Go backAcademic Board
Our academic leaders ensure your courses are designed to challenge and inspire you. Without exception. Discover the key roles that have worked together to craft your learning experience at BPP Institute.
Meet the Board
The Academic Board is BPP Institute’s highest academic authority. The Board ensures that every BPP Institute student can pursue their qualification with clarity, confidence, and the highest academic standards behind them.
Emeritus Professor Jim Jackson (Chair)
- Before retiring in 2013, Jim served as Vice President – Academic at Kaplan Asia Pacific, and earlier as Chair of the Academic Board and Foundation Dean of Law at Southern Cross University, where he is now Emeritus Professor. He has also held academic roles at Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education, the University of Wollongong, and Bond University. A widely published scholar in higher education and corporate law, Jim has written on governance, regulation, academic freedom, international student rights, and fiduciary obligations. He has also served as an AUQA auditor, TEQSA panel expert, and continues to teach at the University of the South Pacific.
Professor Elizabeth Margaret Deane
- Elizabeth Deane has over 30 years’ experience in higher education, spanning teaching, research, and senior leadership roles including Head of School, Dean of Faculty, and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education and Students). Holding a PhD from the University of Sydney, she was an active researcher in developmental immunology before moving into management and later focused on learning, teaching, and higher education. Since retiring in 2015, Elizabeth has conducted institutional reviews in areas such as governance, student services, and IT, and serves as an international reviewer for higher education quality agencies in Scotland, New Zealand, and PNG. She also chairs and serves on multiple academic and governance boards, is Chair of the WSU Human Research Ethics Committee, and contributes to BPP Institute through the Academic Board and Teaching and Learning Committee.
Sharmin Sultana (Lecturer/Student Success Advisor)
- Ms Sharmin Sultana joined BPP Institute (formerly CIC Higher Education) as a Lecturer in Accounting in 2013. With extensive industry experience in customer service, profitability, business strategy, and management accounting, she brings practical insights to her teaching and is recognised for building strong student relationships. Sharmin holds a BBA in Accounting from Independent University, Bangladesh, and a Master of Professional Accounting from Victoria University, Australia. She is also a member of CPA Australia and the IPA.
Dr Margi Gibb
- Dr Margi Gibb holds a PhD and Master of Education from Victoria University and has over fourteen years’ experience in the international education sector as a teacher and learning advisor. With a strong background in inclusive education, she is committed to lifelong learning, equity, and empowering students through education. Margi has taught at universities in Australia and China, published widely, and travelled extensively throughout Asia and the Indian subcontinent. A strong advocate for the student voice, she has presented at HERDSA and RAISE conferences on resilience, academic integrity, and student engagement. Formerly Senior Advisor: Academic Engagement and Success, she worked closely with students, academics, and senior management to strengthen learning outcomes.