OUR MISSION

Our Mission is to realise the vision of thriving minds and societies in an evolving world through leading research, development, education, clinical services and partnerships.

GOVERNANCE

ISN Psychology’s corporate and academic governance, rules, admission and other policies, quality assurance and financial processes are underpinned by defined values and goals.

The Board of Directors has empowered the College Council to be the effective governing body of ISN Psychology, with overall responsibility for implementing the vision and mission of ISN Psychology. The College Council oversees the implementation of ISN Psychology’s strategic plan in pursuit of these objectives.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Role

The Board of Directors is the governing body of ISN Psychology Pty Ltd (ISN). It has final governance responsibility of all matters associated with ISN.

Functions

The functions of the Board of Directors are to pursue the objects and principal purposes of the ISN Psychology Pty Ltd, which are to improve professional practice through the provision of education and the promotion of critical reflection, freedom of inquiry, academic excellence, research and a culture of scholarship.

The functions of the Board of Directors are delegated to the College Council by written resolution pursuant to section 248A of the Corporations Act.

Membership

The Board of Directors consists of Dr. Jim Penman.

The ISN Company Secretary is responsible for recording, preparing and distributing the minutes for each meeting.

Frequency of Meetings

The Board of Directors meets on a date and time according to a pre-established schedule.

THE COLLEGE COUNCIL

Role

The College Council is delegated the powers and authorities to:

  • Pursue the mission and vision of ISN Psychology;
  • Carry out the objects and purposes of ISN Psychology; and
  • Undertake the functions set out in the delegation of authority and all other functions which are incidental or convenient for the purposes of the above power and authority.

Functions

The College Council undertakes the functions set out in the delegation of authority and all other functions which are incidental or convenient for the purposes of the above power and authority, including without limitation:

  • Provide advice regarding the overall operations of ISN Psychology from a strategic perspective;
  • Monitor the implementation of ISN Psychology’s Strategic Plan;
  • Oversee and monitor the overall quality of ISN Psychology’s services;
  • Oversee the Academic Board;
  • Confer academic awards;
  • Establish any necessary committees to meet ISN Psychology’s requirements; and
  • Initiate reviews and improvements.

Membership

The College Council consists of:

  • The Director of ISN Psychology;
  • The President;
  • Chair of the Academic Board; and
  • Three to five external independent members.

Frequency of Meetings

The College Council meets a minimum of three times per year according to a pre-established schedule.

Sub-Committees

  • Academic Board
  • Quality and Risk Committee
  • Executive Committee

Quorum

A quorum for a meeting of the College Council is four (4) members, provided that at least three (3) members are physically present.

The Chairperson of the College Council is the President. The Council comprises of:

Professor Tony Paolini, Chair
Professor Tony Paolini, ChairCEO/President and Head of the AOU
CEO and President of ISN Psychology, Professor Paolini is an internationally recognised scientist. He has qualifications in psychology (MPsych – Clin Neuro) and in Neuroscience (PhD). He was Head of the Auditory Clinical Neuroscience Unit at the Bionic Ear Institute and worked on the continued development of the cochlear implant examining the relationship between the brains ability to hear sounds in noise and its relationship to intelligence and higher level cognitive functioning. At ISN he continues to apply his auditory expertise and his knowledge of psychology to provide a further understanding of how anxiety contributes to the condition of tinnitus. He is currently Professor in Psychology at RMIT University, Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Director of the Institute for Social Neuroscience. Professor Paolini brings a wealth of academic governance from his prior role as Head of Psychology at RMIT university overseeing more than 10 staff members and over 500 students enrolled in the program.
Professor David Buss
Professor David BussCollege Council Member
David M. Buss is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. He is considered the world’s leading scientific expert on strategies of human mating and one of the founders of the field of evolutionary psychology. His most recent book is The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating (revised edition: 2016). He has also authored several other books, including Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind; and The Dangerous Passion: Why Jealousy is as Necessary as Love and Sex; The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind is Designed to Kill; and Why Women Have Sex (with Cindy Meston). Buss has more than 300 scientific publications. He has been cited as one of the 30 most influential living psychologists. Buss lectures widely within the USA and internationally.
Hon Kevin Andrews
Hon Kevin AndrewsChair of the Quality and Risk Committee & College Council Member
Hon Kevin Andrews brings his vast parliamentary experience and committee service to define the strategic directions of ISN Psychology. He is also the Chair of ISN Psychology’s Quality and Risk Committee. He has written many publications including books on biomedical ethics and the social and economic trends shaping the nation. He has represented the community as the Member for Menzies. Ministerial appointments include:

• Minister for Ageing from 26.11.01 to 7.10.03
• Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations from 7.10.03 to 30.1.07
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service from 7.10.03 to 30.1.07
• Minister for Immigration and Citizenship from 30.1.07 to 3.12.07
• Minister for Social Services from 18.9.13 to 23.12.14
• Minister for Defence from 23.12.14 to 21.9.15

