Appointment of new CEO of Deakin Residential Services

Deakin Residential Services (DRS) is delighted to announce that Marion Bayley has been appointed as the new CEO, taking up the mantle from outgoing leader Vincent Wilson as he moves on to another exciting opportunity after eight years at the helm of DRS.  

Marion brings to this role a wealth of experience in senior leadership in the student accommodation sector, having served as Head of Operations and General Manager of DRS’ Geelong campuses, as well as being President of the Asia-Pacific Student Accommodation Association (APSAA). In addition to this, Marion is President of Geelong-based Arts organisation, the Bluebird Foundation.  

When asked what she is looking forward to in the role, Marion said,  

DRS has expanded and grown with huge success over the past 8 years under Vince’s guidance. COVID has certainly sent us some curve balls over the past 18 months so I’m looking forward to leading the outstanding team at DRS as we recover and rebuild. I’m a big believer that leadership matters most in the face of challenge, and I am excited by the opportunity to stand up when it matters most to our community.

Marion is excited to continue working with the team at DRS, saying, 

The best things about DRS are the people (staff and students) and the fact that no two days are the same. You never know what you’re going to get in student accommodation but whatever is thrown at you, knowing you can support your residents to achieve the best possible outcomes makes it easy to come to work every day.

Outside of work in student accommodation, Marion balances a love of sports and the arts. A massive Western Bulldogs fan, she is as at home cheering on her team or appreciating good music as she is making important decisions on campus, and it is this breadth of passion, experience and focus that will benefit all of DRS.   

During this transition we also celebrate the important impact of DRS’ inaugural CEO, Vincent Wilson, who has driven significant growth in Deakin’s on-campus accommodation offering and who will leave a lasting legacy. Vincent is the new CEO of a not-for-profit community organisation based in regional Victoria, and is looking forward to making a positive impact in this very important area of work. He says,  

I’m looking forward to working with another amazing organisation that does great work for so many people in the community and meeting many new colleagues and friends. I’ll miss the team at DRS, among whom are some of the most amazing people I’ve met in my career.

Reflecting on this transition and his time at DRS, Vincent says,  

I love that what we do at DRS truly matters. We have such a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of the young adults that live with us. I am tremendously proud of everything we have achieved, from tripling the size of the business in just a few short years, to growing our respectful and inclusive communities on campus. I’m thrilled to be leaving DRS in the very capable hands of Marion, my colleague of the past eight years, who along with the rest of the team I have every confidence will guide the business through the challenging years ahead.