Dr Shesh Ghale
President, Founder and Director, Chair Funds Committee
Dr. Shesh Ghale is a distinguished leader with an extensive academic and professional background. He holds a Master of Civil Engineering degree from Kharkov, USSR, and an MBA specializing in Tourism in Nepal from Victoria University, Australia.
Dr. Ghale is the Founder, CEO, and Director of Melbourne Institute of Technology Pty (MIT). He also serves as Chairman of the MIT Executive Committee and is the Chairman & Executive Director of both MIT Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Australia, and MIT Group Holdings Pvt Ltd, Nepal.
His accomplishments include serving as the Honorary Consul General of Nepal in Victoria, Australia (1997–2000). He was recognized as a nominee for the Ernst & Young Australia Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2013. Additionally, Dr. Ghale completed two terms as President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), concluding in 2017.
Currently, Dr. Ghale is the President of MIT Group Foundation Ltd and Chairman of MIT Group Foundation Nepal Ltd. In 2015, he was awarded a Degree of Doctor of the University Honoris Causa by Federation University, Australia, in recognition of his significant contributions to higher education, urban development, and his service to Nepal.
Through the MIT Group Foundation, Dr. Ghale continues to lead impactful charitable initiatives, emphasizing education, community development, and humanitarian support.
Ms Jamuna Gurung
Founder and Director
Ms. Jamuna Gurung is a trailblazing leader and entrepreneur who holds a Bachelor of Business in Marketing from Swinburne University, Melbourne.
As the Co-founder of Melbourne Institute of Technology (MIT), she serves as the Managing Director and is a key member of the MIT Executive Committee. Ms. Gurung is also the Co-founder and Director of MIT Group Foundation Ltd, contributing significantly to community development and philanthropy. Her notable efforts include establishing the Nepalese Association of Victoria (NAFA) in Australia.
An active supporter of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Australia, Ms. Gurung has taken on numerous leadership roles. Between 2013 and 2015, she coordinated the NRNA Structural Review, served as an executive member of the NRNA Foreign Employment Resource Fund (FERF) Task Force, and contributed to the Branding and Communication Committee. Additionally, she spearheaded web development projects and participated in workshops advocating for women’s empowerment.
Ms. Gurung’s leadership extended to disaster relief, where she coordinated operations with the NRNA Earthquake Relief Team following the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Her work highlights a deep commitment to community empowerment and resilience-building.
Mr Austin Kijagulu
Director
Mr. Austin Kijagulu is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in education management and corporate governance. He holds a Master of Business degree from Victoria University and a Bachelor of Business with specializations in Tourism, Applied Psychology, and Marketing.
With over 16 years of expertise, Mr. Kijagulu has excelled in managing teams, resource allocation, and implementing policy initiatives within the tertiary education sector. Since 2005, he has served as General Manager at Melbourne Institute of Technology (MIT) and currently also holds the role of Director of Human Resources (pro term). He is an active member of the Executive Management Committee (EMC) and represents MIT in various internal and external committees.
Externally, Mr. Kijagulu serves as the MIT Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) Liaison Officer, Principal Executive Officer (PEO) for CRICOS registration and compliance, and Principal Administrator for ELICOS programs. Internally, he contributes as a member of the MIT Student Experience Committee, Secretary of both the MIT Policy Committee and the Audit Risk Management Committee (ARMC), and a member of the Teaching & Learning Committee (T&L).
His professional affiliations include membership in the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) and the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI). He is also an active alumnus of Victoria University (VU).
Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Kijagulu is deeply involved in community work. As a Director of the African Communities Foundation Australia (ACFA), he supports various educational initiatives. Notably, he is working to refurbish and repair Mwakishimba Primary School in Kenya, aiming to enhance academic performance for the local children and contribute to the development of his community.
Dr Patricia Stewart
Director
Dr. Patricia Stewart is an accomplished leader in education and organizational development. She holds a Professional Doctorate with her thesis focused on the relationships between international students' persistence, organisational characteristics, and student support mechanisms. Additionally, she has a Master of Business (Research), is an Associate of the Library Association of Australia, and holds a Bachelor of Organizational Development and Industrial Relations.
