BSB51918 - Diploma Of Leadership and Management

This qualification offers articulation* into a number of highly regarded Australian Universities including those listed below. *Guaranteed entry and up to 1 year off a Bachelor Degree.

Nik Babovic - Chief Executive Officer

Nik Babovic has been at the forefront of Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education in Executive Leadership positions over the past 22 years. Currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jigsaw Training Group (JTG) and Core industry Training (CIT) – his key focus is developing and leading the organisation’s strategic intent, stakeholder engagement and operational management. Before taking up his current role Nik was the contracted as CEO for Careers Australia Group, in this position the key focus was on developing and implementing organisation strategy, implementing an education quality reform structure and liaising with government to ensure Education and Training within the group remained at the highest level in the sector. Prior to working in the above private education sector roles Nik held a prestigious position in the Australian public University sector ‘Deputy Vice Chancellor at Central Queensland University’ (DVC CQUni).  This senior executive and senior academic role at CQUniversity focused on leading the successful merger of CQ University with CQTAFE, to become the first dual sector University in Queensland. The merger of the two public sector organisations has been one of the most innovative and exciting post-secondary education and training initiatives undertaken in Australia.  Along with the merger the role also had responsibility for key University acquisitions such as Health Train Education Services Pty Ltd (Private RTO Train at CQ University).  Key achievements in this role include the submission, liaison with government and the winning of 74m structural adjustment grant funds (SAF).  This is highest SAF grant offered to any University in Australia.  Apart from heading up the merger and of the SAF, the role also included leadership of University/TAFE industry stakeholder engagement, leadership of the TAFE and Higher Education foundation education programs. Prior to taking up the DVC CQUni  position Nik has had a long successful career in senior executive roles with Queensland government including CEO of Central Queensland Institute of TAFE (CQIT) which had over 20,000 enrolments delivered from 10 campuses across Central Queensland, Director of Education Brisbane North TAFE, General Manager Education Gold Coast TAFE  and General Manager Construction Skills QLD (Qld statutory authority focused on research and meeting industry skill needs of the Qld construction sector).

Tim Harbison - General Manager

During Tim’s  3 year tenure as a previous Director of Core Industry Training and now member of the executive team, the company has grown more than 1000% to become one of the most well-respected training company in Australia. He has successfully started and grown a number of business ventures related to tourism and education. He founded Certified Training Solutions Pty Ltd and led the strategic growth and acquisition strategy for the company that saw it evolve into CIT in 2006. Believing passionately in the power of education to expand human potential, transform lives, and shape new visions for leading and learning in a globally complex world is what drives Tim. Grounded in his earlier years as an English teacher, Tim’s career has encompassed all levels of organizational leadership, development, and management for educational companies. He was founder and Managing Director of Sandwave Adventures, blending Ecotourism and English as a Second Language to international students, working with multiple language schools across Brisbane and the Gold Coast including Bond University. Tim founded an English language school in Argentina focussing on resource development to enhance seamlessly aligned learning experiences for students looking to study in Australia. The school was set up to provide English language learning programs and contextualised to ensure students coming to Australia were well prepared. Prior to working in the Vocational Education and Training field Tim worked for the multinational company Starwood Hotel Group working across various departments within Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Tim holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Ecotourism, A Degree in English as a Second Language from Cambridge University and qualifications in Small Business Management, Training and Assessment.

David Kettle - Training Manager

David Kettle has been involved in personal development and education, in both the not-for-profit and private sectors, over the past 14 years. Currently the Training Manager of Jigsaw Training Group (JTG), David oversees the development of Learning Management Systems, Training Delivery and a range of complex national and international projects. Prior to commencing his current role David was employed as Project Manager for Russo Business School, managing the development and delivery of new Higher Education products, including the Bachelor and Masters of Business Innovation. Before this role, David was employed by Careers Australia Group as Innovation Project Manager and, for a cohort of 15,000 students and 120 teaching staff, successfully oversaw a range of innovative educational projects focused on student engagement, student retention, progression analysis, resource development and business analytics. Prior to moving into the above management roles David held a number of training roles both for private organisations where he taught in the Diploma of Leadership and Management, Diploma of Counselling and Diploma of Community Services, as well as for not-for-profit organisations where he provided training in community and youth development for other community groups and organisations, and developed and delivered personal development programs for at-risk young people.