Fundamental to UOW Global Enterprises’ success is the use of an independent Board of Directors as a core part of our governance. This Board of Directors bring to UOW Global Enterprises a wealth of experience from a range of sectors. Modelled on corporate governance best practice, the Board of Directors is regarded as a key strength of UOW Global Enterprises.
Mr John M Green, who serves as Chair, was appointed in May 2022. John is PwC’s first independent non-executive Governance Board chair. He has significant director and governance experience across various domestic, international, large-scale, founder-led, private, ASX-traded, and Government organisations.
His other current non-executive director roles is at Challenger Limited. He was also a non-executive director of global professional services firm Worley (before and after ASX-listing), and was Deputy Chair of QBE Insurance. He has also been director of a number of not-for-profit organisations, including CIS.
John’s executive career spanned 30 years, as a partner in two law firms and then as an investment banker at Macquarie Group. John is also a novelist, with six crime thrillers to date, and co-founded independent book publisher Pantera Press.
Current roles and responsibilities within UOWGE are:
1 Nov 2003 - Current
Greg West serves as Deputy Chair on the UOW Global Enterprises Board. Greg is a chartered accountant and is a member of the University of Wollongong Council and Chair of the People and Culture Committee.
He is a Director of IDP Education Limited and Executive Chairman of Education Australia Limited. In recent years, he was Chief Executive Officer of a dual listed ASX/Nasdaq biotech company. He has worked at PWC and has held senior finance executive roles in investment banking with Bankers Trust, Bain & Company and Deutsche Bank. Greg is also a Director of the St James Foundation Ltd.
Current roles and responsibilities within UOWGE are:
21 Feb 2017 - Current
Marisa Mastroianni is Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of UOW Enterprises. Marisa is an experienced CEO and non-executive Director. Previously Marisa has held senior financial and executive roles in the maritime, health, retirement and aged care sectors.
Marisa currently serves on the Boards of NRMA Ltd and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Board (ISLHD). She is Chair of NRMA’s Audit & Risk Management Committee, member of Finance and Investments Committee, Governance Compensation and Nomination Committee and the Chair of ISLHD's Finance and Workforce Performance Committee.
Current roles within UOWGE include:
5 Sept 2013 - Current
Robert Ryan is currently the Chief Executive of IMB Ltd, one of Australia’s largest mutual banks.
In 2018 he was appointed to the role of Deputy Chancellor of the University of Wollongong and is a member of UOW Council. He is also a Director and Chair of the Governance Committee of Australian Settlements Limited and Director and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee of The Flagstaff Group.
Prior to joining IMB, Robert held the position of Managing Director at Australian Resources Limited.
Current roles and responsibilities within UOWGE are:
Murray brings a wealth of experience with over 14 years dedicated to the international higher education sector, indicating a deep understanding of the industry's dynamics, challenges, and opportunities.
His tenure on subsidiary boards within IDP showcases his extensive involvement in strategic decision-making processes, governance frameworks, and operational oversight, providing him with a nuanced perspective on the intricacies of managing diverse educational ventures across various geographies.
Murray's significant international exposure, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, underscores his ability to navigate cultural nuances, regulatory landscapes, and market dynamics, essential qualities for effective leadership and decision-making in a global higher education company.
Arlene is a Non-Executive Director of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, McMillan Shakespeare Group, LaTrobe Financial, UOW Global Enterprises and the Australian National Maritime Museum. Arlene Chairs the Serco Asia-Pacific Advisory Board and the Audit Committees of Aristocrat and the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Before becoming a non-executive Director, Arlene worked in commercial and investment banking in Australia (ANZ Banking Group and Macquarie Bank) and in investment banking and law in the United States. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Law Centre and an MBA from New York University. She is a member of Chief Executive Women, the International Women’s Forum and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Arlene is originally from New York and has lived and worked in the United States, South America, and Europe. She has lived in Australia for the past thirty years and is an Australian, US and Irish citizen.
Globally recognised chemical engineer and advanced materials scientist Professor Max Lu AO returns to Australia to take up his role as the sixth Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Wollongong (UOW) in late May 2025. He brings to the position more than 35 years of academic leadership, research excellence and deep engagement with industry.
Professor Lu has served as President and Vice- Chancellor of the University of Surrey in the UK since 2016. Before that, he spent two decades at the University of Queensland, holding senior leadership positions including Pro Vice- Chancellor (Research Linkages), Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Research) and Provost and Senior Vice-President.
In 2018, Professor Lu was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science by UOW for his academic and industry achievements in chemical and advanced materials engineering and leadership in higher education. He has a long-standing relationship with UOW, including chairing the review of its Global Challenges Initiative in 2017and serving as a member of the University Global Partnership Network.
In recognition of his contributions to science and education, Professor Lu was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2017 for distinguished service to education, international research and Australia-China relations.
An internationally renowned researcher in nanotechnology and materials science, Professor Lu has published more than 600 peer-reviewed journal articles and holds 25 international patents, several of which are licensed or being commercialised for energy and environmental applications. He is a highly cited researcher with an extensive record of collaboration with industry. He founded the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials and served as its inaugural director for eight years. He was awarded the prestigious ARC Federation Fellowship in both 2003 and 2008.
Professor Lu has also served on the UK Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology, was a Director of UK Research and Innovation, and was a member of the Australian Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council. He is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.
Professor Lu graduated with a Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering in 1983 and a Master of Thermal Engineering in 1986 from Northeastern University, China. He completed his PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland in 1991.
Mr Stephen Phillips is the Vice-President (Operations) at the University of Wollongong (UOW), where he leads the University's operational performance to support UOW’s strategic objectives.
Mr Phillips oversees UOW’s financial, people and culture, and infrastructure strategies, aligning these functions with the University’s mission and 2030 strategy. He plays a critical role in driving digital transformation, sustainability and corporate services, including legal, risk, marketing and communications.
With more than two decades of senior executive experience, Mr Phillips previously served as Vice-Principal Operations at the University of Sydney, where he led large-scale service functions and spearheaded transformative projects across financial management, compliance and culture change.
His leadership is anchored in a commitment to operational excellence, collaboration and inclusion – aligning people, systems and resources to improve service quality, stakeholder engagement and organisational culture.
Senior Executive Assistant
Angela Fiakos
Senior Executive Assistant
Ph: +61 2 4221 3982
Email: angelanu@uow.edu.au
Location:
The Vice-Chancellor’s Unit
Building 36
University of Wollongong
NSW, 2522, Australia
