Joe Martin-Jard resigns as CEO of Batchelor Institute
Former NLC boss Joe Martin-Jard has resigned just over a year into the job, a tenure marked by ‘significant transformation’ at the Indigenous tertiary body. Here’s why.
Northern Territory
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Joe Martin-Jard has stepped down as head of the Batchelor Institute to retire, just over a year after taking the job.
Mr Martin-Jard was named chief executive of the Indigenous tertiary institute last May, soon after his high-profile exit from the helm of the Northern Land Council.
His appointment to the Batchelor Institute followed a 2023 review by the NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) last year which identified financial “anomalies” and a poor corporate culture at the institute.
Days after Mr Martin-Jard took the job the NT Auditor-General also refused to sign off on the Batchelor Institute’s 2022 financial statements, finding it could not supply enough reliable evidence to support its income and revenue figures, along with “significant deficiencies” in the institute’s risk management, student record controls, and other governance practices.
In a statement on Wednesday the Batchelor Institute thanked Mr Martin-Jard for his leadership “through a period of significant transformation”.
“His tenure saw the stabilisation of the institute’s leadership team, the achievement of unqualified financial audits, and the completion of essential regulatory registrations,” it said.
“Martin-Jard strengthened governance frameworks, ensuring robust policies and compliance with recommendations from the ICAC, with a majority of the recommendations implemented to date.”
During his tenure the Batchelor Institute secured federal funding for new student accommodation at the Alice Springs campus, to provide a culturally safe home for students from remote communities.
This year it also won $25m in funding to establish a TAFE Centre of Excellence for regional and remote essential care services, alongside Charles Darwin University.
Deputy chief executive of operations Renee Long will assume the role as chief executive from next month.
Mr Martin-Jard said he was looking forward to retirement.
“After over 40 years of public service, I am ready to explore new horizons and indulge in long-deferred passions, from travel to personal pursuits,” he said.
“I am immensely proud of our achievements at Batchelor Institute and have full confidence in Renee Long’s ability to lead with dedication to empowering Indigenous Australians through education.”
An Arrernte, Warlpiri, and Waramangu woman with connections to the southern and western Barkly regions, Ms Long’s career began as a trainee with the NT Open College of TAFE in Tennant Creek.
She has since held roles in the non-government sector, federal and NT governments across all major NT centres and Canberra, and served as the inaugural chief executive of the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network.
She joined the Batchelor Institute in February last year.
She said she was honoured to lead “an institution that has been a cornerstone of Indigenous education for decades”.
“My journey from a (vocational) trainee to public sector leader has shown me the power of education to transform lives,” she said.
“I look forward to building on Joe Martin-Jard’s legacy, advancing our mission of liberation through education our way.”
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Originally published as Joe Martin-Jard resigns as CEO of Batchelor Institute
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