Peter Coaldrake will be the new chief commissioner of the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency

Professor Coaldrake, who became a TEQSA commissioner in June, will replace Nicholas Saunders, in the chief commissioner role since 2014.

Professor Coaldrake was VC of QUT 2003-2017 and since retiring from there has undertaken a range of projects for the Queensland Government. For the Commonwealth, he conducted the well-regarded review of HE provider category standards (CMM October 16 2019), which was (nearly all) adopted by the government and shaped the bill about to go to the Senate. (Professor Coaldrake wanted to call nearly-but-not-quite unis “national institutes”, Minister Tehan liked “university colleges”).

This is an astute appointment. Professor Coaldrake combines vast practical experience in university management with great policy grasp – he is the co-author of two books on university functions and governance. He is generally considered a safe pair of political hands and will be more than capable of dealing with whatever is bowled up to the agency.

He commences as chief commissioner in March, joining relatively new CEO Alistair Maclean, who was appointed end August (CMM August 31).