Peter Larsen co-founded Navitas in 1994 and retired from the board in 2014. Dr Larsen was formerly the principal of the Perth Institute of Business & Technology, and has also been a teacher, head of department and executive director in both the government and private education sectors. He has been a professional educator and educational leader for over 35 years, and played a key role in the re-definition of private–public relationships in Australian higher education. He is also widely recognised for his founding role in increasing participation rates in higher education for Australian and international students, and for his focus on academic standards and student welfare. In 2008, Dr Larsen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Education from Edith Cowan University for his founding role in increasing participation rates in higher education for national and international students.
