The Canberra Institute of Technology's embattled chief executive has resigned and will be paid a settlement of more than $440,000.
Margot McNeill said in a statement on Tuesday night she had made the tremendously difficult decision to resign but remained fully committed to the institute.
"It has become clear that this decision is in the best interest of the CIT community, especially students and staff, about whom I care deeply. Equally, it is in my best interest, including that of my family," Dr McNeill said.
"I have been, and indeed remain, fully committed to CIT and it has been a source of great pride to have led this much-loved Canberra institution and to relocate here to Canberra."
Tom Rogers, the chair of the institute's board, on Wednesday confirmed Dr McNeill would be paid a settlement of about $445,000.
"It's the figure that was agreed on after looking at a whole range of factors," Mr Rogers told ABC radio.
Mr Rogers said he and the board was happy with the outcome of the process and the institute could now move on.
Dr McNeill, who started as CIT chief executive in June 2025, had been on leave since June 2026 and the appointment of an acting chief executive and a deputy chief executive was formally announced last week.
Mr Rogers said the acting chief executive would remain in the post for at least a couple of months.
Dr McNeill pointed to a 10 per cent increase in enrolments, improved staff engagement and a strong uptake of diploma-to-bachelor pathways with the University of Canberra under her leadership of the institute.
"Sector leaders encouraged me to apply for this role in recognition of my extensive expertise in tertiary harmonisation and education excellence," she said.
"It was a dream opportunity to use my experience and leadership to position CIT as a hub for innovation during such an exciting period in tertiary education transformation."
Dr McNeill said she continued to be passionate about the vocational education and training sector.
"I have dedicated 40 years of my life to expanding pathways for quality training and education, having been recognised as a sector leader in advocating for integrity and leveraging technologies. I continue to be 100 per cent committed to this cause," she said.
Mr Rogers said the board had accepted Dr McNeill's resignation late on Tuesday and would need to meet to consider its next steps.
A parliamentary committee last week found Dr McNeill should be investigated for breaching public service standards after taking an "overly litigious and combative approach" to a separate parliamentary inquiry.
The committee stopped short of finding Dr McNeill in contempt of the Assembly, instead saying it was unable with any confidence to say whether or not she was in contempt.
The earlier parliamentary inquiry found Dr McNeill had "actively misled" the board by denying there was a finding of misconduct made against her.
Dr McNeill did not disclose that she was under investigation by her previous employer during the recruitment process for the CIT chief executive position.
A review of the CIT recruitment process completed by Carmel McGregor found no probity issues with the recruitment process.
Dr McNeill is suing TAFE NSW after being terminated from her previous role.
A lawyer for Dr McNeill said "medical issues" and involvement in several inquiries had delayed the case when it was mentioned in the NSW Supreme Court on July 9.
The NSW Supreme Court heard last week that Dr McNeill was seeking a judicial review of the reclassification of the end of her employment with TAFE NSW.
The matter is due to be heard in September.
