Professor Kathy Douglas

Professor Kathy Douglas leads the College of Business and Law learning, teaching and quality portfolio including governance, student satisfaction, program development and innovation in pedagogy. She is an experienced Executive leader who has focused on developing transformative educational experiences and impactful research. She has been a member of academic board for several years and in 2020 chaired the Higher Education Committee. 

In 2021, she led a College governance review which resulted in improved processes for the College. In 2023, she oversaw the development of curriculum architecture for selected postgraduate programs in the College.  She also oversaw the development of a new Bachelor of Commerce degree with a focus on business and technology in both content and pedagogy. 

Kathy undertakes research in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) including dispute resolution practice and education. She has been a member of the Australian Dispute Resolution Advisory Council and a past president of the ADR Research Network. Kathy has been a practising mediator and taught in the area of ADR for many years in RMIT's Juris Doctor program.  She has published widely regarding legal education, blended learning and technology aided learning.

Previously, Kathy was the Dean of the Graduate School of Business and Law at RMIT (2018-2022). She led a high performing school focused on industry engaged learning and research. In 2020-21, she led the introduction of an undergraduate law degree at RMIT.  Kathy was awarded the Vice Chancellor's leadership award for Imagination in 2020 for her innovative practices. In 2022 she acted as the Interim Director of Digital 3, an education aggregator that brought together digital research and education initiatives in the College. Kathy has a passion for impactful leadership that benefits students, staff and the communities that RMIT engages with, including industry.

• Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor Learning, Teaching and Quality in the College of Business and Law
• Member, Executive College of Business and Law
• Member, Higher Education Committee, Academic Board
• Member, Programs Committee, Academic Board

• PhD, RMIT University
• Graduate Diploma of Education (Tertiary Teaching stream) University of Melbourne
• BA, LLB, LLM Monash University

Executive Education

• QUT Indigenous Perspective and Knowledges in Learning and Teaching course, 2024.
• Australian Institute of Company Directors, Company Directors course, 2024.
• Applied Mentally Healthy Leadership Program, AP Psychology and Consulting Services, Melbourne, July 2021.
• EFMD, Online Workshop for Deans, 26-30th October 2020, Brussels Belgium (online).
• Women in Business Education Deans Network, 2020-2022.
• Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, Justice and Ethics Symposium, 14-15th November 2019, Melbourne, Australia.

• Over twenty years of experience as a mediator in community, workplace and court connected mediation (while also working as an academic)
• Short course trainer in mediation
• Lawyer with practice experience in criminal and civil law