The Champions Coffee Podcast

Ben sits down with Professor Robyn Latimer OAM from Torrens University. Robyn is currently the Director - Learning Services at the University. She is an Experienced professional with a demonstrated history of working in design, education and not-for-profit industries. Robyn was also the president of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia.  

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s APAC Director of Partner Engagement, Lyndin Francis sits down with Dr. Kylie Austin from the University of Wollongong . She is currently the Associate Director of Student Equity and Success and has been with the University for over 15 years in key positions covering student affairs, student partnerships and outreach. Dr. Austin is also the cu...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Joel Di Trapani sits down with Gareth Trainer from the University of Sunderland. He is currently the Head of the Centre for Graduate Prospects at the University. The Centre for Graduate Prospects (CfGP) embeds employability and enterprise across the University of Sunderland, creating confident and motivated students w...

In this episode of the student edition of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Sharna Silloux, Vygo’s Global Community Lead, sits down with Natasha Do from Deakin University. She graduated this year from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Nutrition Science and Commerce, majoring in Management and is currently a Partnership Consultant at BUPA.

In this episode of the student edition of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Sharna Silloux, Vygo’s Global Community Lead, sits down with Dr. Dinesh Palipana from Griffith University. He is a researcher and senior lecturer at Griffith University and works in the emergency department at the Gold Coast University Hospital. Dinesh is a doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, and researcher and was the first...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s VP of Partners, James Grew sits down with Hannah Giles from Coventry University. She is currently the Student Success Lead Practitioner at the University.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s Regional Director of Partners for EMEA, Hannah Gardner sits down with Sam Grogan from the University of Salford. He is currently the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience at the University. Following an early career in the creative industries, Sam has spent the last decade and a half in student-centric leadership positions within a range...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s APAC Director of Sales, Lyndin Francis sits down with Kevin Ashford-Rowe from the Queensland University of Technology. He is currently the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching)  at the University and the institutional lead for the digital transformation of the University’s teaching and learning experience. Kevin has a wealth of experien...

Ben sits down with Tania Struetzel from the University of Greenwich. She is currently the Head of Student Engagement and Success at the University. Before joining Greenwich, she worked across Students' Unions and Universities, including Middlesex University where she was the institutional project lead for the TSEP Inclusive Engagement project exploring the experience of student representatives ide...

Ben sits down with David Whyte from Torrens University. David is currently the Head of Student Wellbeing & Diversity at the University. His role focuses on the well-being of students at every stage of their student journey, as well as building a strong, diverse and active student community and representation within the University.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Joel Di Trapani sits down with Ben Lewis from Cardiff University. Ben is currently the Director of Student Life at the University. Ben's previous roles include being the Chair of AMOSSHE (The Student Services Organisation), Policy Adviser for the HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) and the Deputy Head...

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s APAC Director of Sales, Lyndin Francis sits down with Damon Ferris from the University of Newcastle. Damon is currently the Director - International for Global Engagement and Partnerships at the University.

Ben sits down with Louise Batchelor from Bond University. Louise is currently the Registrar at the University and has an extensive career with senior positions all across Australia, from the University of Notre Dame, the Australian Maritime College, Curtin University and Victoria University. 

Ben sits down with Brett Berquist from the University of Canterbury. Brett is the Assistant Vice Chancellor - Engagement at the University. He brings three decades of university experience in several countries, from lecturer to department head to senior administrator. His passion is collaboratively developing and implementing strategies to help institutions address changing conditions, demographic...

Ben sits down with Christa Smith from the Sheridan Institute of Higher Education. Christa is currently the Director of Student Services at the Institute and is passionate about quality education for students of every age. She enjoys working with and supporting students, especially international students, to achieve their goals. 

Ben sits down with Aron Cornwall from the Australian Catholic University.  Aaron is dedicated to supporting veterans and their families realise the possibilities available in higher education. Currently the Student Veteran Services Manager at the university, Aaron is on the ground developing and implementing support to student veterans completing tertiary study. Having served as a Combat Engineer...

Ben sits down with Associate Professor Fion Lim from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Fion is currently the Director of the UTS Learning Centre (SILC) and has over a decade of experience in various forms of international education. Fion’s research interests explore various aspects of international education, particularly third-party arrangements, academic governance, quality assurance an...

Ben sits down with Dr. Leanne Holt from Macquarie University. She has over twenty-five years of experience in the higher education sector and is the inaugural Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy) at the University. Dr. Holt is the Immediate Past President of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium (NATSIHEC) and serves on a range of boards, committees an...

Ben sits down with David Morales from Western Governors University. He is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President at the University, where he is responsible for all technology aspects of the Institution. He has over 19 years of experience as a Software Engineer and Technology Leader. He has worked for different companies during his career, from a Research and Development centre for...

Ben sits down with Chris Shelley from the University of Greenwich. Chris is the Director of Student and Academic Services at the University, where he leads a range of services and functions that are crucial to the student experience. Previously, he was the Director of Student Services at King’s College London, where he revitalised the health and wellbeing services and integrated multiple functions...

Ben sits down with Alice Wilby from University College Birmingham. She is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Access, Participation and Student Experience) at the University and her role focuses on ensuring the University attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and supports them during their studies, reporting on progress to external bodies and regulators. Alice joined the University in February 2...

Ben sits down with Prof. Kris Ryan from Monash University. Kris has been with the University since 2009 and is currently the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic), leading a portfolio that includes student experience, diversity and inclusion, education innovation, education policy and HEPPP (Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program) funding. Previously, Kris was the Academic Director of Mo...

Ben sits down with Dr. Julie Greenwood from Arizona State University. Julie is the EdPlus Vice Dean for Educational Initiatives and in this role, she works with the academic units at all ASU campuses, including deans, department chairs, faculty and staff to strengthen online programming, including driving course development that transforms student learning experiences. In addition, she is the EdPl...

Ben sits down with Jessica Luquin from the University of New South Wales. Jessica currently leads the student engagement team at the university. Her team aims to ensure that every first-year student at UNSW has access to a qualified mentor and a quality orientation and transition experience. She is a qualified social worker with over 8 years of experience in working with students from low-SES and...

Ben sits down with Tanya Rutherford, the CEO & founder of Learn Grow Become. Tanya is a highly experienced program designer, facilitator, mentor and coach in both leadership and education; with a significant background in management accounting and business management spanning several industries in both Australia and the UK. She holds a master's in business administration (Leadership & Comm...