Dr. Noal Atkinson

Dr Noal Atkinson is a leader with extensive experience in postgraduate business education, project management, and higher‑education governance. He currently serves as Course Manager for the Master of Business Administration (Leadership) at CQUniversity, where he provides operational leadership across staffing, moderation, and quality assurance for a large‑scale, fully online and hyperflexible program.

Noal’s background combines senior academic leadership with substantial industry experience in project management, organisational change, information systems, and governance. Prior to his current role, he held leadership positions overseeing multidisciplinary programs in computing, management, project management, and logistics, with responsibility for curriculum development, staff coordination, assurance of learning, and regulatory compliance. His professional experience as a project manager across IT, construction, facilities, and organisational transformation informs a practice‑grounded approach to leadership education.
With a strong commitment to research‑informed teaching, Noal’s work focuses on integrating contemporary leadership theory, applied research, and authentic assessment design. He has a particular interest in leadership in complex and disruptive environments, academic governance at scale, and the use of data and learning analytics to improve student progression, engagement, and outcomes. His scholarly contributions span leadership, emotional literacy, student success, and hyperflexible online learning, contributing to the scholarship of teaching and learning in higher education.

Noal is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is actively engaged in mentoring academic staff and supporting scholarly teaching practice. His leadership and teaching contributions have been recognised through national awards and institutional commendations. Through collaborative academic leadership and evidence‑based practice, Noal contributes to the ongoing development of rigorous, inclusive, and future‑focused leadership education within the MBA (Leadership).

  
Curtin University
Doctor of Philosophy (Information Systems)

Edith Cowan University
Bachelor of Business (Commerce)
Major: Information Systems

Murdoch University
Bachelor of Arts (Postgraduate degree)

Morling College
Graduate Diploma in Arts

South Metropolitan TAFE
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

Central Queensland University
Course Manager – Master of Business Administration (Leadership)
Sessional Academic – Master of Project Management
Contractor – MBA (Leadership)

Curtin University
Lecturer and Unit Coordinator – Information Systems and Project Management
Capstone Supervisor (Undergraduate and Postgraduate)

Edith Cowan University
Sessional Academic and Lecturer – Management and Project Management

Sheridan College
Sessional Academic – Information Systems
Information Systems Unit Coordinator
Academic Council Member

Australasian MBA Lecturer of the Year (2022)
National recognition for excellence in postgraduate leadership education and contribution to the quality and impact of MBA teaching.

Vice‑Chancellor’s Commendation for Best Practice in Learning and Teaching (2023)
CQUniversity
Awarded for outstanding contribution to innovative learning and teaching practice, particularly in large‑scale, fully online and hyperflexible postgraduate education.

Australasian MBA Lecturer of the Year (2022)
National recognition awarded by the Graduate Management Association of Australia, acknowledging excellence in MBA teaching and leadership education.

Australian Financial Review – Higher Education Awards Finalist (2023)
The CQUniversity MBA (Leadership) program was recognised as a finalist, with media coverage highlighting the program’s hyperflexible delivery model and innovation in postgraduate business education.

CEO Magazine – Global MBA Rankings (2023)
The CQUniversity MBA (Leadership) was ranked 29th globally, with associated media coverage recognising the program’s quality, innovation, and student‑centred design.

CQUniversity News and Communications
Featured in institutional media coverage relating to:
Innovation in hyperflexible online MBA delivery
Best practice in learning and teaching
Leadership education and student success initiatives

Public Commentary and Professional Engagement
Contributions to public and professional discourse through invited lectures, industry briefings, and university‑led media relating to:
Leadership in complex and disruptive environments
Project management practice and governance

Postgraduate Teaching
Master of Project Management – Curtin University; Edith Cowan University; Central Queensland University
Unit Coordinator and Lecturer across multiple postgraduate project management units, teaching PMBOK‑aligned, Agile, and hybrid methodologies. Topics included project governance, risk management, procurement, stakeholder management, and post‑implementation review, with assessments designed to reflect real‑world project lifecycles and decision‑making under constraint.

