1. What is your job title?

Head of Student Load Planning at Macquarie University.

2. Briefly, how would you describe your role in your institution?

I am responsible for the load planning activities for the university, including fee setting, commencing enrolment estimates, and load and revenue forecasts. I create and maintain the models behind the estimates and help run the load planning activities, ensuring alignment between recruitment areas and academic areas. I provide analytical support to the recruitment areas to help convert recruitment targets into admissions targets, and help track actuals against targets.

3. From your perspective, what will be the key skills, capabilities, and knowledge required for institutional research moving forward?

I think a strong technical knowledge in data collection and analysis is needed, complemented with great communication skills to translate those insights into words that different areas within the university can understand and relate to. An understanding of the higher education sector and its regulatory environment is also critical.