The Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) has appointed former South Australian TAFE chief executive David Coltman as a consultant to review its academic governance framework. This decision follows the appointment of Margot McNeill as CIT’s new chief executive, who is advocating for significant changes within the institution.
Coltman’s role will involve assessing CIT’s compliance with newly released standards for Registered Training Organisations. A CIT spokesperson noted that he was selected for his “extensive experience in high-level leadership” within the education sector. His compensation is set at approximately $170,000 AUD per year, a figure corresponding to the highest senior officer rank under the CIT enterprise agreement.
McNeill’s leadership comes at a time when CIT is striving to regain trust after former chief executive Leanne Cover was placed on paid leave for two years amidst integrity investigations related to contracts worth $8.5 million AUD. Cover resigned in June 2024, and McNeill’s appointment is seen as a pivotal opportunity for CIT to “turn a corner” and focus on governance issues.
Coltman’s experience includes participation in a benchmarking activity in 2022, which involved sharing best practices from TAFE Directors Australia. The CIT spokesperson emphasized that his familiarity with the institution will be beneficial in implementing necessary changes.
Concerns from the Australian Education Union
The Australian Education Union (AEU) has expressed concerns regarding the governance review. AEU ACT branch president Angela Burroughs stated that while a review is necessary, it should involve consultation with the union. Burroughs pointed out the high number of executives and administrative staff at CIT, questioning the institution’s capacity to handle the review internally.
Between 2022 and 2023, CIT underwent a restructuring that created two executive branch managers responsible for different governance areas. This included a policy and governance manager reporting directly to the chief executive and an audit, risk, and corporate governance manager reporting to the corporate services executive director. The restructuring aimed to enhance governance but has raised questions about the institution’s current capacity.
In June, the ACT Assembly allocated $5.3 million AUD to CIT to address a short-term funding shortfall due to low revenue and unexpectedly high staff costs. Burroughs highlighted that such budget constraints hinder the ability of education delivery areas to backfill essential staff positions, such as educators and student support personnel.
Burroughs expressed apprehension that funds may be redirected away from educational priorities to cover the costs associated with hiring external consultants like Coltman. She indicated that CIT staff are eager to see the terms of reference for the review to determine if their governance concerns will be adequately addressed.
As CIT embarks on this new chapter under McNeill’s leadership, the focus will be on rebuilding trust and ensuring compliance with academic standards, while also addressing the critical concerns raised by the AEU and the broader educational community.
