Governance Overview
JMC Pty. Limited (ACN 003 572 012) is registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission as an Australian Proprietary Company, operating under a standard Corporations Law constitution, as per the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Dr J Martin Cass established the operation in 1982 and subsequently incorporated JMC PTY. LIMITED in 1989. JMC Academy is the trading name for the Company and operates in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
The Charter establishes the foundation of JMC Academy’s (JMC) higher education services by providing a clear governance framework for the corporate and academic activities of JMC, ensuring it meets relevant external standards and legislation, including:
- Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021, as established by sub-section 58(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act 2011),
- Higher Education Support Act 2003
- Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000,
- Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Regulations 2001,
- National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code), ELICOS National Standard
- Standards for VET Regulators, and
- VET Quality Framework.
All JMC Academy staff are responsible for ensuring the efficient performance and high-quality provision of the higher education delivered by JMC Academy. The governance of this provision is the responsibility of JMC’s formally appointed boards, committees, sub-committees and working parties.
JMC Academy’s governance structure includes the following:
- Governing Council, and its sub committees
- Student Appeals Committee,
- Risk & Audit Committee,
- Risk Management Committee,
- Academic Board,
- Academic Board Executive Committee,
- Learning and Teaching Committee,
- Curriculum Design and Delivery Committees
- Course Advisory Committees,
- Scholarship Committee,
- Working Parties
Governing Council
The Governing Council has oversight of JMC Academy’s funding, strategic direction and management.
The functions of the Governing Council are to:
- Establish and monitor the pursuit of the vision, purpose and strategic objectives of JMC Academy, by developing, maintaining, promoting and monitoring the implementation of JMC Academy’s Strategic Plan,
- Establish and maintain an institutional environment in which freedom of speech is upheld and protected, students and staff are treated equitably, the wellbeing of students and staff is fostered, informed decision making by students is supported and students have opportunities to participate in the deliberative and decision-making processes of JMC Academy,
- Oversee and review the management and performance of JMC Academy,
- Develop, maintain, promote and monitor the implementation of JMC’s Risk Management Framework, to ensure adequate risk management measures are in place in all areas including financial reporting, internal control systems, risk management, business continuity, fraud prevention and the internal and external audit functions, and that risks to higher education operations have been identified and material risks are being managed and mitigated effectively,
- Ensure the Governing Council and JMC Academy at large meet their legal and compliance obligations, including the requirement to maintain a true record of the business of the governing body and JMC Academy, as set out in the Company Constitution, the Corporations Act, Higher Education Standards Framework and Standards for VET Regulators.
- Establish and periodically review the quality assurance framework and arrangements to guide the JMC Academy’s educational and business functions within a culture of continuous improvement and receive regular reports on the implementation of quality assurance mechanisms,
- Define roles and develop, implement and regularly review a register of delegations as is necessary for effective governance, policy development and management and monitoring the implementation of those delegations, including:
- Establishing and delegating appropriate authority to the Academic Board as the academic governing body, appointing its members and maintaining oversight and receiving reports of its activities and performance,
- Establishing and delegating appropriate authority to the CEO as the role responsible for the efficient conduct of JMC’s day to day business and maintaining oversight and receiving reports of the CEO’s activities and performance,
- Establishing and delegating appropriate authority to the Risk & Audit Committee as the body responsible for oversight of the risk profile and risk management of JMC Academy within the context of the Governing Council’s determined risk appetite,
- Establishing and delegating appropriate authority to the Student Appeals Committee as the body responsible for hearing all student appeals in regard to a decision made by JMC Academy in regard to academic and non-academic matters,
- Establishing and convening Working Parties as the Council may consider necessary for the conduct of its business, approving their terms of reference, receiving reports and overseeing their work, and disestablishing these parties if it deems that they are no longer required.
