Kate Flynn

Kate is the inaugural Director, Widening Participation at the University of Melbourne. She has over 25 years’ experience influencing positive change in Higher Education developing and implementing whole-of-institution strategies and programs that support improved student access, participation and success for historically under-represented groups.

She is most proud of her work that centres the needs and voices of underrepresented groups while finding alignment with national, State, and local priorities for maximum impact.

Kate joins the University of Melbourne from the Queensland University of Technology where she and her team won multiple national awards for sector-leading, evidence-based work in widening participation.

Since joining the University of Melbourne two years ago, amongst other things, Kate has led the development of a new approach to schools outreach and community partnerships; reviewed Access Melbourne and Narrm Scholarship parameters to align for greater impact; introduced a free Maths enabling course; expanded Access Melbourne Graduate Degree packages; won and co-led an ACSES grant with the Centre for the Study of Higher Education and Equity by Design on evaluation capacity-building across the Go8s; partnered with the new Melton Suburban University Study Hub; is currently mapping opportunities to improve the University’s pathways and graduate equity; and working towards greater data agency for faculties to focus their efforts in relation to the University’s widening participation targets.