New CEO appointed to Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency

Dr Mary Russell has been named as the chief executive officer of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

TESQA is an independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education which has a purpose of safeguarding student interests and the reputation of Australia’s higher education sector by assuring the quality of higher education providers through a proportionate, risk-reflective approach to regulation.

The work of the agency is underpinned by encouraging, supporting and recognising effective quality assurance and enhancement in Australian higher education providers.

TESQA evaluates the performance of higher education providers against the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 which aims to safeguard the interests of current and future students.

Dr Russell, who has been acting in the role since June last year, brings extensive experience in regulatory operations, tertiary education, and dispute resolution. Before joining TEQSA, Dr Russell has served as chair and member of regulatory boards in the health sector. 

She also has experience working in the telecommunications sector, the tertiary education sector, in university teaching, curriculum development and delivery and has worked as a health practitioner. 

Dr Russell has been appointed for a term of five years. 

Leadership at TEQSA will undergo further changes, with Chief Commissioner, Emeritus Professor Peter Coaldrake AO, stepping down from his role on 10 May 2024.

Professor Coaldrake was Vice-Chancellor of the Queensland University of Technology between 2003 and 2017 and Chair of Universities Australia.

A new Chief Commissioner will be appointed in due course.