Naomi Dempsey strategically leads the Students and Academic Services Portfolio at Victoria University (VU) that brings together Student Services, Student Administration, Employability & Success, Library Services, Technical Services, Connected Learning and Academic Quality and Standards.

Naomi leads the dual-sector’s strategic priorities to enhance the student experience, student success and engagement and learning and teaching support. Having created the space for students and staff to work together, Naomi is focussed on innovating every element of the student lifecycle so that all students may thrive and succeed. This includes the provision of a high quality and contemporary student experience whilst studying at VU, that goes beyond the formal learning experience.

Naomi is recognised as a sector leader (2019 LH Martin Institute Award for Excellence in Leadership (ATEM)) in the strategic transformation of the student experience across the entire student lifecycle. With over 20 years of management and executive leadership experience in both higher and vocational education, Naomi brings a wealth of experience in leading transformational change, student success and engagement, student-centred design, stakeholder relations and commercial services, gained from her success in both the public and private sectors.

Naomi is also a proud member of the VU Alumni community and has held leadership roles across our dual-sector tertiary institution, and is also an active researcher with a focus on higher education, transformational change, student success and equity groups.

Naomi is currently a student herself again at VU, undertaking PhD research studies on the “Impact of Victoria University’s First Year Model and Block Mode teaching on student academic success, satisfaction and retention”.

Portfolios

  • Academic Quality & Standards
  • Student Services
  • Student Administration
  • Connected Learning
  • Employability & Success
  • Library Services
  • Technical Services.

Contact details

Nancy Prodanov, Executive Assistant
+61 (3) 9919 4449
[email protected]

Keynotes & invited speeches

2021 Time to re-think leave-taking for a block model of higher education delivery. 2021 HERDSA conference

2021 What do/will students need to succeed and thrive at university? National Symposium on the Student Experience

2019 Students as Partners: co-creating The VU Way. TEQSA Conference

2019 Strategic Leadership in Academia - A Day in the Life. Women Attaining Leadership (WATTLE), Geelong

2019 Exploring New Student Success Initiatives Developed at Victoria University That Enables Flexible Learning and Improved Student Retention and Success. 4th Annual Student Success and Retention 2019, Melbourne

2019 Optimise Engagement and Influence as a Leader. 13th Women in Tertiary Education Leadership Summit, Melbourne

2019 Digital Disruption to Improve the Student Experience. 5th Annual Enhancing Student Experience Conference, Melbourne

2018 Digital Disruption: consumer-first thinking as a catalyst for change. LH Martin Institute Conference: Service Improvement and Innovation in Tertiary Education Conference, Melbourne.

Research activity

Naomi is experienced in research and analysis associated with student success, satisfaction and retention as it relates to high quality student learning, participation and outcomes – for all students, from every background. Her philosophy is that each student is an individual with personal goals underpins her work.

Naomi's current research activity includes an Australian study researching deferral and leave taking by students with LSES backgrounds. She is currently undertaking her PhD studies to research what impact the Victoria University’s First Year Model and Block Mode delivery of teaching and learning has had on academic success, satisfaction and retention of first year undergraduate higher education students.

Research funding

Low SES Student Deferrals (Maximising Low-Socio Economic Status Students' Uptake of University Places Following Deferral) ($20,000)
From: National Priorities Pool 2018
Investigators: Professor Marcia Devlin
For period: 2019-2020.

Publications

Dempsey, Naomi (2015) Leadership Education Needs for Not-for-Profit Executives in Western Melbourne to Meet the Challenges of Effective Sector Development. Coursework Master thesis, Victoria University.