Dianne Semmens

Dianne joined Victoria University (VU) in 2015 and has more than 15 years of senior leadership experience in a number of large TAFEs. Her vocational background as a teacher and a community services worker, drives her commitment to make a meaningful contribution to improving people’s quality of life through training and education.

Her particular interest is in ensuring VU’s Polytechnic is well-positioned to service the existing workforce and to support industries and communities to prepare for the workplaces of tomorrow.

As Victoria University Polytechnic’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Vocational Education, Dianne is responsible for the oversight of key corporate support areas and will help lead VU towards one of the key strategic drivers: to be a global leader in dual sector learning and research, via doing dual differently. She also plays a key role in developing Victoria University Polytechnic's quality assurance processes and practices to ensure currency and facilitate improved learner access, participation and completion.

Dianne has significant experience in tailoring vocational education solutions to meet industry needs. She has lived and worked as an educator in the UK and USA and is a strong advocate of experiential learning. Dianne has successfully created and led significant projects in change management, youth strategy and student engagement systems.

Her experience in senior executive roles within TAFE and her own vocational background – both as a teacher and a crisis/community services worker – drives her commitment to make a meaningful contribution to improve people’s quality of life through education and learning.

Dianne likes to seize opportunities to create and translate strategic ideas into practical workplace solutions. Incorporating Lean principles and practices into her workplace and undertaking collective problem solving with colleagues helps her to inject fresh team energy and foster productivity.