John Devereaux

John Devereaux is an accomplished leader of multidisciplinary teams, with an extensive track record of delivering a broad range of services in higher education and local government. He was most recently Executive Director Student Life at Deakin University (2004 – 2021). In this role he had strategic and operational responsibility for student experience and student services, serving 51,000 students across four campuses and 20,000 online. He set high standards for service quality, for being client centred and for demonstrating respectful and professional behaviours. His achievements included the repositioning of the Student Life Division to become integral to the University’s core business; development of the University’s first Student Mental Health Strategy; and transitioning student residential services to a successful commercial business unit whilst integrating the experience of residential students with broader University values and student experience.

He achieved improved relations between the University and the independent University Student Association, which now operate in true partnership, and brokered a partnership with a not-for-profit provider to establish an on-campus childcare service. He also achieved workplace change which resulted in more effective organisational arrangements through his ability to build trust and exhibit integrity and authenticity.

Prior to Deakin University he was Director Community Services at Hobsons Bay City Council, with responsibility for community services policy, planning and service delivery in the areas of community development, libraries, in-home aged care, youth services, childcare, maternal and child health, and meals-on-wheels. He formed the Community Services Division and set its vision and direction. Achievements included developing a new vision for Hobsons Bay Libraries which positioned libraries as a social hub and forming the Council’s first Multicultural Advisory Group.

John is the Director Professional Development for the Australian New Zealand Student Services Association.