Ann holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Accounting from Queensland University of Technology, conferred in 2014, and awarded the Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award for its scholarly contribution. Over the past 15 years she has demonstrated academic leadership across diverse institutional contexts, including Macquarie University (2008–2011), CQ University Sydney (2015–2023), Prince Sultan University in Saudi Arabia (2023–2024), and currently is an Associate Professor (Adjunct) with CQ University.  

Her leadership experience spans strategic planning, curriculum development, and resource management. As Learning & Teaching Coordinator (2020–2022) and elected Academic Board member (2018–2020), and elected member of the Research Committee Board at CQU, she has contributed to governance, quality assurance, and strategic initiatives aligned with TEQSA standards. Additionally, as a long-standing member of the Academic Board of Crown Institute of Higher Education (2015–2023), she played a pivotal role in guiding the institution to meet TEQSA requirements, shaping curriculum development, enhancing learning and teaching practices, and expanding course offerings. These contributions significantly supported the institution’s growth and strengthened its academic reputation.

She brings commercial acumen through securing competitive research grants totaling $123,000 and developing industry partnerships that informed curriculum innovation. Her deep understanding of the Australian higher education sector, shaped by over 30 peer-reviewed publications on governance, performance management, and sector reforms, positions her to anticipate emerging trends in the higher education sector with national priorities. With proven ability to lead academic operations, foster collaboration, and drive strategic outcomes, she is well-prepared to deliver CQU's vision of creating a better tomorrow through transformative education. She remains an active educator and scholar: sessional teaching at the University of Sydney, adjunct appointment at CQU, HDR supervision to completion, and ongoing publications in ABDC A/A* journals. She serves on editorial advisory boards and review for leading journals, present at international conferences and maintains a program of research on performance management, governance and Australian and international education. This scholarly engagement informs her leadership and ensures that teaching and program development are current, research‑led and future‑oriented.