Avondale University is one of Australia’s newest universities but our history of providing quality higher education that improves lives goes back more than 125 years.
We are known for quality educational experience, with The Good Universities Guide and the federal government’s Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching ranking recognising the excellence of our courses and graduates.
Our courses are distinctive because of the quality of teaching and student experience, including opportunities for placements and practical experience embedded within our courses. This combination of practice with knowledge delivers work-ready graduates.
Established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1897, we are proud of our pioneering heritage and we have changed with the times to offer highly regarded courses in nursing, teaching, business, ministry and theology, arts, counselling, lifestyle medicine and other areas. We welcome students from all faiths and walks of life and create opportunities that build on their aspirations, values and capabilities.
Today, thousands of Avondale alumni serve their world for good.
You’ll find our campuses in the Lake Macquarie town of Cooranbong, halfway between Newcastle and the Central Coast, and at Sydney Adventist Hospital in Wahroonga on the North Shore of Sydney.
Professor Malcolm Coulson
Vice-Chancellor
Dr Warrick Long
Chief Financial and Operations Officer
Executive Committee Member
Professor Paul Race
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Executive Committee Member
Kalvin Dever
Chief Students and Engagement Officer
Executive Committee Member
Dr Wendy Jackson
Head of School and Senior Lecturer, Avondale Seminary
Executive Committee Member
Jolisa Rabo
People & Culture Manager
Executive Committee Member
Avondale University Council is the governing body of Avondale University. The council is responsible for financial and major policy matters but delegates operational matters to the vice-chancellor. The vice-chancellor is advised by subcommittees of the council, the Academic Board and the Executive Committee.
| Chair | Pastor Glenn Townend (7 August 2015 - present) BA (Theol), MA (Religion) Chancellor President, Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific Director: Ex officio |
| Secretary | Professor Malcolm Coulson (24 June 2024 - present) PhD, MA, GradDipT, BAppSc Vice-Chancellor Avondale University Director: Ex officio Chair: Vision, Strategy & Organisation Subcommittee |
| Assoc Prof Carolyn Rickett (1 April 2022 - present) DArts, MA, BA(Hons), BEd Chair, Academic Board Avondale University Director: Ex officio | |
| Mr Jannie Francois Keet (26 August 2020 - present) CA, CFA, CIA Director: Appointed by the Members Chair: Finance & Infrastructure Subcommittee | |
| Mr Stephen Jones (08 March 2023 - present) BBus (Acc), CAANZ, MBA, GAICD, FGIA Director: Appointed by the Members Chair: Audit and Risk Subcommittee | |
| Mr Tim McTernan (07 March 2023 - present) GradDip (Marketing Management) Director: Appointed by Council | |
| Dr Deren (Drene) Somasundram (13 February 2024 – present) BA, MA, DProf Director: Elected by and from the Avondale University staff | |
| Dr Elisapesi Manson (12 May 2025 - present) PhD Director: Appointed by the Members Chair: People & Culture Subcommittee | |
| Mrs Nadelle Manners (24 October 2025 - present) CPA Director: Appointed by the Members | |
| Dr Brendan Pratt (04 November 2025 - present) PhD, MTh, BTh Director: Appointed by the Members | |
| Dr Alister Hunt (29 December 2025 – present) PhD, MCom, BCom, Bsc Director: Appointed by the Members | |
| Prof Dianne Sika-Paotonu (TBC) PhD, MBMedSc, DPH, PGDipHELT, PGCertEdPD, BBMedSc, BSc, CertAT Director: Appointed by the Members | |
| Miss Elizabeth Barlow (22 June 2026 - present) Director: Elected by and from the postgraduate students of Avondale University | |
| Recording Secretary | Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor Avondale University |
| Meetings 2026: 24 March, 26 May, 14 July, 15 September, 3 November | |
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Officers | |
| Chair Elected by the Academic Board members | Associate Professor Carolyn Rickett |
| Deputy Chair Elected by Avondale Research Committee | Associate Professor Joanne Lewis |
| Secretary Ex officio - Director Student Administration Services | Melanie Windus |
| Ex Officio Members | |
| Vice-Chancellor | Professor Malcolm Coulson |
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) | Professor Paul Race |
| Dean, Research & Research Training | Dr Jason Morton |
| Dean, Learning & Teaching | Associate Professor Carolyn Rickett |
| Director Library Services | Meg Harders |
| Avondale Student Association President | Olivia Morton |
| Elected Representatives | |
| Member elected from and by the Professoriate | Professor Darren Morton |
| Elected by Avondale Research Committee | Professor Rob McIver |
| Elected by Avondale Learning & Teaching Committee | Dr Aleta King |
| HDR Student Representative | To be appointed |
| School of Arts & Business | Dr Paul Bogacs |
| School of Education & Science | Dr Michelle Ralston |
| School of Ministry & Theology | Anthony MacPherson |
| School of Nursing & Health | Associate Professor Joanne Lewis |
| Appointed Members | |
| Appointed by the Vice-Chancellor | Dr Darius Jankiewicz |
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Chair | Professor Malcolm Coulson Vice-Chancellor Avondale University |
| Dr Warrick Long Chief Financial and Operations Officer Avondale University | |
| Professor Paul Race Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Avondale University | |
| Dr Wendy Jackson Head of School / Senior Lecturer, Avondale Seminary Avondale University | |
| Jolisa Rabo People and Culture Manager Avondale University | |
| Kalvin Dever Chief Students and Engagement Officer Avondale University | |
| Recording Secretary | Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor Avondale University |
Avondale University is a registered higher education provider with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). Avondale is authorised to self-accredit its courses.
All of Avondale’s courses are accredited and offered within the terms of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) (HES Framework) and Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Further, Avondale’s Higher Education courses in nursing, teaching, and accounting hold professional accreditation with their respective professional body.
Avondale is registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) and is therefore approved to give course offers to overseas students who require student visas to study in Australia and to enrol them if visas are granted.
Avondale is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), and provides a number of Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses.
Avondale is accredited as a Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher education by the Adventist Accrediting Association.
