As Vice President with the University of Canberra, Belinda is responsible for the strategic positioning of the University as a global leader in educating for the professions through innovative teaching and experiential learning; and mission-oriented research. Belinda spent almost 7 years as chief executive of Universities Australia, the peak body representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities and has 17 years experience as a CEO in the higher education and energy sectors and has held executive positions within the Departments of the Prime Minister & Cabinet, and Environment and Heritage. Belinda’s influence extends to a range of company directorships, government advisory bodies and working groups. She has served as a non-executive director on a number of ASX-listed boards. She is a Councillor on the ACT Council of the AICD, Chair of the Western Sydney University College, Chair of the Cooperative Research Centres Association and a member of the Marymead Autism Centre Advisory Group. She is also a member of the Government's International Education Coordinating Council and has held board and advisory positions with the CSIRO; the Institute for Minerals & Energy Resources and a range of government and community organisations.

Belinda has a reputation for high-level public policy development, analysis and advocacy; government and stakeholder engagement strategy; and facilitating the establishment of common positions on complex policy matters. Her approach is to work closely with her members and other stakeholders in developing whole-of-sector policy positions to cement universities as a centerpiece of Australia’s long-term economic and social prosperity. Belinda spearheaded Universities Australia’s public awareness campaign ‘Keep It Clever’, awarded the Government Relations Campaign of the Year 2015.

Prior to this Belinda served for six and a half years as Chief Executive of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association, the peak body representing Australian oil and gas producers and explorers.

She has also worked in the public sector in a variety of senior and senior executive positions, including eight years with the Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet serving both Labor and Coalition governments.

Belinda is a graduate of the AICD’s director course and was selected, through a competitive process, to participate in AICD’s 2011 Chairman’s mentoring programme. Her career interests and expertise lie in corporate governance; government relations and processes; public policy development, particularly in higher education/research, energy and resources; political advocacy and campaign development; strategy development and execution; community and stakeholder engagement; and executive remuneration and succession planning.

She is a Fellow of the AICD, has a Master of Environmental Law (ANU); and a Bachelor of Arts (UNE).

Areas of Expertise