TEQSA welcomes new Commissioner

TEQSA Chief Commissioner Professor Peter Coaldrake AO has welcomed the appointment of Adrienne Nieuwenhuis as TEQSA Commissioner.

The Minister for Education and Youth, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, today confirmed Ms Nieuwenhuis’ appointment for a five-year term.

In welcoming Ms Nieuwenhuis, Professor Coaldrake noted her extensive higher education regulation and quality assurance experience would support TEQSA’s work to protect the interests of students and the reputation and standing of Australian higher education.

“Ms Nieuwenhuis brings more than three decades of experience across the higher education and vocational education and training (VET) sectors to the TEQSA Commission,” Professor Coaldrake said. 

“Her comprehensive understanding of quality assurance, regulatory standards and contemporary best practice will greatly support TEQSA’s work as the higher education sector emerges from the pandemic.”

Prior to her appointment at TEQSA, Ms Nieuwenhuis was Director of the Office of Vice Chancellor at the University of South Australia. Previously, she was Director of Quality, Tertiary Education, Science and Research in the South Australian Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, where she worked closely with the Commonwealth Government in the establishment of the national regulatory systems for both higher education and VET.  

In addition to this, Ms Nieuwenhuis was an inaugural member of both the Higher Education Standards Panel (2011-2014) and the National Skills Standards Council (2011-2013). Ms Nieuwenhuis was reappointed to the Higher Education Standards Panel for a further 3-year term in 2018, resigning from the panel prior to her appointment at TEQSA. She has been a member of the South Australian Skills Commission since 2013 and is also a member of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee.

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