Committee
The Risk and Audit Committee (RAC) is appointed by the Board of Directors to take oversight of the performance and the function of monitoring, reviewing and providing advice about governance processes, risk management and control frameworks, and external accountability obligations. Such accountability includes compliance with relevant legislation and standards, audits, and annual financial statements
- Chair - Ms Catherine Hopper
Catherine Hopper is a finance professional with 15 years of experience in corporate finance within investment banking, funds management and Australian corporates. She brings a range of skills to the board, particularly strategic and financial expertise focused on strategic planning and financial governance. Catherine holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) / Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University. She is also a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA).
- Mr Dino Bettiol (Chief Executive)
Over 30 years’ experience in the tertiary education sector for a large Government provider with 20 years at senior management level. As Vice President International at Melbourne Polytechnic the position was as the most senior executive for all international activities and programs. Over the period this position reported directly to the CEO and involved membership to a number of Boards and Committees.
- Professor Alexis Esposto (Dean)
