Director, Governance

About the University of Southern Queensland The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) is a bold, community-connected institution dedicated to transforming lives through education, research, and innovation. With more than 20,000 students, 100,000+ alumni, and campuses at Toowoomba, Springfield and Ipswich (with a Brisbane hub), UniSQ is proudly regional and future-focused. Recognised among the top 400 universities worldwide, UniSQ is advancing strategic renewal to deliver flexible learning, impactful research and thriving community engagement. In response to global and sector-wide challenges, UniSQ is evolving to ensure long-term success and create a dynamic and contemporary higher education environment. With refreshed, high-demand degrees such as new allied health programs at Ipswich and Toowoomba, UniSQ is meeting the changing needs of students, industry, and community. The University remains focused on supporting its people, enriching the student experience, and deepening engagement during this period of transformation. About the Role The Director, Governance & Compliance is responsible for leading UniSQ’s Governance and Compliance portfolio. Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and President, this role will be critical in driving the University’s governance, integrity and assurance agenda and ensuring that risk, compliance and legal strategy are aligned to UniSQ’s broader organisational goals and risk appetite. You will oversee Council and committee secretariat services, enterprise risk and compliance, the internal audit interface and insurance program, legal services and the University’s policy framework, and lead the University’s fraud and corruption control settings, all while embedding a culture of integrity, accountability and partnership. The Director will play a pivotal role in strengthening decision making and institutional trust through the modernisation of board and committee operations, simplification of policy settings, uplift of risk capability, and delivery of pragmatic, value adding compliance. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will lead a diverse group of governance, legal, risk and audit professionals and engage closely with the Vice‑Chancellor’s Executive, University Council and committee chairs, government and regulatory agencies, industry partners and peer institutions. This is a multi‑campus leadership role with a significant influential remit across the University, and can be based at the Toowoomba, Ipswich or Springfield campus. About You You are a proven executive with expertise in governance, risk, compliance, and / or legal who partners with the business to enable performance and trust. You balance strategic judgment with practical delivery and are known for modernising governance processes, simplifying policy, embedding risk, and extracting value from outsourced / internal audit. You influence at Council and executive level and build capability across multidisciplinary teams. To be successful in this role, you will have: Senior, enterprise-level experience leading multi-disciplinary GRC / legal portfolios in large, complex organisations (higher education experience welcome but not essential, public sector experience valued). A track record of modernising board and committee operations and secretariat effectiveness, including the adoption of contemporary tools. Demonstrated success designing and embedding enterprise risk frameworks and pragmatic, risk-based compliance aligned to strategy and risk appetite. Experience overseeing legal services, including clear external counsel models, with a coaching, service-oriented approach. Outstanding communication and engagement skills across the whole-of-enterprise, negotiation and stakeholder influence, including governing bodies. Relevant qualifications in law, risk, governance, management or a related field, and alignment with UniSQ’s values of Respect, Integrity and Excellence. If you are a contemporary, partnership-driven executive with a pragmatic approach to risk and policy streamlining, we encourage you to apply A competitive executive remuneration package will be negotiated with the successful candidate. Please visit the detailed candidate page for further information and to apply. Applications close: Midnight, Thursday the 30th October 2025 Luminary is committed to storing and utilising your information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988. For further information regarding this please visit. Confidential inquiries to Bruno Costa, Associate, Luminary, on or via email or, Jane Ellis, Managing Partner, Luminary, on or via email General inquiries to #J-18808-Ljbffr