Clare Hall is a Senior Lecturer in Performing Arts at the School of Curriculum Teaching & Inclusive Education, Monash University. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on social justice, equity, and cultural diversity through arts engagements, particularly in music and sociology. She holds a PhD and a BA in Music Performance from the Victorian College of the Arts. Her work addresses gender, class, ethnicity, and neurodiversity in education and the arts, supported by grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC). Key Projects: Singing Indigenous Languages Collective (SILC): Revitalizing First Nations languages through song Neurocomplexity Collaboratory: Fostering neurodiversity in education Decolonising and Indigenising Music Education (Routledge, 2024) Research Interests: Intersectionality in music education Queer and feminist methodologies Neurodiversity in teaching professions Indigenous language revitalization Awards: Award for Doctoral Research in Education (2013) Mollie Holman Doctoral Medal (2013) Teaching Commitment: Courses including EDF5860, EDF3065, and EDF2078, emphasizing transdisciplinary arts pedagogies.
Saba Joshi is a Lecturer in the Department of Politics at the University of York, where she contributes to research and teaching in political science, gender studies, and international development. Her work is centered on gender, land dispossession, and resistance in South and Southeast Asia. Education: PhD in International Relations and Political Science, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (2020) Masters in International Studies (Politics), Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (2012) Master's in Politics and International Relations, Jawaharlal Nehru University (2009) BA in History (Honours), St Stephen's College, University of Delhi (2007) Her research interests lie at the intersection of feminist political ecology, legal geographies, and agrarian transformation, with a focus on women's resistance to land grabbing, gendered impacts of climate change, and decolonial research practices. She employs qualitative, ethnographic, and feminist methodologies to examine how marginalized communities, particularly women, navigate dispossession and assert agency. The trends in her recent publications reveal a strong thematic consistency: gendered resistance to land dispossession, feminist legal geographies, and the contradictions of international development governance. Her work critically engages with how gender expertise is institutionalized (or marginalized) in food security and land governance policies, especially in Cambodia and India. She also contributes to methodological debates on decolonizing research and feminist epistemologies. Scientific Awards: Enloe Award (2022) Saba Joshi is the Principal Investigator on multiple funded research projects, including those supported by The British Academy, focusing on gender, agriculture, climate change, and land-use change in South and Southeast Asia. She actively supervises PhD students and collaborates with international scholars. Her work bridges academic research with activism, emphasizing participatory and ethical research practices. She is actively involved in academic networks and has presented her research in seminars, workshops, and international conferences, contributing to global dialogues on land justice, feminist theory, and decolonial scholarship.
Giorgia Dona is Professor at the University of East London's Business and Law school, specializing in forced migration, refugee studies, and decolonial approaches to displacement. Her research examines asylum systems in Italy, France and the UK, digital equity in humanitarian contexts, and psychosocial impacts on displaced youth. Recent work explores carceral aspects of asylum accommodation, mental health outcomes for young migrants in Iceland, and the emotional labor of digital service provision. She critically engages with technologies of border governance while advocating for ethical participatory research with displaced communities. Her publications demonstrate sustained focus on child protection frameworks, diaspora knowledge production, and decolonization of refugee paradigms through collaborative methodologies.
