The President of the Industry Professor Association takes pride in presenting this citation to Industry Professor – Kim Hawkins
Industry Experience
Kim Hawkins has built a distinguished career spanning more than two decades across the sectors of human services, early childhood education, and vocational training. Her practical experience is extensive in both duration and scope. Beginning in Western Australia, Hawkins worked in direct service delivery roles across early childhood education, disability support, and at-risk communities. She progressed to senior leadership, serving as Executive Director for Education and Social Sciences at West Coast Institute, overseeing educational delivery in community and social service disciplines. In 2016, she was appointed to lead Charles Darwin University’s School of Community and Children’s Services, a role in which she managed vocational programs in areas such as aged care, mental health, youth work and early childhood across urban, regional and remote settings in the Northern Territory. She held this position for over four years.
In 2020, Hawkins expanded her industry influence by creating Redgate Workforce Solutions, an educational consultancy supporting Registered Training Organisations and other institutions. As Principal Consultant, she provides coaching, workforce development strategies, and training project leadership. Her academic qualifications include a Master of Educational Studies (Training and Development), further strengthening her credibility as a VET educator and strategic advisor. The diversity of roles—from service provision and executive education leadership to entrepreneurship—demonstrates the depth and breadth of Hawkins’ industry experience.
Industry Endorsement
Kim Hawkins is widely recognised for her expertise and leadership in vocational education and community services. She was appointed by the Western Australian Government to the Ministerial Advisory Council on Disability, reflecting her respected voice in disability policy and training. Nationally, she served as Deputy Chair of the Children’s Education and Care Industry Reference Committee, where she helped guide updates to early childhood qualifications—an indication of her peers’ trust in her expertise. Within educational institutions, her appointments have been publicly acknowledged, with Charles Darwin University’s leadership highlighting her innovation and industry knowledge upon her appointment.
Peers and colleagues have publicly praised her capacity for change leadership and training innovation. Her professional network, which includes over 1,000 LinkedIn connections, further illustrates her reputation within the sector. Industry partners and leaders have also endorsed her work, particularly in response to her launch of Redgate Workforce Solutions.
Industry Training
Hawkins has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to sharing her knowledge. At CDU, she led training provision across multiple service disciplines, mentoring educators and shaping curriculum. Through Redgate, she offers leadership coaching and organisational development services to education providers. She has been involved in federally funded initiatives, such as a partnership with the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training to develop inclusive training guidelines. Her public engagement includes speaking at professional forums and moderating training sessions. Hawkins’ leadership, public service, and mentorship represent a clear and ongoing dedication to education and knowledge exchange.
Kim Hawkins is hereby awarded the title of Industry Professor in Community Services.
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As CEO of Industry Professor Association, I have a passion for education and learning that leads towards a productive outcome for Industry. The Industry Professor Association is a non-profit organisation that recognises industry expertise and experience and helps members gain the ultimate recognition of their Industry career. We also help organise their industry expertise by converting it into digital learning products and sharing it with a learner hungry world.
As a previous Head of School – Southbank Institute of Technology, it gave me great insight into educational design, corporate client learning needs, government policy and strategies. My goal was to meet the needs of industry in regards to providing graduates who were highly trained in practical skills and employability skills. Whilst meeting the learning style of a generation that is highly engaging with communication channels, and immersed in collaboration to gain learning at their time, place and pace.