Our team

Ian Smith

Head of College and CEO

Ian joined the College in January 2026, after 13 years at St Andrews College, the University of Sydney. Originally from Queensland, he began his career over 25 years ago as a chartered accountant and business adviser.

He is passionate about empowering young adults to unlock their potential and make a positive impact. An accredited rugby referee, Ian officiated 150+ first-class matches. He lives on site with his partner and two young sons.

Penny Knight

Chair of the Board 

Penny has over 30 years experience internationally in organisation analysis, strategic planning and governance, and is currently the Managing Director of the consulting firm, BaxterLawley.

With over 15 years’ experience on boards, Penny is passionate about advancing governance and leadership excellence. She was appointed as Chair in late 2024, and is a proud graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) course.

Jude Parker

Deputy Head of College

Jude is the head of our Resident Services team. Originally from the U.K, she is an experienced international educator with a background in both teaching and boarding.

Her favourite part of working at Trin is meeting such a wide and diverse range of students.

Along with her husband Dan, she lives on-site with their children, Alfie the dog, Tiny the cat as well as four chickens!

Ian Short

Director of Finance and Administration

Originally from the U.K, Ian has lived in Australia for over 20 years. He holds accounting qualifications from both countries and has worked in not-for-profit and commercial organisations.

Ian has two children and is a passionate supporter of Leeds United. His favourite thing about Trin is working with a diverse range of staff and students, and hearing all the wonderful accents and languages.

Madison Wales

Director of Marketing and Community Relations

Madison is an experienced marketing and student recruitment professional having worked in Perth’s tertiary education sector since emigrating from the U.K.

She too has lived on-campus in student accommodation and enjoys being able to bring an international perspective. Madison’s border collie Bear often accompanies her into the office – he loves spending time with the residents!

Nigel Megson

Property and Facilities Manager

With over 30 years experience in carpentry and building, Nigel is from Sheffield, home to the world’s oldest football club. He fulfilled his lifelong dream of emigrating to Australia in 2011.

An avid sports fan, Nigel supports Sheffield United in the English Premier League. In his spare time he enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his partner Kathy and their rescue dog Milly, who you’ll often see around campus.

Fiona Ablong

Human Resources Manager

With over 25 years of human resources experience in a wide range of sectors including government, retail, law and tertiary education, Fiona is responsible for our employee experience.

Her favourite thing about working at Trin is being able to work in such a friendly and relaxed environment, with a team of people who are all so committed to making the College a great place to be.

Dennis Choo

Admissions Manager

Dennis has worked in tertiary student accommodation for the last five years. Born in Johor, Malaysia, he is multilingual speaking English, Malay, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Having spent many years working in hospitality, in Australia and South East Asia, Dennis is passionate about all things customer service. His favourite thing about Trin is the people (and the food!).

Deep Lal

Catering Manager

Deep has always had a passion for all things food. Originally from New Delhi, India, he has worked as a senior chef for over 15 years and takes pride in showcasing culture through cuisine.

A father of two, Deep enjoys spending time with his family. His favourite thing about Trin is working with a talented group of catering professionals and meeting students from across the world.