Jane Ward

Executive Director, Higher Education and Workforce Division, VIC Department of Education and Training

Jane has over 25 years’ experience working across industry, academia and government as a leader with expertise in stakeholder engagement and managing complex partnerships. In recent years, this has incorporated university-industry and social enterprise collaborations, via engagement with government, industry, alumni, philanthropic, indigenous, multicultural and community audiences. She is a passionate believer in the power of education to transform lives and achieve economic prosperity.

Jane is currently the Executive Director of Higher Education and Workforce Division at the Victorian Department of Education and Training, leading a team which focuses on inclusive economic recovery. This includes working proactively with industry to develop training and skills solutions for Victoria’s future workforce, and enabling supportive pathways that assist people experiencing disadvantage to access the education and employment they seek. Jane’s team also drives the Victorian Government’s ambitious agenda to work in partnership with the university sector, including delivery of the $350m Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund.

Jane is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has held several non-Executive Director roles on industry association and commercial enterprise boards.