Mayfield Education Board of Management

Mar Graeme Houghton has worked in health services in various Executive roles for more than 40 years. Graeme has worked as the Chief Executive Officer of Fairfield Hospital, Austin Hospital, Repatriation General Hospital in Adelaide, Healthscope Limited, and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. He has also worked as a Regional Director at Healthscope Limited and was a Director of Western Health in Melbourne. Graeme was also a Hospital Standards and Accreditation Adviser for two years to the Papua New Guinea National Department of Health and has chaired the three Tasmanian health organisations that provided public hospitals and health services throughout Tasmania.

He has held an appointment as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at La Trobe University and has been a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management.

Graeme has also been a board member for the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Guide Dogs Victoria and Psychs on Bikes Inc. He is a member of the Board of Curraghdene Investments Pty Ltd.

Dr Edwin Pascoe has been a registered nurse since 1992, working in the areas of critical care, education and diabetes. He currently holds two positions: a Senior Research Fellow at La Trobe University within the Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Aged Care and a Credentialed Diabetes Educator at Wyndhamvale Health Care. Edwin Completed his Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Health Care at Mayfield Education in 2007. He also has the following qualifications: a Graduate Certificate in Cardiovascular Nursing and a Dual Diploma in VET Training Design and Development. In 2023 Edwin was awarded his PhD through Victoria University, exploring gay men and type 2 diabetes. Currently, he is completing a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Epidemiology. He has served as Finance Officer on the Victorian branch of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association within the Executive Committee and again at the National Level as a member of the Finance and Audit Committee. He is currently on the Editorial Advisory Committee of the Australian Diabetes Educator.

Ms Mandy Sisson is an accomplished HR and organisational development leader with over two decades of experience spanning aged care, education, and corporate environments. She has a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives, cultural change, and leadership development.

Mandy’s leadership roles include Head of Employee Experience & Learning at Estia Health, where she implemented organisation-wide engagement strategies, developed leadership frameworks, and launched programs that shaped the future of aged care talent management. As a sole consultant at Mandy Kent Consulting, she continues to deliver HR strategy reviews, onboarding tools, communication frameworks and HR support.

Mandy’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Graduate Diploma in Business (Insurance and Finance), and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management. With certifications in mental health, and leadership frameworks and assessments, Mandy is dedicated to fostering inclusive, high-performance cultures.

Professor Mohit Sidana is the Chair of the Higher Education Academic Board and also a Board Member of Mayfield Education.  As an experienced senior advisor, he has applied his expertise in developing governance frameworks that encompass corporate and academic oversight and risk management across various organisations, ensuring compliance and fostering continuous improvement.  In addition to that Professor Sidana has taught business and management across various Australian institutions, where his industry experience has informed curriculum development and enhanced student outcomes.  He also advises not-for-profit organisations on governance matters, with a focus on aligning organisational structures with regulatory standards to drive institutional success.

Professor Michael Milgate is a seasoned educational leader and provides leadership in the efficient, effective, and equitable operations of independent higher education providers.

Michael has been involved with several successful initial registration applications and has advised in re-registrations and re-accreditations with a range of independent providers in Australia.

Michael sits on several corporate and academic governance bodies and is on the Steering Committee for the Chairs of Academic Board Forum (CABF).

He has worked at several independent higher education providers and universities in the past 25 years.

Specialities: Higher education corporate and academic governance and management, Risk, Regulatory Compliance, course accreditation including course/unit/assessment design, and higher education pathways.

Dr Bas Ebaid completed her PhD at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, where her research focused on epigenetic modifications to identify novel drug targets and biomarkers for predicting disease risk. With a strong passion for understanding disease mechanisms and advancing therapeutic solutions, Bas is a medical affairs professional within the pharmaceutical industry, providing enhanced healthcare outcomes across various therapeutic areas. Dr Ebaid is also dedicated to improving health and education equity, serving as a STEM ambassador, student mentor, and volunteer at Very Special Kids children’s hospice, supporting children with terminal illnesses and their families.

Graeme has worked in the health services in various Executive roles for more than 40 years. Graeme has worked as the Chief Executive Officer of Fairfield Hospital, Austin Hospital, Repatriation General Hospital in Adelaide, Healthscope Limited, and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. He has also worked as a Regional Director at Healthscope Limited and was a Director of Western Health in Melbourne. Graeme was also Hospital Standards and Accreditation Adviser for two years to the Papua New Guinea National Department of Health and has chaired the three Tasmanian health organisations that provided public hospital and health services throughout Tasmania.

He has held an appointment as Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at La Trobe University and has been a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management.

Graeme has also been a board member for the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Guide Dogs Victoria and Psychs on Bikes Inc. He is a member of the Board of Curraghdene Investments Pty Ltd.

David is a qualified finance professional with senior executive experience in the public and private healthcare and not-for-profit sectors. He has more than 20 years of senior and executive management experience leading transformative business services and strategic functions within multidisciplinary organisation. He has accomplished in the areas of financial risk management, governance and is personally enthusiastic about developing and empowering high-performance teams. He is currently working as a Chief Finance Officer/ General Manager Corporate Services at Correct Care Australasia.

David has a Bachelor of Business, a Master of Business Administration, is a Certified Practicing Accountant and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Unity Puglisi has enhanced qualifications in accounting, including an excellent understanding of the application of accounting principles. She has 20 years of extensive experience in financial management roles and leading functions, including forecasting, budgeting, reporting and strategic planning. She also has a demonstrated record of providing quality financial management services in a variety of not for profit, corporate and education industry settings.

Unity is currently overseeing the operations of Mayfield Education’s finance department and in her previous tenures has led diverse teams, including regional offices across states, driving results in complex environments. She has worked in a range of settings and has governed stakeholder relationships including auditors and board executive management.

Unity has also undertaken due diligence work, supporting the successful acquisition of businesses as well as strategic financial advice in determining the financial sustainability of organisations. She has successfully led change management processes, including the introduction of new software and in the implementation of significant process improvements.

Ms. Zainab Akhter is a highly experienced Registered Nurse and healthcare leader with over 20 years of expertise in vocational education, enrolled nursing education, and healthcare education management. She is known for her leadership in managing diverse teams, advancing nursing education, and fostering professional development. Her career focuses on improving vocational education, shaping nursing practices, and strategic workforce planning to meet the evolving needs of healthcare.

Ms Akhter holds a Bachelor of Nursing with Honours (Research) from Monash University, a master’s in nursing from The University of Queensland, and is currently pursuing a PhD at La Trobe University. Her research is focused on the graduate Enrolled Nurse’s practice readiness in the Australian Context.

Her leadership is grounded in a belief in the power of mentorship and professional development. She fosters an environment of growth, where staff members are encouraged to expand their skills, engage with new ideas, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of healthcare, vocational education and higher education.

Ms Akhter has consistently demonstrated a commitment to creating educational pathways that reflect the evolving needs of the healthcare and vocational sectors. As a passionate advocate for lifelong learning, Ms Akhter’s work reflects her core values of integrity, innovation, and collaboration. She continues to influence nursing education and workforce development, driving positive changes in the healthcare sector through her research and leadership.