Senior Management
Mr Arjun Surapaneni - CEO and Chairman
Arjun has extensive education, technology and commercial experience with over 25 years’ experience in senior executive and Chief Executive Officer roles. His expertise straddles strategy, business growth, international business development, marketing, technology commercialisation, business transformation, change management and sustainability. Arjun has coordinated IT project implementation and training with organisations such as Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Covansys, IBM Global Services, Ernst & Young, Computer Science Corporation, WA Police Services, Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Telstra, Health for Aged (Australian Federal Government), Dresdner Bank (UK) and BHP Australia.Although a third generation educator, Arjun became a dedicated educator in 1999 after he chanced upon a research paper published in the USA. It stated that when many near dead, or people who were thought to be dead, ‘came back to life’ and were asked what was their first thought when they came back to consciousness, an amazing 87% said they wished they had studied/learned more. Arjun was appointed as a Member of the Multicultural Business Ministerial Council (MBMC) by the Baillieu Government in Victoria from 24 October 2011 to 23 October 2013 and was also the Chair of Export and Human Capital (including Education) working groups of the MBMC.
Abdul Mamun - General Manager Marketing and Admission
Abdul Mamun started his journey in 2005 at VIT. He has developed multi-channel marketing plans and proactively identified new marketing opportunities. Over the last 15 years Mamun has developed his network of relationships spanning several countries and achieved outstanding results.
Key areas of expertise are:
- Creative representation
- Enhancing student experience
- Student financial services
- Identifying new marketing opportunities
- Developing and meeting strategic goals
- Developing multi-channel marketing plans
Associate Professor Albert Haddad - Associate Dean
Associate Professor Albert Haddad has over 30 years’ experience in medical research, leadership development and change management, Higher Education teaching and administration. Prior to joining VIT, Albert was the Chief Academic Officer at Harvest Bible College and the Director of Academic Administration at Alphacrucis College. Albert also worked with Monash University and consulted with the University of Ballarat (Federation University) and operated a Leadership Development consulting business.
Key areas of expertise are:
- Team Building
- Building transformative learning and teaching culture
- Quality and standards
- Leadership development in educational organisations
- Facilitating organisational change management
- Student engagement and online learning
Professor Arun Patil - Academic Dean
Professor Arun Patil has over 31 years of teaching, research and managerial experience in higher and further education.
Prior to joining VIT, he was Vice-Chancellor and President at Amity University Rajasthan. His other previous positions include; Director of Postgraduate Coursework Studies and Director of Deakin Engineering Education Research (DEER) in the School of Engineering, Deakin University, Australia, Deputy Dean (L&T) at CQUniversity, Research Scholar and Project Officer at Monash University, Australia. He holds a PhD, and Master of Engineering Science, both from Monash University, Australia.
Key areas of expertise are:
- Engineering and technology education
- Curriculum design and development
- Work-integrated learning
- Project and design-based learning
- Enhancing student experience
- Financial services marketing
- Quality assurance and accreditation
- University/institutional governance and administration.
Associate Professor Anuradha Samkham Raju - Associate Dean (Sydney)
Anuradha Samkhamraju has 20 years of academic and industry experience in IT in India, the Kingdom of Bahrain and Australia.
‘Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first loves together’- Scott Hayden
Key areas of expertise are:
- Software Testing
- Software Engineering
- Object Oriented Programming
- Database Management Systems
Dr. Javed Ali Baloch - Registrar
Javed has over 15 years of academic experience, with a demonstrated ability of teaching, course development, research, and leadership. Throughout his academic career he has taught at different course levels and culturally diverse body of students. Prior to the role, Javed was the Program Coordinator of the Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems.
Key areas of expertise are:
- Â Course development
- Â Teach Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses in IT
- Â Monitoring Student Progression
- RPL/Credits
- Â Research in the areas of Wireless Communication and Networks, IoT and Privacy and Security
Rohith Meneni - Management & Business Development Executive
Rohith Meneni is an experienced management and business development executive who has a strong business acumen and a customer focused approach. He is a strategic thinker who likes to challenge the status quo and looks for continuous improvement.
- Business Operations
- Project Management
- Acquisition marketing (B2C)
- International student recruitment
- Solution sales (B2B)
- Financial services marketing
- Commercial negotiation
Sarasi Sumanaweera - Certified Practicing & Chartered Management Accountant
Sarasi is a Certified Practicing Accountant and Chartered Management Accountant with over 20 years of experience. Responsible for providing leadership, direction and management of the finance and accounting team.
Key areas of expertise are:
- Business valuations.
- P&L management.
- Auditing and compliance.
- Accounting standards.
- Budget development and management.
- Cash-flow management and modeling.
- Financial and strategic planning.
Surender Etikala - Director of Business Operations
Surender has a consistent track record in successfully leading large teams with a strong focus on growing the business and an ongoing commitment to student success. Over 20 years of experience in developing and implementing strategic and operational plans, along with expertise in student retention, student progression and student welfare in the Higher Education, Vocational and ELICOS environments.
Key areas of expertise are:
- Leadership
- Human Resource Management
- Performance Management
- Student Engagement
- Student Wellbeing and Welfare
- Policy Development
- TEQSA and ASQA Compliance and Audits
Professor Sid Nair - Executive Dean
``Sid Nair has over 30 years’ experience in the tertiary sector both in Australia and internationally.``
His experience ranges from being the Executive Director of the apex regulatory body, Tertiary Education Commission, Mauritius; Professor of Higher Education Development at University of Western Australia; and, Interim Director and Quality Advisor (Evaluations and Research) at the Centre for Higher Education Quality (CHEQ), Monash University.
Key areas of expertise are:
- Formulation and execution of strategies and policies in higher education
- Building academic capacity in learning and teaching
- Evaluations
- Enhancing student experience
- Quality Assurance and Accreditation
M. Tahir Mahmood - Manager Resource Development and Scope Extension / Acting VET Coordinator
Tahir has proven time-management skills developed while working with different companies. He is a highly articulate individual able to work confidently with diverse cultures and situations in which cultural awareness and appreciation are integral. He has extensive knowledge of the VET sector proven with the successful audit outcomes following audits by regulatory bodies such as the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and the Department of Education and Training Victoria for Skills First Funding.
Key areas of expertise are:
- VET Management
- Regulatory compliance
- Quality assurance
- Critical thinking
- Team leadership
- Problem resolution capability
- Curriculum development
- Policy Development
- Relationship Management