Congratulations Adrienne Nieuwenhuis
Lifetime Achievement Award
A distinguished leader in Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) and higher education (HE) sectors, Adrienne Nieuwenhuis understands what VET means to learners, employers, unions, and governments, and appreciates how workforce development impacts the economy. She has played a pivotal role for over 30 years in shaping policy, advancing workforce development, and strengthening industry–education partnerships.
Adrienne communicates the complexities of tertiary education, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), and skills attainment from a regulatory and workforce-development perspective; an active contributor, diligent, and well-prepared, her strategic insight, tireless advocacy, and commitment to quality and equity in tertiary education is admirable, as is her willingness to guide others.
From 2013 to 2025, she served as a member of the South Australian Skills Commission and chair of its Traineeship and Apprenticeship Sub-Committee, undertaking both roles with distinction. She is currently a member of the Australian Skills and Quality Authority’s National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Advisory Council and the Commonwealth Department of Education’s Initial Teacher Education Quality Assurance Oversight Board. In 2021, she was appointed as a Commissioner of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), becoming Acting Chief Commissioner in May 2024.
Adrienne has also collaborated closely with the Australian Government to establish national regulatory systems for both the VET and higher education sectors. In addition, she has contributed her expertise through service on numerous national and state committees and councils, including the Higher Education Standards Panel, the National Skills Standards Council, the Australian Industry and Skills Committee, and its COVID-19 Emergency Response Sub-Committee.
With experience, dedication, and hard work underpinning her leadership, Adrienne has contributed significantly to the advancement and quality assurance of Australia’s tertiary education system.
Lifetime Achievement Award
A distinguished leader in Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) and higher education (HE) sectors, Adrienne Nieuwenhuis understands what VET means to learners, employers, unions, and governments, and appreciates how workforce development impacts the economy. She has played a pivotal role for over 30 years in shaping policy, advancing workforce development, and strengthening industry–education partnerships.
Adrienne communicates the complexities of tertiary education, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), and skills attainment from a regulatory and workforce-development perspective; an active contributor, diligent, and well-prepared, her strategic insight, tireless advocacy, and commitment to quality and equity in tertiary education is admirable, as is her willingness to guide others.
From 2013 to 2025, she served as a member of the South Australian Skills Commission and chair of its Traineeship and Apprenticeship Sub-Committee, undertaking both roles with distinction. She is currently a member of the Australian Skills and Quality Authority’s National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Advisory Council and the Commonwealth Department of Education’s Initial Teacher Education Quality Assurance Oversight Board. In 2021, she was appointed as a Commissioner of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), becoming Acting Chief Commissioner in May 2024.
Adrienne has also collaborated closely with the Australian Government to establish national regulatory systems for both the VET and higher education sectors. In addition, she has contributed her expertise through service on numerous national and state committees and councils, including the Higher Education Standards Panel, the National Skills Standards Council, the Australian Industry and Skills Committee, and its COVID-19 Emergency Response Sub-Committee.
With experience, dedication, and hard work underpinning her leadership, Adrienne has contributed significantly to the advancement and quality assurance of Australia’s tertiary education system.