Master of Information Systems – Curtin University
Lecturer and Capstone Unit Coordinator, supervising applied industry projects and integrating research‑informed practice in information systems, digital transformation, and organisational technology adoption.

Master of Supply Chain Management – Curtin University
Teaching and learning material development across online, blended, and face‑to‑face modes, ensuring AQF compliance and alignment with contemporary research and industry practice.
 
Undergraduate and Associate Degree Teaching
Information Systems (Undergraduate and Capstone Units) – Curtin University
Teaching in core and capstone units, supervising applied projects conducted in partnership with government and industry organisations.
International Business, Management, Project Management, and Information Technology – South Metropolitan TAFE (Higher Education Programs)
Lecturer in bachelor‑level and associate degree programs, delivering research‑aligned content and developing online learning materials to complement face‑to‑face teaching.
 
Vocational and Professional Education
Certificate IV and Diploma of Project Management – South Metropolitan TAFE
Designer, coordinator, and lecturer for nationally accredited project management programs. Teaching focused on applied project delivery, governance, and industry‑aligned assessment, meeting TEQSA and state regulatory standards.

Professional Project Management Education and Guest Lectures – Government, Industry, and Professional Bodies
Delivered specialist lectures and professional development in project management, procurement, governance, and leadership for public sector, engineering, and corporate audiences.
 
Teaching Leadership and Supervision
PhD Supervision (Co‑Supervision)
Supervisor for doctoral research in leadership, emotional literacy, health information systems, and organisational outcomes.

Higher Education Academy (HEA) Mentoring
University‑wide mentor supporting academic staff through HEA fellowship applications, including workshops on scholarly teaching practice and evidence‑based teaching portfolios.

Head of Programs – Computing, Management, Project Management, and Logistics
South Metropolitan TAFE | January 2012 – July 2017
Provided leadership across multiple higher education and vocational programs delivered across five campuses, coordinating more than 60 academic staff.
Oversaw curriculum development, workload allocation, assurance of learning, and compliance with TEQSA and state regulatory requirements.
Designed and implemented new Certificate IV, Diploma, and Associate Degree programs, including building Project Management qualifications from inception.
Strengthened industry engagement, student recruitment, and program sustainability; nominated for Staff Member of the Year for customer service and program growth.
 
Project Manager
Baptist Churches of Western Australia | June 2001 – June 2011
Delivered complex IT, construction, renovation, facilities, and organisational change projects using PMBOK, Agile, and hybrid methodologies.
Managed project budgets, procurement, contractors, scheduling, governance reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
Led digital transformation and enterprise system initiatives within a multi‑site, community‑based organisational context.
 
Learning Design and Academic Development
Learning Design Advisor – Tertiary and Stakeholder Manager
Engineers Australia | June 2017 – February 2018
Delivered discipline‑specific lectures and advised universities on industry‑aligned curriculum design and learning materials.
Supported academic teams with accreditation‑informed teaching and learning practices.
 
Professional and Community Leadership
Chair / Project Manager, South Perth Outreach Inc. (2005 – 2011): Oversaw financial, facilities, and building projects for community organisations.
Management Lecturer, Business Enterprise Centre – Stirling (2011): Delivered management education alongside community development initiatives.
Research and eLearning Committee Member, South Metropolitan TAFE (2012 – 2013): Oversaw institutional research activity, ethics approvals, and transition toward eLearning models.

  
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Recognition of sustained leadership and impact in learning and teaching in higher education, including mentoring of academic staff and contribution to scholarly teaching practice.

West Australian Institute of Project Management
Professional engagement with contemporary project, program, and portfolio management practice and standards.

Australian Computer Society (ACS)
Professional affiliation reflecting ongoing engagement with information systems, digital transformation, and computing practice relevant to leadership and project management education.