- Exercise financial oversight of operations to ensure JMC Academy has sufficient funds to maintain financial viability and sustainability for its ongoing operations and meet all legislative and regulatory requirements,
- Approve major submissions made by JMC Pty. Limited to external regulators, including for example (but not limited to):
- Applying for re-registration as a higher education provider,
- Applying for accreditation/re-accreditation of higher education courses,
- Applying for re-registration as a CRICOS provider, and/or
- Statutory reporting to the Department of Education and the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency,
- Monitor the occurrence and nature of formal complaints, allegations of misconduct, breaches of academic integrity and critical incidents and ensure action is taken to address underlying causes,
- Undertake (at least once in any registration period longer than four (4) years or otherwise in the year preceding expiry of registration) independent reviews of the effectiveness of the governing body and academic governance processes and ensure that the findings of such reviews are considered and that agreed actions are implemented,
- Oversee JMC Academy’s policy framework, noting delegations of policy making responsibility in some cases,
- Perform functions and oversight of the subsidiary International Film School Sydney as required,
- Support participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Governing Council Members
Mr Rod Camm
Rod has over 30 years’ experience in tertiary education, developing expert knowledge of policy, federal and state responsibilities, governance, institutional operations, management and regulation Rod engages on complex policy issues and has expertise in leadership, strategy, policy, change management and in facilitating innovation and opportunity through organisational design. Rod applies data analytics and interpretation to policy challenges in public administration, tertiary education, industry skills development, vocational education and training (VET) in schools and international education.
Rod has been leading significant organisational change for much of his career and possesses a unique range of experience as chief executive officer (CEO) of government agencies, statutory bodies, government-owned corporations, and private sector organisations including:
- CEO, ACPET
- CEO, Skills QLD
- MD, NCVER
- Director, Aviation Australia
- Director, TVET
- Associate Director, General QLD Dept of Education and Training
- CEO, Construction Skills Qld.
Mr Rod Camm
Rod has over 30 years’ experience in tertiary education, developing expert knowledge of policy, federal and state responsibilities, governance, institutional operations, management and regulation Rod engages on complex policy issues and has expertise in leadership, strategy, policy, change management and in facilitating innovation and opportunity through organisational design. Rod applies data analytics and interpretation to policy challenges in public administration, tertiary education, industry skills development, vocational education and training (VET) in schools and international education.
Rod has been leading significant organisational change for much of his career and possesses a unique range of experience as chief executive officer (CEO) of government agencies, statutory bodies, government-owned corporations, and private sector organisations including:
- CEO, ACPET
- CEO, Skills QLD
- MD, NCVER
- Director, Aviation Australia
- Director, TVET
- Associate Director, General QLD Dept of Education and Training
- CEO, Construction Skills Qld.
Janet Barnes
Janet Barnes
Helen Zimmerman
Helen Zimmerman has worked in leadership roles in Australian public and private education for over 40 years. From 2005 to 2018 she was a senior executive of Navitas Limited, a global education provider. Prior to joining Navitas Helen was Managing Director of the ACL Group of companies, the largest private provider of English language education in Australia. At both ACL and Navitas Helen was an advocate for international and domestic education policy and regulatory issues across the English language, vocational and higher education sectors.
Helen is an experienced board member and was formerly the Chair of the Australian Government’s Tuition Protection Service, VSL Tuition Protection Fund and HELP Tuition Protection Fund Advisory Boards. She has served on both the NSW Skills Board as well as the Jobs for NSW Board.
From 2011 to 2017 Helen was a director, and then Chair of the Australian Business and Community Network, a not-for-profit organisation that connects business with high need schools and learners through mentoring and partnership programs.
Helen has also served on the boards of several peak professional education associations and regulatory bodies. She was a member of the NSW Vocational Education and Training Board from 2002 to 2008. She has been a director of the National ELT Accreditation Scheme, and of English Australia.
In 2004 Helen was a foundation board member of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) and was President from 2012-2014. Helen represented IEAA overseas and within Australia, taking a strong role on collaboration, partnership and advocacy. She has over many years championed international student voices ‘at the table’. In 2017 she was awarded the International Education Association of Australia’s Distinguished Contribution Award for a colleague who has led groundbreaking initiatives to improve international education in Australia.
Helen also Chairs JMC Academy’s Risk and Audit Committee.
Helen holds a Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) Hons from the Australian National University, post- graduate diplomas in Education and Adult Education, and a Diploma in Company Directorship (FAICD).
Helen Zimmerman
Helen Zimmerman has worked in leadership roles in Australian public and private education for over 40 years. From 2005 to 2018 she was a senior executive of Navitas Limited, a global education provider. Prior to joining Navitas Helen was Managing Director of the ACL Group of companies, the largest private provider of English language education in Australia. At both ACL and Navitas Helen was an advocate for international and domestic education policy and regulatory issues across the English language, vocational and higher education sectors.
Helen is an experienced board member and was formerly the Chair of the Australian Government’s Tuition Protection Service, VSL Tuition Protection Fund and HELP Tuition Protection Fund Advisory Boards. She has served on both the NSW Skills Board as well as the Jobs for NSW Board.