With extensive experience spanning educational management, strategic planning, student services, and marketing, Dr. Stewart has made significant contributions to both education and community development. Her achievements include developing key performance indicators for public libraries in Victoria and serving as a Library Advisor for the Indonesia-Australia Technical Education Project. Her diverse career has encompassed roles such as strategic planner, national sales director, and expert in business development and student services.
Currently, Dr. Stewart is Non-Executive Director and member of Board of Director at Melbourne Institute of Technology. Over the last three decades, she has actively participated in numerous educational, library, and community committees. Her notable contributions include serving as Director of Marketing and Student Engagement at Melbourne Institute of Technology (2014-2019). President and Council Member of Westall Secondary College (1993–2003), a member of the Area Consultative Committee (Eastern Suburbs) advising the Federal Government on employment opportunities (1993–2001), and as a Council Member of Box Hill Institute of TAFE (1993–1995).
Dr. Stewart’s expertise and dedication have had a lasting impact on education, libraries, and community engagement, reflecting her passion for student success and organizational excellence.
Mr Hung Tran
Secretary
Mr. Hung Tran is a seasoned legal professional with over 20 years of experience across diverse areas of law in various industry sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce from Monash University and is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Currently, Mr. Tran serves as General Counsel and Company Secretary for Melbourne Institute of Technology Pty Ltd, a role he has held since 2014. In this capacity, he is responsible for managing legal risks, providing legal advice, and overseeing company secretarial matters. He also advises the Board on corporate governance issues.
As the Secretary of MIT Group Foundation Ltd, Mr. Tran plays a critical role in shaping the governance framework of the Foundation. He oversees legal and compliance matters, provides strategic guidance, and develops policies and procedures to ensure effective operation.
In addition, Mr. Tran is a Senior Lawyer at AJH Lawyers, a commercial law firm where he has worked since 2002. His practice focuses on Commercial, Property, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, and Immigration Law.
Mr. Tran’s extensive expertise in law, corporate governance, and compliance makes him a key figure in ensuring the success and integrity of the organizations he serves.
Dr Rowena Coutts
Funds Committee Member
Dr. Rowena Coutts serves as the Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors at Melbourne Institute of Technology (MIT), where she plays a pivotal role in guiding the institution's strategic direction and governance. With over 28 years of experience as a practicing lawyer and extensive leadership in public sector governance, Dr. Coutts brings a wealth of expertise to her roles.
In addition to her position at MIT, she is the Chair of the Board of Directors at Ballarat Health Services (BHS), where she leads key committees, including the Executive and Remuneration Committee, Finance and Resource Committee, and Audit and Risk Committee. Her work in healthcare governance includes mentoring rural health leaders as Chair of the Grampians Regional Board Network.
As Principal of Rowena Coutts Management Consulting, she provides governance, legal, and policy advice to higher education institutions. Her distinguished career includes serving as Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Federation University Australia, where she oversaw finance, governance, international education, and commercial operations. She has also held leadership roles on numerous boards, including Chair of the Board at Ballarat Clarendon College.
Dr. Coutts’s contributions reflect her commitment to fostering excellence in education, healthcare, and community development, making her a key figure in advancing organizational success and governance standards.
Mr Fred Eakins
Funds Committee Member
Fred Eakins is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) with over 26 years of experience managing his own practice in Mooroolbark, a suburb in Melbourne's outer east. With a diverse client base, Fred specializes in providing comprehensive business management and taxation services.
His expertise spans a wide range of areas, including income tax preparation and lodgement, rental property schedules, employee share schemes, foreign income, capital gains tax, and financial statement preparation. He also advises on business schedules, trust distributions, self-managed superannuation funds, and the setup and management of business structures.
Fred’s services include liaising with the Australian Tax Office (ATO), managing ASIC compliance and secretarial duties, and handling GST, PAYG, and ABN registrations. His extensive experience enables him to assist clients with everything from business setup to external auditing and financial planning.
Fred’s depth of knowledge and dedication to supporting businesses make him a valued member of the Funds Committee, where he contributes his financial expertise to support strategic decision-making.
