The Council is to be chaired by Professor Peter Shergold AC, Chancellor of the University of Western Sydney and former Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

It also includes Universities Australia Board member and Vice-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University Professor Greg Craven.

Deputy Chief Executive of Universities Australia Greg Evans said the TEQSA Advisory Council will have a vital role in both ensuring Australia’s higher education sector provides high quality education and at the same time does not suffer the cost of unnecessary regulation.

“Universities Australia looks forward to working with the Council to further the twin aims of maintaining the high quality education offered by the sector and making sure it is not subject to unnecessary and costly regulation.”

The members of the TEQSA Advisory Council also include Emeritus Professor Alan Robson AO, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, and Chair of the Higher Education Standards Panel, Ms Karen Thomas, partner in law firm Fisher Jeffries and the Hon Phil Honeywood, National Executive Director of the International Education Association of Australia.