ACNM BOARD

Craig Jones is a seasoned education and executive leader with more than 18 years of cross-industry experience spanning higher education, public sector partnerships, technology and commercial leadership.

Craig’s strategic insight and governance expertise bring valuable perspective to the ACNM Board as Chair, guiding Endeavour College through a period of industry growth and innovation while ensuring strong oversight and long-term value for students and stakeholders.

Biography

Mark Rushworth has been the Group Chief Executive of UP Education since 2018. He brings technology, sales, marketing expertise, business development, entrepreneurial skills and deep governance experience to the role of Group Chief Executive along with a senior leadership experienced in a number of growth-orientated organisations. Prior to Up Education, Mark was CEO for electronic payments provider Paymark, CEO of Pacific Fibre and internet provider ihug and also CEO of the Fixed and Broadband business unit for Vodafone New Zealand.

Biography

Colm Saunders has been the Chief Financial Officer of UP Education since 2018. Prior to joining UP Education, Colm has held multiple CFO roles based in Ireland with Xtralis Group, WElink Group, Thirdforce and Zamano plc. Colm is experienced in driving profitable growth through supporting revenue growth, margin improvement and cost management, with extensive experience in M&A, debt and equity funding, contract negotiations, and financial planning.

Biography

Sandra has over 25 years experience working in leadership and management positions in the private tertiary education sector. She has spent the majority of this time as the CEO at Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC) where she has played an instrumental role in the leadership and direction of the Institute in both vocational and higher education.

With AIPC and Endeavour College both joining the UP Education Group in recent times, Sandra’s role has expanded to include the Chief Executive responsibilities at Endeavour College, and membership of the College Board as a Director. Sandra holds post graduate qualifications in business management, and her professional interests include organisational sustainability, leadership development, and student experience and satisfaction.

Sandra continues to enjoy working in the tertiary education sector due to the positive impact of education on personal growth, life circumstances and professional accomplishments experienced by mature-age learners.

Biography

As a Director of Endeavour College, Dee brings a wealth of experience in holistic and integrative practices through her private practice, Shifting Tides Counselling & Mediation. Dee’s work is deeply rooted in the principles of collaboration, connection, and resilience, fostering well-being across emotional, psychological, and relational dimensions.

Drawing inspiration from her diverse professional journey, Dee integrates holistic methodologies into her practice, empowering individuals, families, and communities to navigate challenges and embrace growth. Her approach is guided by evidence-based frameworks, complemented by a passion for natural wellness and a commitment to creating meaningful, lasting change.

At Endeavour College, Dee is dedicated to advancing the integration of natural medicine and allied health practices, ensuring students and professionals alike are equipped with the skills and knowledge to make a transformative impact in the wellness industry and their clients and patients.

Helen Lawrance is the Director of Helen Lawrance Consulting (HLC), an experienced higher education governance, registration, accreditation and quality assurance specialist consultant. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, is a director on a number of higher education provider boards, and is a TEQSA-recognised corporate and academic governance reviewer. Helen is also the founder of the first benchmarking consortium to promote continuous improvement and report on student perceptions of teaching and learning for private higher education providers in Australia, established in 2013.

Helen's higher education experience spans over 25 years, commencing at The University of Queensland. She has held executive roles in Queensland government for regulation of higher education accreditation for all provider types prior to TEQSA; development of higher education policy and advice for the Queensland Minister for Education; representative for Queensland in the development of the National Guidelines for Higher Education prior to the development of the Threshold Standards; audit preparation under the former Australian University Quality Agency (AUQA); developing quality assurance frameworks for higher education and disability services sectors. After these roles, Helen launched her own higher education consulting business.