Radford College is excited to welcome Suba Tharmarajah as our new Chief Operating Officer (COO). With a career spanning the corporate world, not-for-profit advocacy and cyber security, Suba brings a diverse and dynamic perspective to her role. Her journey reflects a deep commitment to purpose-driven work and now she’s channelling that passion into education at Radford. We sat down with Suba to learn more about her path, her priorities as COO and what excites her most about joining the Radford community.

Can you tell us a bit about your career path and what brought you to Radford?

My career has been quite diverse. I began working with two of the Big4 Holiday Parks, which gave me a solid grounding in the corporate world. From there, I followed my passion for the not-for-profit sector, spending a decade at the NSW Aboriginal Land Council championing land rights. Then I switched gears completely and moved into cyber security – a whole new challenge. Now I’ve found a home at Radford. I’ve always had a passion for education, so this feels like the right fit.

What was your biggest or most surprising learning from your time in cyber security?

I learned that cyber security isn’t just about technology – it’s about people and making sure everyone understands the risks.

What are your immediate priorities as COO?

My immediate priority is to really learn the Radford way: to get to know my team, understand how things work here and listen to what’s important.

You’ve lived all over Australia – from Canberra to Brisbane, Wagga Wagga, Darwin, Sydney and beyond – do you have a favourite spot?

Our family has been fortunate to live in many beautiful parts of Australia, thanks to my husband’s Defence career. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be Exmouth, WA – it’s absolutely stunning with its natural, untouched beauty and relaxed vibe. I would highly recommend it!

In five years, what would you love to have achieved at Radford?

I’d love to see Radford thriving, with a strong, supportive culture and clear progress towards our goals. I hope to have helped create an environment where people feel valued and motivated, and where our processes make it easier for everyone to do great work.

People would be surprised to know that …

I’m pretty competitive when it comes to sport and board games – even if I don’t always admit it.