CIT Board

Canberra Institute of Technology is a territory authority established under the Canberra Institute of Technology Act 1987 (CIT Act).

The CIT Act was amended in 2014 to replace the CIT Advisory Council with a governing board to better enable CIT "to meet the twin objectives of operating as a public provider of vocational education and training and operating with greater commercial and entrepreneurial focus in an increasingly contestable training marketplace" (Minister for Education and Training, ACT Legislative Assembly, 30 October 2014).

Governance of territory authorities is regulated by the Financial Management Act 1996 (FMA) and many elements of the operation of a governing board established under territory legislation are provided for in the FMA.

The CIT Board commenced operation on 1 July 2015.

The functions of the CIT Board are prescribed in section 77 of the FMA and are:

setting CIT policies and strategies
governing CIT consistently with the authority's establishing Act and other relevant legislation
ensuring, as far as practicable, that CIT operates in a proper, effective and efficient way
ensuring, as far as practicable, that CIT complies with applicable governmental policies (if any).

Membership of the CIT Board consists of at least seven and no more than 11 members, and is defined in sections 10-12 of the CIT Act. Part 9 of the FMA prescribes the requirements for appointment to the CIT Board and all appointments are made under section 11 of the CIT Act by the ACT Government Minister for Tertiary Education. Membership of the CIT Board includes an elected CIT student and staff member. Current members are listed below.

The CIT Chief Executive Officer is a member of the CIT Board in accordance with section 80 (4) of the FMA.

The inaugural meeting of the CIT Board was held on 29 July 2015. At the meeting the CIT Board agreed to publish a communique following each Board meeting as a public summary of matters considered by the CIT Board. The communiques are available below.

The CIT Board will be meeting a minimum of five times per year and may establish sub-committees from time-to-time to assist the Board to deal with complex or specialised issues more effectively.

If you would like more information about the Board or to raise issues on any matters, you can contact the CIT Board directly by email: CITBoard@cit.edu.au.

CIT Board Communique – August 2026

This communique provides a summary of matters considered by the CIT Board. It is not a detailed record of minutes and does not include every matter considered.

The CIT Board met on 26 August 2026. At the meeting the Board formally welcomed the Acting CEO Mitch Pirie and farewelled Ms Jane Madden and Ms Tahlia-Rose Vanissum from the Board.

The matters considered at this meeting included:

Chair report
Acting CEO report
Update on the Sustainable Workforce Program
Approval of policies and updated governance framework
Update on CIT Solutions windup
Report from the Governance, People and Culture Committee
Academic Council report
Cloud Campus update
Centres of Excellence update
Operational papers

Meeting in National Skills Week the Board the Board reflected on the great work of our staff and recognised the value of vocational education and training for our students and for our community.