I coordinate the recruitment and contracting of the academic team responsible for marking and course review processes, ensuring all meet university moderation policies, procedures and response timeframes. I am responsible for developing strong internal stakeholder relationships related to the MBA (Leadership) and providing advice and recommendations regarding emerging issues. I am also responsible for analysing student data and assisting with identifying issues relating to student progression, attrition, assessments and results, developing insights and making recommendations about changes into all elements of the course and course delivery. I run student support sessions to assist students in course progression. ORCID: 0000-0002-4390-5665.

  
Leadership in Complex and Disruptive Environments
Leadership capability development in contexts characterised by uncertainty, disruption, and competing stakeholder demands, with a focus on ethical decision‑making and system‑level leadership.

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
Research‑informed approaches to curriculum design, assessment, feedback, and moderation in postgraduate business education, particularly in large‑scale and fully online programs.

Hyperflexible and Online MBA Education
Design, delivery, and evaluation of hyperflexible learning models that support student engagement, progression, and success across diverse professional and cultural contexts.

Evidence‑Based Leadership Education
Integrating contemporary research in leadership, emotional literacy, organisational behaviour, and innovation into authentic, applied learning experiences for MBA students.

Academic Governance, Quality Assurance, and Integrity
Program‑level governance, moderation, academic integrity, and assurance‑of‑learning practices that maintain standards while supporting inclusive and developmental learning environments.

Data‑Informed Decision‑Making in Higher Education
Use of learning analytics and student performance data to identify systemic issues related to progression, attrition, and assessment outcomes, and to inform continuous improvement.

Innovation, Disruption, and Organisational Change
Exploration of how organisations respond to technological, social, and economic disruption, and how leaders can design adaptive and resilient systems.

Project, Program, and Portfolio Management in Education
Application of project and portfolio management principles to curriculum development, program leadership, and large‑scale educational initiatives.

Emerging Technologies and AI in Higher Education
Critical and ethical use of AI and digital tools to support learning, assessment, feedback literacy, and leadership decision‑making.

Academic Leadership and Mentoring
Development of academic capability through mentoring, peer review, and professional learning, including support for scholarly teaching practice and HEA fellowship pathways.

Award‑Winning Excellence in Leadership Education
Recipient of Australasian MBA Lecturer of the Year (2022) and a Vice‑Chancellor’s Commendation for Best Practice in Learning and Teaching (2023), recognising sustained excellence in postgraduate leadership education and innovation in online delivery.

Academic Governance and Quality at Scale
Established and led robust moderation, marking, and quality‑assurance processes across large academic teams, ensuring compliance with university policy, assessment standards, response timeframes, and academic integrity requirements.

Data‑Informed Improvement of Student Outcomes
Analysed student progression, attrition, assessment performance, and engagement data to identify systemic issues and implement evidence‑based improvements to curriculum, assessment design, and course delivery.

Program and Portfolio Leadership
Applied project, program, and portfolio management discipline to oversee curriculum, staffing, technology, and quality initiatives across the MBA (Leadership), managing risk, stakeholder expectations, and continuous improvement cycles.

Curriculum Innovation and Authentic Assessment Design
Led the design and refinement of research‑informed, authentic assessments that connect leadership theory with real‑world organisational challenges, supporting the development of critical thinking, reflective practice, and applied leadership capability.

Scholarly Contribution to Leadership and Higher Education Practice
Published peer‑reviewed research in leadership, emotional literacy, student success, and hyperflexible online learning, contributing to the scholarship of teaching and learning and evidence‑based leadership education.

Academic Leadership and Mentoring
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), mentoring academic staff through fellowship applications and supporting scholarly teaching practice across the university; co‑supervisor of PhD candidates in leadership and information systems.

Industry‑Engaged Teaching and Applied Research
Integrated extensive professional project management experience across IT, construction, government, and organisational change into postgraduate teaching, strengthening the relevance and credibility of leadership and project education.

Trusted Advisor and Stakeholder Partner
Developed strong internal and external stakeholder relationships, providing informed advice on emerging issues in leadership education, online learning, academic integrity, and the use of emerging technologies in higher education.

