Torrens University appoints Professor Erica Wilson as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Success)

7 October 2026 | Media Release

Professor Wilson is currently Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Innovation) at Southern Cross University, where she is also Dean of The Hotel School Australia. She has more than 15 years' experience in executive and senior leadership roles.

At Southern Cross, she co-designed and co-led the Southern Cross Model, a whole-of-institution curriculum change built around a six-week teaching block. The model has delivered measurable gains in student retention, progression and satisfaction, with particularly strong results for students from equity backgrounds and international students. The work has won national and international recognition, including a 2026 Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success award and a Silver Award at the 2025 QS Reimagine Education Awards, which attracted more than 1,650 global submissions.

Professor Wilson has published more than 90 scholarly outputs. She is Co-President of the International Block and Intensive Learning and Teaching Association and chaired the Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education from 2022 to 2025.

At Torrens University, she will lead student success, academic quality and teaching excellence, First Nations education and success, and library and digital learning services. She will work with the University's Schools to refresh curriculum and strengthen retention, completion, student satisfaction and graduate outcomes. As an internationally recognised tourism researcher, she will also support one of the University's key research areas.

She will report to the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Dominique Parrish, starting on 27 January 2027 and be based in Brisbane.

Vice-Chancellor & CEO, Professor Aleks Subic welcomed Professor Wilson.

“Professor Wilson brings a rare mix of innovation, scholarly achievement and a reputation for academic excellence that will help us keep improving our performance in national and international rankings. Above all, she will help more of our students succeed.”

Professor Wilson said:

“I'm delighted to join Torrens University. Its focus on practical, career-ready education and on supporting every student to succeed matches what I care about most and it is a leader in tourism research, which is my passion. I look forward to working with colleagues across the schools to strengthen how students learn, progress and graduate.”

Media contact: media.enquiries@torrens.edu.au