Michael Thomas

Michael has had extensive experience in leading and managing a diverse range of corporate service functions across the education and training sectors. Michael commenced at USQ in January 2018 in the newly created role of DVC Enterprise Services. Prior to joining the University, Michael spent ten years in various leadership roles within TAFE Queensland.

Most recently as Chief Operating Officer TAFE Queensland for three and a half years, Michael helped shape organisational strategy and the alignment of group resources and activities to deliver strategic and performance objectives. As part of the inaugural Executive Team appointed upon the formation of the new TAFE Queensland Statutory Body in July 2014, Michael played a key role in guiding the organisation through a period of significant sectoral reform, which included the introduction of full contestability and full fee deregulation in the Queensland VET market. Prior to this Michael supported the establishment of key strategy and governance arrangements as part of the transition of training operations from the then Department of Education and Training to the new TAFE Queensland statutory body as well as leading the amalgamation of the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE and Wide Bay Institute of TAFE as part of the TAFE Reform Program.

Previously Michael held corporate services leadership roles at the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, Bremer Institute of TAFE and the Queensland Studies Authority.

Michael holds a degree in Banking and Finance from the Queensland University of Technology and a Post-graduate Certificate in Management (HR) from the University of Southern Queensland.