Learning, Teaching, and Academic Systems
Learning Management Systems (LMS), including Moodle
Online assessment, moderation, and feedback systems
Learning analytics and student performance reporting tools
Academic integrity, identity verification, and assessment security platforms

Project, Program, and Portfolio Management
Microsoft Project
Agile project boards and workflow tools
Program and portfolio reporting dashboards
Risk registers, scheduling, and dependency management tools

Data, Analytics, and Research
Microsoft Excel (advanced analysis and reporting)
Quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools
Survey and evaluation platforms for learning and teaching research
Research workflow and publication management tools

Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
AI‑supported tools for project simulation, risk analysis, and scenario testing
Generative AI tools used for decision‑support teaching activities (with critical evaluation)
AI applications in assessment design and feedback literacy
Emerging educational technology platforms supporting hyperflexible delivery

Information Systems and Technical Tools
Database development and data management tools
Cloud computing environments
Programming languages including Python and C++
Networking and systems fundamentals

Productivity and Collaboration
Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams)
Digital collaboration and communication platforms
Online workshop and webinar delivery tools

  
Contract Cheating and Identity Verification in Online MBA Programs
Central Queensland University
Authored a commissioned report addressing contract cheating risks and identity verification challenges in a fully online MBA (Leadership) program. The report provided evidence‑based recommendations to strengthen academic integrity, assessment design, and student authentication processes at scale.

Project Management Capability Review and Improvement Recommendations
City of Rockingham (Local Government)
Conducted a review of project management practices for large‑scale public sector projects. Delivered a report evaluating governance structures, reporting processes, risk management, and delivery controls, with practical recommendations to improve project assurance and accountability.

Program‑Level Quality and Governance Reports (MBA Leadership)
Central Queensland University
Produced internal program and portfolio‑level reports analysing student progression, attrition, assessment performance, moderation outcomes, and academic risk. Reports informed curriculum refinement, staffing decisions, assessment redesign, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Project and Portfolio Reporting – Facilities, IT, and Organisational Change
Baptist Churches of Western Australia
Developed and delivered formal project and portfolio reports covering scope, schedule, budget, risk, procurement, and stakeholder outcomes across IT, construction, renovation, and organisational change initiatives.

Curriculum and Assurance of Learning Reports
South Metropolitan TAFE
Authored program‑level assurance of learning and compliance reports for higher education and vocational programs, supporting TEQSA and state regulatory requirements and informing curriculum development and review.

Journal Reviewer – Journal of Management Education
Reviewer for a leading peer‑reviewed journal in management education, contributing to editorial quality assurance through critical evaluation of manuscripts focused on teaching practice, curriculum design, assessment, and the scholarship of learning and teaching.

2023 editor of Journal of Management Education https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/10525629241229401

  
Academic Integrity and Online Assessment Consultancy
Central Queensland University
Commissioned to investigate and report on contract cheating risks and identity verification challenges within a fully online MBA (Leadership) program. Provided evidence‑based recommendations relating to assessment design, authentication processes, governance controls, and risk mitigation at scale.

Project Management Capability Review
City of Rockingham (Local Government)
Engaged to review project management practices for large public‑sector projects. Delivered consultancy advice on governance structures, reporting cadence, risk management, procurement strategy, and stakeholder accountability, with practical recommendations for process improvement.

Professional Development and Advisory Services – Project Management
Local Government and Industry Clients
Delivered consultancy‑based professional development sessions on project management for large projects in public‑sector and community contexts, with a focus on governance, procurement decision‑making, risk allocation, and delivery assurance.

Curriculum Design and Quality Assurance Advisory
Higher Education and Professional Bodies
Provided expert advice on curriculum development, assessment design, and AQF/TEQSA alignment across project management, business, and information systems programs, including review of learning materials and assessment structures.

Industry–University Engagement Consultancy
Government and Industry Partners
Advised on the design and implementation of applied industry projects for postgraduate and capstone units, facilitating collaboration between universities and government or industry stakeholders to ensure authentic learning outcomes.