Our People
Our Staff
At CUC Southern Grampians, we are fortunate to have a dedicated and passionate team focused on empowering regional students to succeed through access to quality education in a safe, supportive environment. Our team works together to foster growth, create opportunities, and make a positive impact for individuals and businesses across the Southern Grampians region. Meet the team below.
Zoe Brinsden
Centre Manager
Zoe is an accomplished and purpose-driven leader with over 30 years’ experience across banking and finance, private wealth, superannuation, public health, education, and the not-for-profit sector. As Centre Manager at CUC Southern Grampians, Zoe brings a strategic mindset and a deep commitment to empowering regional learners through accessible and high-quality tertiary education. In her local community, Zoe sits on the Student Voice forum for Southwest Tafe Hamilton Campus (where she is herself a student), is Secretary/Treasurer for Friends of Hamilton Gallery and is an active volunteer in and around the district. Earlier in 2025, she was heavily involved in the design, planning and delivery of Sheepvention 2025. Her career spans senior leadership roles at major institutions including Westpac, Macquarie Wealth Management, Retirement Victoria, ANZ Private, and JPMorgan. Zoe has led transformative initiatives in business development, team performance, and organisational change, consistently driving measurable outcomes and cultural renewal. Known for her empathetic leadership and ability to inspire teams, Zoe is passionate about creating inclusive, future-focused learning environments. Her work at CUC Southern Grampians reflects her dedication to regional development and lifelong learning, helping students thrive in their academic and professional journeys.
Email Zoe
Holly Herrmann
Widening Participation and Learning Skills Advisor
Holly’s genuine passion for helping others is at the heart of everything she does at CUCSG. Her professional background in veterinary practice and education support has seen her provide care and service to the Southern Grampians community for more than 20 years. Holly believes that all people in our region deserve quality access to higher education and the opportunities it creates. She works with local schools and the wider community to foster aspiration and ensure that higher education pathways are visible, accessible and achievable. Alongside her community engagement work, Holly provides personalised learning skills support. She is available to help CUCSG students develop skills in academic writing, research and referencing, study planning, time management, and exam preparation. With a warm, encouraging approach, Holly is dedicated to helping students build confidence, overcome challenges and succeed in their studies.
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Nina Hunter
Student Experience Officer
Nina joined Country Universities Centre Southern Grampians (CUCSG) in June 2026 as the Student Experience Officer. She is passionate about creating a welcoming and supportive environment where students feel encouraged throughout their educational journey. Alongside her role, Nina is studying a Diploma of Counselling, strengthening her communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills while gaining firsthand insight into the student experience. Nina is committed to helping students access the resources, guidance, and opportunities they need to achieve their goals. She enjoys building positive connections within the community and contributing to initiatives that enhance the student experience across the Southern Grampians region. An interesting fact about Nina is that she genuinely enjoys improving systems, documents, and processes to make the student experience as simple and supportive as possible.
Email Nina