Academic and Professional Leadership
Professor Brookes has more than 20 years’ experience shaping learning and teaching strategy across leading Australian universities. She joins Swinburne from Bendelta, where she is Head of Higher Education and Principal Consultant, advising universities and senior academic leaders on institutional transformation, leadership capability and the future of education.
Previously, Rowan held senior academic leadership roles at the University of Melbourne and Monash University, including Academic Program Director (STEM), Associate Professor, Director of Education and Program Director – Enterprise Education. Her experience includes leading large-scale curriculum transformation, digital learning initiatives, industry-engaged education and new models of professional education.
Education Innovation
Rowan has a strong track record in education innovation, including leading the University of Melbourne’s first major suite of online microcredentials. She also led university-wide employability initiatives reaching more than 10,000 students and has extensive experience in blended and online learning, educational technology, futures thinking and design-led approaches to education.
Her leadership and educational contributions have been recognised through awards including the Chief Executive Women STEM Leadership Award and Monash Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award. Rowan holds a PhD in Ecology and Biodiversity from Monash University and has published and presented extensively on higher education pedagogy, STEM education and leadership.
In her new role, Rowan will lead the establishment and development of Swinburne’s Education Innovation Lab, bringing together experimentation, emerging technologies, futures thinking and institutional transformation to shape new approaches to education.
