Executive, Management
and Academic Team.

Dr Sud brings over 25 years of experience in higher education, strategic leadership and academic governance. Formerly Associate Dean at Edvantage Institute Australia, she holds a Doctorate in Business Leadership, engineering and postgraduate qualifications. Her work connects academic excellence with sustainable institutional growth, women’s empowerment and inclusive education across Australia, Asia and the Pacific.

Sachin is a risk and compliance specialist with over five years of education-sector experience, including TEQSA reporting and Board governance. At AHEAD, he strengthens compliance frameworks across agent management and student services, supporting robust institutional standards.

Chandni leads AHEAD’s marketing, events and communications, supporting student recruitment and industry engagement. She holds a Master of Marketing Communications from the University of Melbourne and brings experience in brand communications and higher education engagement.

Aditya is a Master of Management (Marketing) graduate from the University of Melbourne with experience across student support, marketing, hospitality operations and customer service. At AHEAD, he supports students throughout their academic journey while contributing to tutoring and marketing activities.

Elisa supports academic staff, learning systems and student engagement in Melbourne. With over four years of experience in academic operations, instructional design and program coordination, she contributes to curriculum development and quality assurance. She holds a Master of Education in Digital Learning and champions inclusive, data-informed learning.

Merina is a lecturer, language curriculum developer, teacher trainer and researcher specialising in academic English. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Adelaide and is a PhD candidate at Flinders University. Her work focuses on academic literacy and genre-based approaches to education.

Venky brings over 15 years of tertiary teaching and academic leadership experience across Australian higher education. A CPA Australia member with postgraduate Accounting qualifications and an MBA, he specialises in curriculum design, assessment governance and academic quality assurance, with a strong record of student engagement and program coordination.

Dr Dardenne is an educator and former Hotel General Manager with over 20 years of hospitality experience. He connects academic learning with industry practice, bringing expertise in operational excellence, leadership and service quality. At AHEAD, he prepares students with the practical knowledge and professional mindset needed for hospitality careers.

Ankit is an Executive Chef with over 15 years of experience in hotels and large-scale food operations across Australia and India. Specialising in menu development, kitchen leadership and food safety, he brings practical industry expertise into education to support and train the next generation of hospitality professionals.

Maria (Masha) is a third-year PhD candidate researching student motivation in tertiary education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences, with interests in student engagement, consumer behaviour and the service industry. Her teaching fosters meaningful connections and supportive, inclusive learning environments.

Hayley is an executive leader and management consultant with over 20 years of experience across complex, multi-site businesses. Formerly General Manager at OTR Group (Viva Energy Australia), she holds a Master of Retail Management and is dedicated to leadership development and education.