Professor Michaela Benson is Professor of Public Sociology at Lancaster University's School of Social Sciences. She is internationally recognised for her leadership in Migration Studies and Urban Sociology, with her work critically examining Brexit and migration, lifestyle migration, class, space and place, and self-build housing. Since 2022 she also serves as Chief Executive of The Sociological Review , a charitable foundation advancing public sociology. Education & Recognition: Michaela holds a PhD and was elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) in 2025. Research Interests: Her research agenda centres on the intersections of migration, citizenship, and urban life, with a particular focus on how these phenomena are reshaped by Brexit. She explores lifestyle migration as a lens on class, coloniality, and identity, and interrogates the meanings of home and housing through self-build practices. Her work is marked by a commitment to reflexive, empirical methodologies and public engagement. Scholarly Output: Across more than 60 publications, her recent articles span critiques of post-Brexit bordering practices, the colonial legacies shaping UK migration regimes, and innovative pedagogies in sociology. A consistent theme is the biopolitical and geopolitical dimensions of migration governance, analysed through ethnographic and multi-sensory methods. Awards & Fellowships: Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) – 2025 British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship – 2020-2021 Research Funding & Projects: Brexit, citizens’ rights and British Citizens in the EU-27 5 years on – ESRC consultancy (2025) Rebordering Britain and Britons after Brexit (MIGZEN) – ESRC (2021-2024) BrExpats: Freedom of Movement, Citizenship and Brexit in the lives of Britons resident in the European Union – ESRC (2017-2019) PhD Supervision & Research Groups: She welcomes doctoral researchers working on migration and citizenship, Brexit, class, home and housing, and urban sociology, especially those employing qualitative or ethnographic methods. She is affiliated with the Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities and the Centre for Health Futures .
Dr Carolina Escobar-Tello is a Senior Lecturer and Postgraduate Year Tutor in the Design School at Loughborough University, part of the School of Design and Creative Arts. She holds a PhD in 'Design for Happiness' from Loughborough University (2010) and has professional experience across government and industry, including DEFRA and UNICEF. Her research focuses on sustainability, happiness, and wellbeing, with a particular emphasis on social innovation and systemic approaches to design. Education: MSc Sustainable Product Design (Distinction, Bournemouth University), BA (Hons) Industrial Design (Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia). She co-leads the Design Research Society’s Sustainability Special Interest Group (SustainabilitySIG) and founded Riant by Design, a company promoting sustainable and happier lifestyles through design frameworks. In 2013, she won the HE Social Entrepreneurship Award for her 'Design for Happiness' toolkit. Her work bridges academia and industry, emphasizing participatory methods and cultural contexts in design. Research areas include decolonial design, healthcare systems, art therapy techniques for wellbeing, and service design for marginalized communities. She currently supervises four PhD students exploring sustainable societies and social innovation. Grants & Projects: Funded research on textile artisan communities, healthcare systems, and cultural contexts in service design. Labs/Teams: Co-leads SustainabilitySIG; collaborates with Riant by Design.
Spencer Swain is an Associate Professor in Social Sciences at York St John University, leading the School of Education, Languages and Psychology as its Research Lead and directing postgraduate taught programmes. He co-leads the Inclusion, Society and Education research group and serves as Associate Editor for the International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure . His research focuses on identity, migration, and inequality, particularly the British-Somali diaspora and educational disparities linked to class, decoloniality, and place. His work has influenced national/international policies (e.g., House of Lords, WHO) and is disseminated through journals, books, and media outlets like The Guardian and BBC Radio. He emphasizes anti-racist pedagogy, equitable teaching practices, and has received student nominations for inclusive practice awards. Research projects include examining barriers to higher education for coastal communities and service children, funded by NCOP, Office for Students, and others. He investigates leisure’s role in social justice, including goalball’s community value and grime music’s cultural significance. Professional roles include Secretary of the Leisure Studies Association, Race Equality Charter representative, and Decolonising the Curriculum coordinator. His teaching spans sociology, politics, and cultural studies, with a focus on gender, race, migration, and social justice. Key achievements include a four-star REF 2021 rating for research on British-Somali males’ experiences and contributions to anti-racist curriculum reform. He actively engages in public talks, media commentary, and interdisciplinary collaborations to bridge academic and community spheres.