Dr Jim Penman
Dr Jim PenmanDirector
Dr Jim Penman is the founder and CEO of Jim’s Group Pty Ltd, Australia’s most successful franchise business and brings a wealth of business expertise to the governance and management of the Institute.
Dr Penman holds a PhD in history and most recently has been collaborating with Professor Paolini in research projects which have been published in high ranking international journals. He wrote and published Biohistory, Decline and Fall of the West, from which much of the collaborative research has its basis. Jim has a keen interest in the field of Social Neuroscience and the health and wellbeing of society and is the key founder driving the establishment of the Institute.
Rev Dr Max Vodola
Rev Dr Max VodolaCollege Council Member
Rev Dr Max Vodola is a lecturer at the Catholic Theological College and is head of the Department of Church History. He lectures in the history of the Church in Australia, 19th/20th century Catholicism and Vatican II. Rev Dr Vodola will contribute to the strategic direction of the Institute. His knowledge of history will contribute to facilitate the mission of ISN Psychology in the context of understanding social change within a historical and epigenetic framework.
Ms Kelly Humphreys
Ms Kelly HumphreysCollege Council, Quality and Risk, and Academic Board Member
Member College Council, Academic Board, Quality & Risk Committee

Kelly is an experienced non-executive director and accomplished financial services professional with current board roles across diverse sectors including building regulation, health and financial services. She is also Chair and member of Audit, Finance and Risk Committees.

Kelly brings expertise in strategic thinking and a strong commercial approach to achieving objectives in complex regulatory environments. Skilled in client engagement and applying data and digital strategies to engage and understand customer drivers. She has led start-up organisations and demonstrated ability in engaging stakeholders and working effectively to deliver growth and improved performance. Strong technical expertise in establishing insurance, risk management and governance practices.

She has a Masters of Management, Diploma of Financial Services and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

THE ACADEMIC BOARD

Role

The Academic Board oversees the educational processes involved in designing, delivering and assessing ISN courses.

Functions

The Academic Board is delegated the powers and authorities to carry out the following functions:

  • approve new courses and changes to existing courses consistent with registration and accreditation requirements;
  • monitor and approve student results and scholarships;
  • oversee and monitor the academic quality of programs and courses;
  • initiate academic reviews and improvements;
  • develop, approve and implement academic policies and procedures; and
  • report to the College Council consistent with the objects and purposes of ISN and its colleges.

Reporting

The Academic Board reports to the College Council.

Membership

The Board consists of:

  • Chairperson
  • the Director of ISN;
  • the Head of Psychology;
  • the President;
  • one Academic staff representative to be elected by Academic staff; and
  • a minimum of three independent members, two of whom must have experience in academic governance and one with experience in corporate governance.

The Chairperson of the Academic Board is an external appointee of high academic standing and appropriate experience.

Frequency of Meetings

The Academic Board meets four (4) times per year on a date and time according to a pre-established schedule.

Sub-Committees

  • Learning and Teaching Committee
  • Research and Scholarship Committee
  • Course Progress Assessment Review Committee

Quorum

A quorum for a meeting of the Academic Board is five (5) members, provided that at least one (1) independent member is physically present

In addition to Professor Tony Paolini, Dr Penman, Dr Linda Byrne, and Ms Kelly Humphreys mentioned above, the board comprises:

Dr Linda Byrne
Dr Linda ByrneChair of the Academic Board
Associate Professor Linda Byrne MAPS (CCN) is the Deputy Head of School and Director of Internationalisation in the School of Psychology at Deakin University. As a registered psychologist with post-graduate training in Clinical Neuropsychology, Linda has 20 years of clinical, research and teaching experience in the areas of neuropsychiatric disorders, neurology, brain injury, geriatric medicine, developmental disorders and neuropsychological rehabilitation. Her major area of research is in the understanding and remediation of neuro- and social cognitive deficits in clinical disorders including neurodevelopmental, psychological, and neurodegenerative disorders. Associate Prof Byrne has extensive teaching experience in undergraduate and post-graduate psychology courses. Her main teaching focus is in the area of psychological assessment, and working with diverse populations in a mental health context. In addition to her teaching and research profile, she has extensive experience in Academic Governance and administration.
Professor Stephen Kent, AB Wabash, PhD Illinois
Professor Stephen Kent, AB Wabash, PhD IllinoisAcademic Board Member
Currently Head of the School of Psychology and Public Health at La Trobe University, Professor Kent has research and teaching experience in the field of psychology and behavioural and social neuroscience. He brings to ISN the academic governance and administrative experience gained overseeing a large psychology school comprising over 30 academics and over 1,000 students. He brings his vast knowledge to this enterprise in the fields of social neuroscience.

FINANCIALS

Statement of Financial Standing 2018/2019