Sam Jacob (they/them)

Sam brings more than 30 years’ experience in higher education in the UK and Australia, including senior roles at Charles Darwin, Torrens, Deakin, Monash and Adelaide universities. Sam’s current role is CEO at the Australian College of the Arts (Collarts), a dual-sector independent provider specialising in the creative industries.

Sam is a specialist in conceptualising the future needs of organisations, driving change, implementing innovative and responsive strategies, improving quality and delivering growth. At CDU Sam was focused on making a difference to the remarkable top end of Australia, creating TAFE NT to better meet the diverse workforce needs of the Territory. At Torrens, they launched a major success coaching initiative for all students, in partnership with Gallup. Now at Collarts, they are leading the development of a new strategic plan to take Australia’s best creative arts education to new audiences interstate and online.

Sam holds postgraduate qualifications in management, mediation and arbitration and is (slowly) working towards a doctorate. They were chair of the national symposium on Safer Campus Communities, inaugural convener of the ANZ Student Service Centre Conference, and presented papers at major national and international conferences. Sam is also a Fellow of the Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEMF).

Sam has served on several community boards, including as deputy chair of Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival, chair of Adelaide’s Feast Festival, and a board member for the Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council, NTAHC.