From 2011 to 2017 Helen was a director, and then Chair of the Australian Business and Community Network, a not-for-profit organisation that connects business with high need schools and learners through mentoring and partnership programs.
Helen has also served on the boards of several peak professional education associations and regulatory bodies. She was a member of the NSW Vocational Education and Training Board from 2002 to 2008. She has been a director of the National ELT Accreditation Scheme, and of English Australia.
In 2004 Helen was a foundation board member of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) and was President from 2012-2014. Helen represented IEAA overseas and within Australia, taking a strong role on collaboration, partnership and advocacy. She has over many years championed international student voices ‘at the table’. In 2017 she was awarded the International Education Association of Australia’s Distinguished Contribution Award for a colleague who has led groundbreaking initiatives to improve international education in Australia.
Helen also Chairs JMC Academy’s Risk and Audit Committee.
Helen holds a Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) Hons from the Australian National University, post- graduate diplomas in Education and Adult Education, and a Diploma in Company Directorship (FAICD).
Rebecca Hall
Rebecca has held a range of senior executive positions in government, peak bodies and institutions, with a focus on skills, education and trade. For more than 25 years she has carved out an international career with a focus on policy, strategy and commercial projects in Asia Pacific. Rebecca is passionate about the role of education and the creative arts in making a better world.
She is an experienced board director and has served on a range of not-for-profit boards including International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA), AFS Intercultural Programs and Queensland Overseas Foundation.
Rebecca is known for her collaborative leadership style, focus on building strategic partnerships and commercial acumen. She is highly accomplished in strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and governance.
Rebecca is widely respected in Australia and internationally as an innovator and thought leader. Key achievements include forging partnerships across governments, educational institutions, industry partners and communities.
Rebecca Hall
Rebecca has held a range of senior executive positions in government, peak bodies and institutions, with a focus on skills, education and trade. For more than 25 years she has carved out an international career with a focus on policy, strategy and commercial projects in Asia Pacific. Rebecca is passionate about the role of education and the creative arts in making a better world.
She is an experienced board director and has served on a range of not-for-profit boards including International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA), AFS Intercultural Programs and Queensland Overseas Foundation.
Rebecca is known for her collaborative leadership style, focus on building strategic partnerships and commercial acumen. She is highly accomplished in strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and governance.
Rebecca is widely respected in Australia and internationally as an innovator and thought leader. Key achievements include forging partnerships across governments, educational institutions, industry partners and communities.
Clark Perkins
Clark founded Mercury Capital in 2010 and is the Chairman of the Mercury Capital Funds and the Chief Executive of Mercury Capital, the Manager of each Fund.
Clark has worked in investment markets for over 30 years, which includes over 20 years of private equity experience. He was Head of the Merchant Banking Division of Goldman Sachs JBWere, and Executive Chairman of GSJBW’s Private Equity Funds, Hauraki No 1, Hauraki No 2 and Trans-Tasman PE Fund. Total of 14 years with GSJBW, including Director of GSJBW Australia, member of the Management Committee, and Chairman and CEO of GSJBW NZ.
Clark is Chairman of Tamaki Health, director of TEG, ResourceCo, Re.Group, Architectus, Findex and JMC and board observer in E&P Financial Group.
Clark holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland.
Clark Perkins
Clark founded Mercury Capital in 2010 and is the Chairman of the Mercury Capital Funds and the Chief Executive of Mercury Capital, the Manager of each Fund.
Clark has worked in investment markets for over 30 years, which includes over 20 years of private equity experience. He was Head of the Merchant Banking Division of Goldman Sachs JBWere, and Executive Chairman of GSJBW’s Private Equity Funds, Hauraki No 1, Hauraki No 2 and Trans-Tasman PE Fund. Total of 14 years with GSJBW, including Director of GSJBW Australia, member of the Management Committee, and Chairman and CEO of GSJBW NZ.
Clark is Chairman of Tamaki Health, director of TEG, ResourceCo, Re.Group, Architectus, Findex and JMC and board observer in E&P Financial Group.
Clark holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland.
Emeritus Professor Peter Flood
Professor Flood is a distinguished Australian academic with five decades of activities as a scientist, geologist, and higher education administrator. He has First Class Honours and a Master of Science from the University of New England, and a PhD from the University of Queensland. In addition, he holds a Diploma from Harvard University in Educational Management.
He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of New England and has served as Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney. Professor Flood has held previous appointments at the University of Hong Kong and the University of Miami. He lectured at the University of Queensland (1972-1979), the University of New England (1980-2009), and the University of Sydney (2013-2014).
