Philip R. Brown is an internationally recognised and presented higher education leader, administrator and educator with extensive experience in providing independent advice to governments, school systems and other educational entities within the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. Dr Brown has served as CEO/Academic Dean, Nova Higher Education; as CEO, Institute of Health & Management and Non-Executive Director, Health Careers International, as Dean & Company Secretary, Le Cordon Bleu Australia; as CEO & Academic Director, UC College at the University of Canberra, Australia; and as Principal (President) & CEO, Newbold College of Higher Education, Binfield, Bracknell, UK. ](2011–2014). Brown was recognised and presented as a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (now Advance HE) (the highest category of HEA Fellowship in the UK) in 2013 for his very extensive experience in leading, as well as delivering, learning and teaching in higher education. In 2009 he was recognised as a Fellow by the Australian College of Educators (the only national association in Australia representing educators across all sectors and systems) "for innovative leadership in establishing teaching as a profession through roles as author, consultant, teacher, assistant principal, principal and president of a professional association." Brown now lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife Sharyn.
Early life and education
Born in Sydney, Australia to Reg and Mavis Brown, Brown is the eldest of two children. He attended schools in Perth, Western Australia and Melbourne, Victoria before studying Geography and Economics (BEd) at Avondale University (1982–1986). He then studied Commerce (MCom) at the University of New South Wales (1991–1993) and Educational Administration (MEdAdmin) at the University of New South Wales (1993–1994). Brown completed a Doctor of Education (EdD) in 1997 at La Sierra University in southern California, USA, researching administrative stress and job burnout in educational leaders across the United States. In 2010 he became one of the first higher education administrators in Australia to complete the Master of Tertiary Education Management (MTEM) program through the LH Martin Institute, located within the University of Melbourne.
Career
Brown has served as CEO/Dean, Nova Higher Education; and previously as CEO, Institute of Health and Management; Dean, Le Cordon Bleu Australia; CEO and Academic Director, UC College at the University of Canberra, ACT, Australia and as Principal and Chief Executive of Newbold College of Higher Education. UK – a member of the worldwide network of 118 Adventist colleges and universities – and an international learning community attracting students from over 50 countries to its Berkshire campus. College development under his leadership included campus refurbishment, student life initiatives, a new certificate in health and wellness, and admission to the Adventist Colleges Abroad consortium.
Brown also has served previously as Vice-President (Learning & Teaching) of Australia's newest university, Avondale University, Australia where he worked collaboratively to create and successfully engage academic staff in strategies to enhance Avondale's reputation for providing quality learning and teaching. Prior to this he was Executive Principal of the international pathways college to the Western Sydney University where he worked with staff, the University and the Board to plan the strategic relocation of the College's operations to create the first campus at an Australian university devoted exclusively to the first-year experience.
Brown's extensive experience in senior management and leadership roles also includes Director of Education for an international online learning company based in Chicago, USA; General Manager for an educational publisher based in Sydney, Australia; and Director of Studies for a large, independent, Anglican, co-educational college where he guided the strategic planning process of becoming a K-12 college by contributing forward-thinking curriculum and middle years of schooling ideas and discussion papers based on national and international research about emerging best practice in organisational structures, curriculum design and pedagogy.