Paul Ramadge

Chief Executive Officer

Paul has developed high-level leadership skills in Australia and overseas – in designing and delivering innovative and evidence-based initiatives for the higher education sector, in pioneering new forms of cross-cultural engagement, and in leading talented media teams to achieve impact in the public interest. He has demonstrated an ability to deliver outcomes in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Paul joined the General Sir John Monash Foundation as CEO in August 2023.

In Australia, Paul is well known as a former Editor-in-Chief of The Age at a time (2008 – 2012) when the newspaper and its digital platforms were setting the national agenda and winning awards for journalistic excellence. In 2012, Paul accepted an offer to become a Vice-Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow at Monash University, working to enhance the university’s standing as one of Australia’s most internationally engaged and dynamic higher-education institutions. After reviewing Monash’s strategy in Indonesia, Paul led a team to develop a concept for a new Australia-Indonesia Centre to deliver initiatives in collaborative research, education, cultural exchanges and analyses of attitudes and perceptions. This experience was valuable as Paul moved to become Managing Director of The PLuS Alliance, a collaboration between UNSW Sydney, King’s College London and Arizona State University. In March 2020, the alliance launched a joint-venture university in London (TEDI-London) aimed at responding to industry needs for creative, multi-skilled and entrepreneurial engineers.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Paul provided consulting services to universities in Australia and the UK, often working alongside Vice-Chancellors and senior executives. The advice included developing strategies for growth, student recruitment, digital innovation and partnerships. Paul has been a board member at Mental Health Victoria and is a former chair of the Dolphin Research Institute.

Chuan Tan

Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary

As Chief Financial Officer, Chuan is responsible for the Foundation’s financial functions including accounting, audit, investments and governance. He also leads all human resources and operating activities. His career spans over 30 years of varied experience in financial management, treasury, business leadership and information technology delivery in various global locations including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, London, Sydney and Melbourne.

Before joining the Foundation in early 2018, Chuan served as Treasurer and Finance Operations Manager at an Australian University and as Company Secretary for its subsidiaries.  He has held senior positions in investment banks, transportation, mining, agricultural and tertiary education organisations.

He has a Master of Finance and Bachelor of Business in Accountancy from RMIT University and holds FCPA and CFTP (Snr) memberships.

Dr Karen McConalogue 

Executive Director, John Monash Foundation Leadership Academy

Dr Karen McConalogue is an academic and executive with more than 20 years of experience in the tertiary education and research sector, including in postgraduate programs and fellowships.

With a deep understanding of the value of scholarship programs and the development of young leaders, Karen has worked to develop, implement and support educational offerings such as doctoral programs and joint international PhDs. She has worked with a broad range of stakeholders and funders, including government departments, NGOs, charitable organisations and private donors.

Initially trained as a biomedical researcher, and with a PhD in neuroscience, Karen was a two-time National Health and Medical Research Council Research Fellow. In the inaugural year of the Victorian Premier’s Award for Medical Research, Karen received a commendation and has also won awards for professional research and graduate research management.

Janine Shearer

Executive Director, Engagement

Janine has held executive roles in the tertiary education, health, mining, innovation, museums and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to coming to the Foundation she was the Director of Engagement and Events at the Committee for Melbourne, where she created a dynamic program of activities to engage members and enhance Melbourne as a world-class city. She was also previously the founding General Manager of the Monash Precinct Network, where she built an innovation community in Melbourne’s southeast.

The highlight of Janine’s experience in universities was as the Director of Collaboration and Partnerships at Swinburne University of Technology, where she was responsible of university-wide industry engagement. She created a culture of collaboration with academic and professional staff, established, cultivated and leveraged significant industry partnerships and, in doing so, matured the university’s engagement offering. At the Foundation, Janine’s focus is on working with our wonderful partners to strengthen relationships and find increasingly valuable ways to work together.

Janine has a Bachelor of Communications (Honours in Psychology), a Master of Marketing and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). 

Lauren Connelly

Scholarships Manager

Lauren brings over a decade of experience in the Australian tertiary sector, predominantly at Swinburne University of Technology, where she managed and oversaw the applicant selection process for National and International Admissions. Her career includes roles at Deakin University and Monash University within admissions and study abroad offices, emphasising her comprehensive understanding of higher education operations.

At Hobson’s APAC, Lauren specialized in student retention and engagement, offering tailored support and guidance to students navigating academic challenges. Her commitment to enhancing study abroad opportunities is underscored by her own academic experiences at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro campus, and ESSCA School of Management, Paris campus. These experiences uniquely inform her advisory role in assisting students in pursuing international study opportunities.

Lauren holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Media and Communication from Swinburne University.

Vanessa Lee

Executive Officer

As the Executive Officer at the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Vanessa is responsible for providing strategic direction, operational oversight, and governance expertise to support the CEO & CFO and drive organizational success.

Vanessa's career is marked by her expertise in operational excellence, leading change and people management. She has successfully led teams through major transitions, implemented strategic priorities, and managed complex operational processes.

Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Business from RMIT University (Hons) and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at the University of Melbourne. She is also a certified coach from the Australian Institute of Executive Coaching.