Professor Flood has more than a decade of experience in the private Higher Education sector having held roles as Provost, Dean, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Governing Council, Chair of Academic Board, Academic Board, Course Advisory Committee, and Director. His specialisation is academic quality assurance and regulatory compliance. He has advised institutions regarding TEQSA Registration and Accreditation, Re-Registration and Re-Accreditation, including the application for Self-Accreditation.
Emeritus Professor Peter Flood
Professor Flood is a distinguished Australian academic with five decades of activities as a scientist, geologist, and higher education administrator. He has First Class Honours and a Master of Science from the University of New England, and a PhD from the University of Queensland. In addition, he holds a Diploma from Harvard University in Educational Management.
He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of New England and has served as Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney. Professor Flood has held previous appointments at the University of Hong Kong and the University of Miami. He lectured at the University of Queensland (1972-1979), the University of New England (1980-2009), and the University of Sydney (2013-2014).
Professor Flood has more than a decade of experience in the private Higher Education sector having held roles as Provost, Dean, Chair and Deputy Chair of the Governing Council, Chair of Academic Board, Academic Board, Course Advisory Committee, and Director. His specialisation is academic quality assurance and regulatory compliance. He has advised institutions regarding TEQSA Registration and Accreditation, Re-Registration and Re-Accreditation, including the application for Self-Accreditation.
Pamela Christie
Pam has held a range of senior executive positions in Government regulation and in the tertiary education and training sector over the past 30 years. Pam has a great passion for changing lives through quality education and training and has driven major organisational, policy and regulatory reforms across a number of key leadership roles.
Pam’s strengths include driving organisational and cultural change and transforming organisations to be more customer-focused, efficient and commercially successful. She is highly accomplished in strategic leadership, innovation, advocacy and workforce reforms.
Pam is widely respected across Government and the tertiary education sector in Australia and internationally as an innovator and thought leader. Key achievements include forging partnerships across Governments, tertiary educational institutions, industry bodies and enterprises.
Pam has held the following positions:
- Executive Director Industry Engagement and Communications Australian Aged Care Quality Agency
- Senior Fellow LH Martin Institute
- Executive Director Regulatory Operations ASQA
- Managing Director TAFE NSW
- Deputy Director General TAFE Department of Education and Communities.
Pamela Christie
Pam has held a range of senior executive positions in Government regulation and in the tertiary education and training sector over the past 30 years. Pam has a great passion for changing lives through quality education and training and has driven major organisational, policy and regulatory reforms across a number of key leadership roles.
Pam’s strengths include driving organisational and cultural change and transforming organisations to be more customer-focused, efficient and commercially successful. She is highly accomplished in strategic leadership, innovation, advocacy and workforce reforms.
Pam is widely respected across Government and the tertiary education sector in Australia and internationally as an innovator and thought leader. Key achievements include forging partnerships across Governments, tertiary educational institutions, industry bodies and enterprises.
Pam has held the following positions:
- Executive Director Industry Engagement and Communications Australian Aged Care Quality Agency
- Senior Fellow LH Martin Institute
- Executive Director Regulatory Operations ASQA
- Managing Director TAFE NSW
- Deputy Director General TAFE Department of Education and Communities.
Dr Martin Cass
Martin founded JMC Academy in 1982 and has remained staunchly dedicated to lifting the quality of education and training in the Creative Industries. Martin launched Australia’s first ever accredited courses in Audio Engineering (1991), Multimedia (1996), and Digital Television (2000) in an industry still relatively new to the opportunities and prospects of a Creatively-driven multi-media explosion within an environment traditionally.
Martin is or has been a member of multiple accreditation and advisory panels across the higher education, vocational training, creative industries and philanthropic sectors including:
- Chair Acpet 2010-2016
- Acpet NSW 2001 benchmarking sub-committee
- Acpet NSW 2003 higher Education sub-committee.
- VETAB accreditation panels of various private providers and TAFE.
- CREATE Australia advisory panel for the development of Music and Entertainment industry Training Packages.
- CREATE Australia advisory panel for the development of Music Industry competency standards.
- Various Arts Training NSW advisory panels
- The curriculum advisory panel for the Graduate Diploma in Design Science (Audio), Sydney University Faculty of Architecture.
- AUSMUSIC education advisory panels
- Australian Contemporary Music Institute ACMI panel
- Papers and Seminars
- Delivery of “Innovation and Creativity – sunk without a trace” paper at the 2006 National Acpet conference.
