Principal, Industry Advisor - Higher Education, Workday

Michelle Gillespie is a sector-leading tertiary education executive and recognised industry innovator dedicated to transforming the modern student journey. Currently serving as the Principal Industry Advisor for Higher Education at Workday, Michelle bridges the gap between complex legacy campus systems and the seamless, tech-native experiences required by the next generation of learners.

With over two decades of executive experience—including high-impact roles as Chief Student Officer and Registrar at Victoria University, and Director of Student Administration and Library Services at Swinburne University of Technology, Michelle has led teams of over 250 staff to deliver outstanding outcomes for cohorts of 60,000+ students. Her strategic focus spans the entire student lifecycle, driving performance across acquisition, retention, wellbeing, and service design.

A passionate advocate for an integrated, accessible tertiary system, Michelle’s work breaks down traditional silos between TAFE and higher education to lower barriers to entry for all students. Her visionary leadership in process reform and digital transformation has earned her multiple Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Service Excellence, Innovation, and Diversity & Inclusion, as well as international acclaim from The Chair Academy. Michelle holds a Master of Tertiary Education Management from the University of Melbourne.