LEADERSHIP PROFILES

Neil Edwards – CEO

Neil Edwards was appointed as Chief Executive, ETM Placements Business School, in July 2005. He also became Chief Executive, ETM Placements in February 2007.

Neil has more than 20 years experience in senior management and a longer-standing interest in management development.

Prior to joining ETM Placements, Neil was chairman of Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC), and also Commissioner of State Services Authority. He was appointed Executive Chairman of the (then) Melbourne Port Corporation in March 2003, and remained a Director of PoMC until he was appointed a Director of the Victorian Regional Channels Authority (VRCA) in January 2008 and Chairman in April 2008. Neil is also a Director of the MacFarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health.

From 1999 to March 2003, Neil was secretary and CEO of the Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, with responsibilities for business, science, industrial relations, tourism and regional development. Neil joined the Victorian Government in 1996 as Executive Director, State Development Policy.

Between 1979 and 1996, Neil worked in the Australian Government, from 1994 to 1996 as Division Head in the then Department of Industry, Science and Tourism, but for most of the time with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), where he held several senior executive positions, including as Head of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, in social and cultural policy, and in corporate management.

In 1983-85, Neil served as Private Secretary to successive Australian Ministers for Finance. During 1989-90, he was seconded to the Government of Canada as an Officer of the Privy Council and later as Director-General, Policy, Health and Welfare Canada.

After qualifying in economics and politics, Neil taught politics for 4 years, first at Monash University and then at the University of New England. Neil is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.