Dr Omer Yezdani has led strategy, data & analytics, technology and risk in public, private and social enterprise for over 20 years, and advises on business transformation, strategy, data analytics and risk. After completing a degree in Marketing, Omer commenced his career with a major ASX-listed firm, working on next generation technologies. Developing an interest in public policy, he went on to work in the Federal Government for over a decade leading national policy in education, VET and Indigenous affairs. Completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Omer engaged in several high-profile initiatives, as a Senior Advisor and State Director in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Department of Education, before leading business transformation at one of Australia’s most prominent online universities. Following two Excellence Awards, and Latin American Scholarship Award, Omer completed his doctoral research in complex systems at Griffith University, while also lecturing in strategic management, marketing and human resource management. Omer is passionate about education, multiculturalism, and making a positive difference in the lives of others. Omer is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), and Non-Executive Director at the Eidos Institute Pty Ltd, an innovative enterprise for social good.
Experience
2022–present
Chief Data Officer, University of the Sunshine Coast
2015–2022
Director, Office of Planning and Strategic Management, Australian Catholic University
2014–2015
Senior Project Manager, University of New England
2013–2014
Senior Advisor, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
2010–2014
State Program Director, Australian Government Department of Education and Training
2006–2010
Indigenous Education Manager, Australian Government Department of Education and Training
2002–2006
Senior Policy Officer, Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training
2000–2002
Assistant Marketing Manager, Australian Education International
Education
2018
Griffith University, Doctor of Philosophy
2017
Australian Institute of Company Directors, Graduate
2012
Griffith University, Graduate Diploma in Research Studies
2010
Queensland University of Technology, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
2000
Queensland University of Technology, Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
Publications
2022
Yezdani, O., Sanzogni, L. & Houghton, L. Emergent strategy and cascading behaviour patterns during crises: evidence from Brisbane’s 2011 floods. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 29, (2), (134-158).,
2016
Yezdani, O., Sanzogni, L. & Poropat, A. (2016). Theory of emergence: Introducing a model-centred approach to applied social science research. Prometheus, 33, (3), (305-322).,
2015
Yezdani, O. (2015). The nature of choice and value for services and amenities in Australian universities. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 37, (3), (282-294).,
2015
Yezdani, O. (2013). Myths of exponential growth in populations and wealth: an emergent perspective. Humanomics, 29, (4), (307-332).,
Professional Memberships
PRINCE2 Practitioner, APMG-International
Executive Committee Member, Higher Education Planning in Asia Association