Director, Product Development and Innovation, UNSW College

Dr James Bailey is a senior higher education leader with over 15 years’ experience across Australia, the UK, and Asia. He is Director of Product Development and Innovation at UNSW College, where he leads institution-wide program strategy, applied degree development, and industry-aligned innovation. His work sits at the intersection of education design, technology, employability, and organisational change, with a strong focus on building scalable product capabilities and future-ready portfolios.

James has held senior academic and professional leadership roles spanning learning and teaching, international engagement, and academic governance. He holds a PhD in Marketing and formal qualifications in technology-enhanced learning, and is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. His approach combines strategic clarity, design-led innovation, and collaborative leadership to deliver impact at scale in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.