Tom Rogers
Chair, CIT Board

Membership of the CIT Board
Mr Tom Rogers Chair	Mr Rogers brings more than 30 years of experience across education, training, governance and national administration. As Australia's Electoral Commissioner from 2014 to 2024, he led major reforms that strengthened transparency, capability and public trust, with the Australian Electoral Commission recognised in 2023 as the nation's most trusted federal institution. He is also an Officer of the Order of Australia and a recipient of the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mitch Pirie Acting CEO Canberra Institute of Technology	Mitch Pirie is an accomplished economist and public sector leader with more than two decades of experience across the ACT Government, Australian Government and international public policy sectors. He was appointed Acting CEO in August 2026, following a distinguished career leading complex economic, infrastructure, housing and public sector reform initiatives. Prior to joining CIT, Mitch served in several senior executive roles within the ACT Government, including Acting Deputy Under Treasurer and Coordinator-General for Housing, Executive Group Manager of the Economic and Financial Group, and Executive Branch Manager within ACT Treasury. In these roles, he led major economic policy development, fiscal strategy, housing delivery and investment reform programs that supported sustainable growth and community outcomes across the ACT. Before joining the ACT Government, Mitch held senior leadership positions with the Australian Government's Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development. His responsibilities included overseeing nationally significant infrastructure projects, investment advisory functions and the delivery of Inland Rail, one of Australia's largest infrastructure programs. He also served as a Macroeconomic Adviser to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Finance, supporting economic development and fiscal management initiatives. A respected public sector leader, Mitch is recognised for his expertise in strategy, governance, economic policy, organisational performance and stakeholder engagement. He has a strong track record of leading complex organisations through change while maintaining a focus on service excellence and long-term outcomes. Mitch believes deeply in the power of education to transform lives and create opportunities for individuals, families and communities. Having lived in Canberra for more than 20 years, he has long recognised the important role CIT plays in developing the skilled workforce that supports the ACT's economic and social prosperity. He understands vocational education creates pathways to employment, lifelong learning and social mobility, while helping businesses and communities thrive. As Acting CEO, he is focused on building on CIT's strong reputation, supporting students and staff, strengthening industry partnerships, and ensuring vocational education continues to deliver meaningful outcomes for the Canberra community.
Professor Kylie Walker AM Deputy Chair	Kylie is a strategic, collaborative and results-driven leader across science, technology, and engineering sectors with a focus on evidence-informed decision-making. She has held a range of senior executive roles and specialises in strategy and investment in science and technology to build a thriving, healthy, inclusive and connected Australia. Kylie’s board leadership experience spans science, education, aged care, community and health sectors and includes chairing Australia’s National Commission for UNESCO. A Professorial Fellow at Flinders University, Kylie has an honorary doctorate from Charles Sturt University and was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to science and gender equity.
Mr Leon Fraser Staff Representative	Leon is a strategic, people-focused public sector leader with more than 20 years of experience in vocational education and training, spanning apprenticeship administration, governance, regulatory compliance, workforce planning, stakeholder engagement, service delivery, and organisational improvement. In his current role as Senior Manager of CIT Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Leon leads complex initiatives that translate government policy, funding requirements, and operational challenges into practical solutions for CIT. Leon brings to the CIT Board a strong understanding of the vocational education and training sector, together with practical insight into how Board decisions impact students, staff, employers, and day-to-day operations. He offers strategic thinking, sound judgement, and the ability to assess issues through governance, workforce, financial, risk, and service-delivery lenses. As the CIT Staff Representative on the CIT Board, Leon contributes an informed and constructive operational perspective, a strong commitment to integrity and accountability, and a focus on ensuring CIT remains responsive to industry, government, and community needs.
Ms Roslyn Jackson Member	Roslyn is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and has held Senior Executive positions within the Australian Government and the private sector. Roslyn worked as an Academic in both the TAFE and University sectors before establishing her own training company where she specialised in Public Financial Management (government accounting). Roslyn has spent 30 years educating both Commonwealth and State Public Servants about their financial responsibilities and compliance with relevant financial management laws and policies. Roslyn is a very experienced facilitator, presenting internationally across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Roslyn has over 25 years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director. She is an experienced Board and Audit Committee Chair and has held positions predominantly in the not-for-profit health and education sectors.
Ms Claire Roberts Chair of the CITSA Council	Claire is passionate about advocacy, social justice and student well-being. In 2024 Claire began studying at CIT after taking up the opportunity to complete a Certificate IV in Mental Health through the fee-free TAFE initiative. After experiencing positive and supportive engagement at CIT, Claire was motivated to complete further studies (a Certificate IV in Community Services, and a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs), and is currently studying a Certificate IV in Workplace Health and Safety. After witnessing first hand the broad ranging benefits that her studies have provided her, in May 2025 Claire decided to combine her passions and joined the CITSA council in the hope that other students could have a similar experience. After becoming Chair of the CITSA council (May 2026) Claire hopes that positive student outcomes and experience remain a top priority.
Dr Mark Bazzacco Member	Dr Mark Bazzacco brings to the CIT Board a deep understanding of governance, strategy, research and innovation, including over 20 years' experience in the public service. Mark joined the Department of Defence in 2022 where he is currently the First Assistant Secretary for Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication Division. Prior to this role he held the position of Chief of Research Technology and Operations in the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). Mark led a division which included Research Operations (safety, security & research infrastructure), Digital Science, Scientific & High Performance Computing, Research Engineering and Workforce Capability & Talent. Prior to joining Defence Mark was the Head of Strategy and Chief of Staff at CSIRO where he reported to the Chief Executive Officer. As a part of the CSIRO Leadership Team Mark led the strategy, planning, performance and evaluation, investment and portfolio management functions. Mark has served on a number of reviews and committees including the Capability Review of the Department of Home Affairs and on the Australian Research Council (ARC) Expert Advisory Committee for the review of Excellence in Research for Australia and the Engagement and Impact Assessment. His director experience includes serving on the Board of Science and Technology Australia and Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre. He recently completed a PhD in national innovation systems and holds a Bachelor of Commerce, MBA and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).