Board of Directors
The Board of Directors comprises a diverse group of accomplished professionals with expertise in higher education, financial management, compliance, technology, and innovation. Together, they provide strategic leadership and governance, ensuring the Central Institute’s growth, sustainability, and commitment to excellence in education.
Janet Beard
Independent Director and Chair of the Board of Directors
Janet Beard is the Chair of the Board of Directors. Janet has over thirty years of experience in the higher education sector, having worked at four Australian universities where she managed complex multi-campus faculties and designed and implemented improved University-wide organisational arrangements and services.
Her key strengths lie in diagnosis and analysis, planning and design, organisational development, change management, continuous business process and system improvement, and benefits realisation. She is recognised for her ability to lead transformative change, optimising operational frameworks, and driving institutional growth.
Currently, Janet works as a consultant in the sector and is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). She has previously chaired the board of another start-up, guiding it through to successful operations as a registered provider.
Janet holds a Master of Business, a Graduate Certificate in Quality Assurance, and has completed executive leadership courses in both Australia and the USA at Stanford University.
Allan North
Independent Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
Allan North is a Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA) and holds a Master of Business degree by research, along with an Advanced Finance Management qualification from Stanford University in the USA.
With over 30 years of experience as a senior financial executive, Allan has served as Director of Finance at the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Wollongong, overseeing significant financial operations and strategic financial planning.
In addition to his executive roles, Allan has extensive academic experience, having lectured in both undergraduate and postgraduate business courses at the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney. His expertise in higher education financial management is further demonstrated by his facilitation of a two-day workshop for Australian universities in 2016, focused on Higher Education Strategic Financial Management and Resource Efficiency.
More recently, Allan has worked as a Consulting CFO, assisting companies across various industries in enhancing their financial performance and resource allocation, leveraging his deep knowledge of financial management to deliver improved operational efficiency and profitability.
Dr Vilma Galstaun
Independent Director and Chair of the Academic Board
Dr Vilma Galstaun is the Chair of the Academic Board and an ex officio member of the Board of Directors. Vilma is a seasoned educator with over 30 years of experience in leadership roles within the education sector.
As an academic in technology education at the University of Sydney, she was renowned for her contributions to teaching, curriculum development, and professional engagement. She significantly reformed technology units to equip preservice teachers with essential digital and data literacy skills, embedding these competencies across curricula, pedagogies, and assessments.
A key player in redesigning professional experience coursework, Dr. Galstaun advanced the integration of the Assessment for Graduate Teachers (AfGT) to align with national teaching standards, preparing teachers for effective transitions to classroom practice.
Her research spans educational technology, curriculum design and re-design, data literacy, and STEM education. She actively supports ongoing professional development for educators through roles with the STEM Teacher Enrichment Academy and multiple professional associations, impacting educators in diverse settings, including rural and international schools.
Dr Ruth Ferraro
Independent Director
Dr Ruth Ferraro, GAICD, Fellow ARPI, Master of Business, Master of Adult Education, brings over 20 years of executive experience in education within membership bodies and professional associations across diverse fields, including medical specialisations, accounting, law, and financial planning.
She has led the development of accredited courses, employing work-integrated learning models and frameworks for continuous, lifelong learning, including the use of micro-credentials for credit recognition.
As a governance professional, Ruth was listed on the TEQSA Expert Register from 2019 to 2021, recognised for her expertise in corporate governance. Currently, she serves as interim President of Group Colleges, adding to her portfolio career of Non-executive Director roles with private education providers and consultancy work with member bodies in niche specialisations.
Her research and consulting focus on advancing professionalism and professionalisation through education.
Elaine Ye Wang
Member Director and Shareholder
Elaine Wang is an accomplished business leader with extensive experience in education and financial management. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Macquarie University and Master of International Financial Analysis from Newcastle University, UK.
Elaine has served as a Managing Director and Company Director in various educational institutions, including the domestic Statewide Business Training and Sydney International School of Technology and Commerce. In these roles, she has been responsible for strategic planning, recruiting domestic and international students, governance, and financial oversight, ensuring compliance and driving business growth.
Her background in finance, combined with her leadership in vocational and tertiary education, positions her as a key figure in managing institutional finances, developing international recruitment strategies, and aligning business operations with long-term goals.
Fluent in both English and Mandarin, Elaine has also successfully expanded markets in China and other regions, demonstrating her global reach and influence in education and business sectors.
