Iain Watt

Iain is an experienced leader in international education, with over 18 years in senior roles at Australian universities, more than a decade in senior diplomatic positions focused on education and research across Asia, and extensive management experience in the Australian Public Service. His career spans academic, diplomatic, and policy leadership.
He is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Future Education in Melbourne.

Previously, Iain has held senior roles at the University of Technology Sydney, the University of Western Australia, and Australian National University. Additionally, his diplomatic service includes key roles at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, as well as significant contribution to policy development through his work at the Australian Department of Education.

Notably, Iain established the Government’s Australia International Education Foundation, based in Canberra. He also played a pivotal role in the design and implementation of the Dawkins Reforms to Australian higher education in 1987 and contributed to the development of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) – the world’s first income-contingent loan system for university tuition fees.