Senior Management
The senior management of AIE Institute provides effective operational management across administrative and academic functions to achieve AIE Institute's strategic objectives.
Vicki De Margheriti
Director
Vicki has over 35 years’ experience managing companies and facilitating business and industry growth in the games development, 3D animation and visual FX industries. She is the CEO of the Academy of Interactive Entertainment Ltd (AIE) and has been involved in the operations and strategic planning of all of its business units, including Canberra Technology Park (CTP), AIE Incubator, Game Plus, Film Plus, as a Director and Co-founder since its inception.
Vicki is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has been a director on the board of games studio Micro Forté and middleware developer BigWorld. Vicki believes in equipping people with the skills, knowledge and confidence to follow their dreams. She thrives on providing a fun, creative and motivating work environment that is conducive to learning and allowing staff and students to achieve their full potential.
Vicki has seen AIE grow from a single classroom in partnership with CIT in 1996, to an international success with campuses in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Seattle, Lafayette and Online. She looks forward to managing AIE’s future expansion plans and its ongoing contributions to facilitate industry growth in Australia and abroad.
Alexandra Mannell
Head of School, Sydney Campus
Alexandra joined AIE in 2018 as the Deputy Head of School - Sydney, returning to the harbour city after a number of years working in Melbourne. Alexandra has over 15 years of vocational education and RTO management experience with a demonstrated history of leadership in the VET sector across a wide range of industries including hospitality, general construction and plumbing. Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education and a Master of Education, specialising in workplace learning.
Alexandra's skills lie in training resource development and delivery, RTO compliance, project management and VET team development; her passion lies in working with and encouraging all learners to develop the skills and knowledge they need to achieve their goals and fulfil their potential.
Since joining the AIE team Alexandra has managed to resist the temptation to become a gamer but she has certainly developed a new found appreciation for the technical skill, creativity and hard work that goes into making amazing games and films.
Lea Michael
Head of School, Canberra Campus
Lea has over 16 years of campus management and educational resource management experience, specialising in Online adaption and facilitation of all levels of courses.
As AIE evolved from a single campus in Canberra to several campuses across Australia, Lea ensured all programming courses were successfully duplicated across to each new campus, maintaining resources and training staff as they joined the teams.
After taking on opening an Online delivery focussed campus for AIE in 2012, Lea has sustained its growth over the years and has facilitated the training of AIE staff across all Campuses to adapt to Online delivery. With the ability to adapt quickly, project manage and focus when challenges arise, Lea manages two very different campuses and sets of staff simultaneously.
Since achieving the top 2% in her classes and gaining a Vice Chancellors award during her Bachelor of Science, Majoring in Computer Science, Lea has continued to maintain her programming and project management passion through contract and personal projects.
Ann-Maree Davies
Head of School, Adelaide Campus
Ann-Maree joined AIE in 2016 after delivering the AIE Certificate courses at a secondary college for the previous 4 years. Having completed a Degree in Computer Science with a Major in Pure Math, Ann-Maree started teaching Information Technology for TAFESA and then went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Education. Ann-Maree has most recently completed a Master of Education (Leadership).
Being an avid gamer and seeing the value of real pathways in the creative industries, Ann-Maree sees the potential of helping students achieve their dreams through a combination of hard work and creative processes while still maintaining a strong connection with students.
Having implemented the Vocational Placement program for the Adelaide students, Ann-Maree also initiated the Digital Directions project – the first digital traineeship in collaboration with the Department of Industry and Skills, Skilling SA program. Connecting with industry partners and opening pathway opportunities for the AIE graduates has become a top priority and envisions a stronger support network for start-ups and Incubators across the creative industries sector.
Laurie Costabile
Head of School, Melbourne Campus
Laurie is experienced in all aspects of Educational Management and Leadership with expertise in Information Technology, Computer Science and training implementation. He has influenced curriculum development in the private and public sectors with particular focus on emerging industry trends.
Graduating from Victoria and Melbourne Universities, Laurie worked as a Analyst Programmer with various organisations and was heavily involved in creative industries within the music arena. With over 20 years experience in education, training and the tertiary sector, Laurie has gained extensive knowledge at choice Universities like RMIT, Swinburne, Melbourne, Central Queensland and Victoria Universities occupying various positions such as Head of school of a very large and progressive Business School, an Associate Director of TAFE, Head of a Business IT Department, a Director of VET Programs and as a Senior Manager of Teaching and Learning.
Laurie has also captained a leading privately owned registered training organisation developing strategies and innovative programs in conjunction with industry, international partners and government stake holders. Laurie’s other strengths lie in driving compliance, performance management, developing infrastructure strategies, systems development and organisational structures that embrace future educational and industry trends.
Laurie also takes a leading role in a number of external planning and development working parties and committees developing programs for a variety of leading corporations.