Caroline is a geologist by training and has a B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Ph.D in geology from the University of New England, Australia. She has worked as an exploration geologist in Australia and Fiji, and undertook post-doctoral research in geology at the Australian National University. She has 15 years’ experience as a senior public servant working for the Australian Federal Government in higher education, research, science and radioactive waste management policy and programs. In February 2012 she was appointed as the first Executive Director of the Regional Universities Network, a group of six universities with their headquarters in regional Australia, outside capital cities. Since then she has worked to foster advocacy, facilitate collaboration, and enhance the contribution of the member universities to regional development, the nation, and internationally.