- Opening address at the International Association for the Study of Popular Music Conference 2006
- Mater Dei Foundation Committee member (Fundraising for children with disabilities)
- Presented documentation to the Federal inquiry into the future opportunities for Australia’s film, animation special effects and electronics games industries. July 2003
Dr Martin Cass
Martin founded JMC Academy in 1982 and has remained staunchly dedicated to lifting the quality of education and training in the Creative Industries. Martin launched Australia’s first ever accredited courses in Audio Engineering (1991), Multimedia (1996), and Digital Television (2000) in an industry still relatively new to the opportunities and prospects of a Creatively-driven multi-media explosion within an environment traditionally.
Martin is or has been a member of multiple accreditation and advisory panels across the higher education, vocational training, creative industries and philanthropic sectors including:
- Chair Acpet 2010-2016
- Acpet NSW 2001 benchmarking sub-committee
- Acpet NSW 2003 higher Education sub-committee.
- VETAB accreditation panels of various private providers and TAFE.
- CREATE Australia advisory panel for the development of Music and Entertainment industry Training Packages.
- CREATE Australia advisory panel for the development of Music Industry competency standards.
- Various Arts Training NSW advisory panels
- The curriculum advisory panel for the Graduate Diploma in Design Science (Audio), Sydney University Faculty of Architecture.
- AUSMUSIC education advisory panels
- Australian Contemporary Music Institute ACMI panel
- Papers and Seminars
- Delivery of “Innovation and Creativity – sunk without a trace” paper at the 2006 National Acpet conference.
- Opening address at the International Association for the Study of Popular Music Conference 2006
- Mater Dei Foundation Committee member (Fundraising for children with disabilities)
- Presented documentation to the Federal inquiry into the future opportunities for Australia’s film, animation special effects and electronics games industries. July 2003
Joshua Constantinis
Joshua has a combined 12 years of private equity and investment banking experience including four years at UBS, Australia before joining Mercury Capital in 2016.
Joshua is currently a Director of JMC, Matrix Education and Green by Nature
Joshua holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law (First Class Honours) from Monash University (Melbourne)
Joshua Constantinis
Joshua has a combined 12 years of private equity and investment banking experience including four years at UBS, Australia before joining Mercury Capital in 2016.
Joshua is currently a Director of JMC, Matrix Education and Green by Nature
Joshua holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law (First Class Honours) from Monash University (Melbourne)
Mr Robert Peile
A chartered accountant in public practice, Robert provides specialist advice and consultation to small and medium enterprises on business, financial counselling and management issues; Australian taxation law practice; accountancy advisory; corporate insolvency, recovery, reconstruction and intensive care and self-managed superannuation.
Robert is a chartered tax advisor, registered company auditor, liquidator, tax agent, self-managed superannuation auditor and acts as an external examiner to the Law Society of New South Wales. Robert has served on the JMC Academy Governing Council since 2005.
Mr Robert Peile
A chartered accountant in public practice, Robert provides specialist advice and consultation to small and medium enterprises on business, financial counselling and management issues; Australian taxation law practice; accountancy advisory; corporate insolvency, recovery, reconstruction and intensive care and self-managed superannuation.
Robert is a chartered tax advisor, registered company auditor, liquidator, tax agent, self-managed superannuation auditor and acts as an external examiner to the Law Society of New South Wales. Robert has served on the JMC Academy Governing Council since 2005.
Mr Peter James
Peter has been practising as a solicitor since 1988 and held the position of associate in a multijurisdictional law firm before establishing James Solicitors in 1994.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Queensland and was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in July 1988, to the High Court of Australia in August 1988 and to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in November 1988. He is an International Associate Member of the American Bar Association and also a member of Best Practice Lawyers and one of the first members of the Quality in Law.
Peter has a strong background in commercial law, construction law and litigation, corporate compliance, risk management and best practice and alternative dispute resolution.
LLB (UQ)
Director Solicitor, James Legal
Mr Peter James
Peter has been practising as a solicitor since 1988 and held the position of associate in a multijurisdictional law firm before establishing James Solicitors in 1994.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Queensland and was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in July 1988, to the High Court of Australia in August 1988 and to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in November 1988. He is an International Associate Member of the American Bar Association and also a member of Best Practice Lawyers and one of the first members of the Quality in Law.
Peter has a strong background in commercial law, construction law and litigation, corporate compliance, risk management and best practice and alternative dispute resolution.
LLB (UQ)
Director Solicitor, James Legal