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Waypoint Consulting

Higher education is strengthened for all when institutions recognise their strengths, invest in people and approach improvement as a collaborative endeavour. 


Waypoint Consulting understands the challenges and works alongside providers to build leadership, governance and scholarship capabilities that are both practical and enduring.

About Dr Heather Davis

Waypoint Consulting partners with higher education providers to strengthen leadership, academic governance and institutional capability. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience across the Australian higher education sector, Heather Davis helps institutions recognise their strengths, navigate complexity and build practical, sustainable approaches to improvement.

Core Values

Integrity

Integrity means providing honest, independent advice that is grounded in evidence, experience and sound judgement.


It is about asking thoughtful questions, listening carefully and offering advice that serves the long-term interests of both the institution and its people.

Excellence

Excellence is not about pursuing perfection. It is about helping institutions continually strengthen their practice through reflection, scholarship, informed decision-making and a commitment to meaningful improvement.

Collaboration

The best solutions are developed together. Waypoint Consulting works alongside institutional leaders, academic staff and governing bodies to build shared understanding, strengthen capability and create practical solutions that are owned by the people who will implement them.

Specialising In

Applied Scholarship

Waypoint Consulting specialises in helping teaching-intensive higher education providers recognise, strengthen and evidence the scholarly practices that underpin excellent teaching and learning.


Whether developing institutional frameworks, supporting academic staff or demonstrating the impact of scholarly activity, the focus is on building a sustainable culture of scholarship that aligns with both institutional values and regulatory expectations.

Academic Governance

Strong academic governance enables institutions to make sound decisions, maintain academic quality and navigate change with confidence.


Waypoint Consulting supports providers to strengthen governance frameworks, review policies and committee structures, and enhance the effectiveness of academic decision-making through practical, context-sensitive advice.

Compliance Assessments

Effective compliance is achieved when quality assurance is embedded in everyday practice rather than viewed as a stand-alone activity.


Waypoint Consulting works alongside higher education providers to assess institutional practices against regulatory requirements, identify opportunities for enhancement and build confidence in the systems and evidence that support ongoing quality improvement.

Resources

Bolden, R, Jones, S, Davis, H & Gentle, P. 2015, Stimulus Paper: Developing and Sustaining Shared Leadership in Higher Education.  London: Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. 

Davis, H 2018, "Connecting the Dots for Professional Practice in Higher Education: Leadership, Energy Management and Motivation" in, Bossu, C & Brown, N (eds.), Professional and Support Staff in Higher Education, Springer, The Netherlands [Author's Draft].

Davis, H 2024, HEPP-QN Categories to Capture Teaching and Learning Scholarship Activities.  Sydney: Higher Education Private Provider Quality Network

Davis, H & Goedegebuure, L. 2016, Governance for Sustainability in Higher Education.  Melbourne: LH Martin Institute for TE Leadership and Management.

Davis, H & Graham, C 2018, "Navigating a Career in Tertiary Education Management in an Era of Unceasing Transformation", Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 40(2), pp. 97–106.

Davis, H & Jones, S 2014, "The Work of Leadership in Higher Education Management", Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 36(4), pp.  367–370.

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