Syed Haider is an accomplished academic leader and industry expert with more than three decades of combined experience across higher education and industry, including TEQSA compliance and accreditation, strategic planning, teaching innovation, curriculum design, quality assurance, institutional governance, and regulatory compliance. He holds a PhD in Accounting and three master’s degrees, Master of Software Development, Master of Banking and Finance, and Master of Business Administration, alongside a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Economics and a Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education.
Syed is currently serving as Dean at Edvantage Institute Australia, where he provides overarching academic leadership for the Institute’s higher education portfolio.
Prior to joining Edvantage Institute Australia, Syed served as Dean of Higher Education at a private higher education provider, where he played a central role in establishing and consolidating the College’s higher education operations and regulatory standing. His career progression has included senior leadership roles at Victoria University, such as Head of Learning and Teaching, where he developed contemporary, evidence-informed pedagogy and the integration of digital and work-integrated learning approaches, and Head of Academic Planning, where he led strategic academic initiatives, program development, and the alignment of academic offerings with institutional strategy and market demand. As Planning Manager for a Business College, he led change management, efficiency and process improvements through data-informed decision-making, planning processes, and the implementation of strong academic quality and governance frameworks.
Syed also serves as an Adjunct Fellow at Victoria University, where he contributes to scholarly engagement, and he is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).
Siding received my PhD degree in Applied Math 7 years ago in Scotchland. With years’ work experience in partnership and transnational education, she is thrilled to join in EIA and grow with it. Her team partners with other institutions to provide rich learning experience and community engagement for EIA students in Australia and overseas.
“After 9 years living in European cities, I still found myself easily to indulge in the city of Melbourne. My favourite part of working in our CBD campus, is to grab a coffee in the wide tree lined Queen Street during break in a busy working day, talks with our students and partners, to identify, understand and articulate their needs. I wish all our international students will fall in love with Melbourne and EIA, and keep enhancing your global mindset& employability, exploring infinite opportunities in EIA.”
Sophia Wang
General Manager and Director
Sophia Wang is the General Manager and Director of Edvantage Institute Australia (EIA), where she leads the institute’s strategic growth, market positioning, and overall operations. With decade of experience in business operations and cross-cultural management, she brings a strong market-oriented and student-focused perspective to higher education.
Before transitioning into education, Sophia had a successful career in marketing and cross-cultural management. After obtained MBA from Melbourne Business School, she worked in multinational marketing agencies and consulting firms to facilitate business expansion overseas. Drawing on her background in strong industry connection and cross-culture environment, she is known for fostering a supportive and student-centred culture, ensuring that education delivery is aligned with student needs and industry expectations. Sophia is committed to creating practical, career-focused learning environments that support student success and global employability. Under her leadership, EIA continues to grow as a dynamic and responsive provider in Australia’s international education sector.
Course Director
Tracy is an accomplished academic with extensive experience across Australian higher education providers, including course coordination, academic governance, and quality assurance. She is completing her PhD in Accounting, expected in 2026, with research interests in CEO characteristics, ESG and firm performance, and Artificial Intelligence in higher education.
Tracy currently serves as Course Director at Edvantage Institute Australia, providing academic leadership across the Institute. Prior to joining EIA, she served as Acting Dean and Program Coordinator at Lyons College Australia. She also held academic leadership roles at Charles Sturt University as Business and Accounting Course Coordinator.
Tracy has served on multiple academic boards and learning and teaching committees, and brings expertise in course design, accreditation, governance, and quality assurance aligned with TEQSA standards. She holds a Master of Professional Accounting and a Master of Global Business Law, and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).
Goutham Gandhi serves as the Director of International Marketing at Edvantage Institute Australia (EIA). He is an experienced international education professional with a strong background in student recruitment, business development, and strategic partnership management. With extensive experience across South Asia and other international markets, Goutham has established strong relationships with education agents, institutions, and industry stakeholders, helping students access quality education opportunities in Australia.
In his role, Goutham leads international marketing initiatives, strengthens global partnerships, and represents EIA at education exhibitions, agent workshops, and recruitment events worldwide. His expertise in international market development, cross-cultural engagement, and student recruitment enables him to identify emerging opportunities and support sustainable growth across key markets.
Passionate about international education, Goutham is committed to connecting students with industry-focused learning pathways and empowering them to achieve their academic and career aspirations through high-quality Australian education.