Gillian Stokes is an Associate Professor of Inclusive Social Research at the Social Research Institute, UCL Institute of Education. Her work bridges health, social equity, and decolonisation in research, with a focus on systematic reviews and qualitative methods. Stokes also contributes to editorial roles as Editor of the Journal of Ethnic and Racial Studies and Associate Editor of Research for All. Doctor of Philosophy, University College London (2019) Master of Science, University of Kent (2008) Bachelor of Science, Middlesex University (2006) Her research spans systematic reviews , decolonisation , and AI's equity implications , addressing topics like cardiovascular risk communication, co-production in evidence synthesis, and the marginalisation of African/Caribbean communities. Recent publications highlight decolonial frameworks in research AI equity mental health disparities methodological innovations Scientific awards include Fellowships from the Royal Society of Medicine and Public Health, alongside multiple student excellence prizes. She mentors African and Caribbean youth in STEM and founded ACHWA (African and Caribbean Heritage Women Authors). Stokes supervises PhD research on sociological and public health topics and teaches qualitative methods, systematic reviews, and race/diversity courses. She serves on UCL's Academic Board and as Head of Staff Development.
Dr. Kerem Nisancioglu, a researcher at the Department of Politics and International Studies (SOAS University of London), contributes to critical international relations, postcolonial theory, and historical sociology. His work interrogates Eurocentrism, colonial legacies, and capitalism's geopolitical origins. Key research areas: International Relations, Decolonization, Historical Materialism, Critical Race Theory His scholarship spans 2013–2025 , focusing on: Decolonizing academic institutions ( Decolonising the University , 2018) Colonialism's role in capitalist development ( How The West Came to Rule , 2015) Racial dimensions of sovereignty ( Racial Sovereignty , 2019) Ottoman Empire's impact on global capitalism ( Combination as Foreign Policy , 2016) Student activism against university outsourcing ( Counter-Conduct in the University Factory , 2016)
Angela Viora is a Lecturer in European Languages at Monash University, Faculty of Arts, within the School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics. She specializes in Italian Studies, integrating language education with interdisciplinary research in performance, migration, and art. Her teaching spans Italian language, culture, and European studies, and she actively contributes to curriculum innovation, particularly in decolonizing language education. She is based in Melbourne, Australia, and holds a PhD from Monash University in Theatre and Performance. PhD in Theatre and Performance, Monash University (2019) MA in Visual and Performing Arts, Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti di Torino (2012) Academic Diploma (Hons) in Fine Arts and Art History, Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti di Torino (2007) Her research centers on performance studies, migration, embodiment, and space, with a strong emphasis on practice-as-research. She explores identity, belonging, and the socio-political dimensions of art through site-specific and socially engaged performances. Her creative work often addresses the Italian diaspora, domestic space during lockdowns, and the body as a political and emotional site. Her recent publications and artistic outputs show a consistent focus on interdisciplinary performance, pedagogical innovation, and migration narratives. The 2025 monograph The Ecology of the Performance Art Process synthesizes years of practice-led inquiry into fragmentation, union, and reconfiguration in art. Other works like The P.R.omised Land and B.O.D.Y. The Bureau of Domestic Yearning reflect on migration and domesticity through embodied performance. ACIS Publishing Grants Scheme Award (2024) Decolonising and Indigenising European Languages at Monash University: Professional Development of Educators (2024) LLCL Education Funding - Recruiting and retaining students in European Languages (2024) Angela Viora supervises PhD students and is an active researcher in multiple collaborative projects, including the PhotoVOICE initiative with Monash and the University of Padua. She is a member of the Brimbank Arts Advisory Committee and participates in working groups focused on student engagement and decolonizing curricula. Her artistic projects often involve community collaboration and public engagement, reflecting her commitment to socially responsive scholarship.
Rachel Johnson is a Lecturer in Film Studies at the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds. Her research and teaching focus on film institutions, particularly film festivals, exhibition, curation, and cinephilia, with a strong commitment to decolonial and critical theoretical frameworks. She actively collaborates with local and international film organizations, including Leeds International Film Festival and Festival Films Femmes Afrique. Educational Background: PhD in Film Studies, University of Leeds MA in European Culture and Thought: Culture, University College London BA in English Literature and Italian, University of Leeds Her research explores cinematic justice, African cinemas, migration cinema, and Italian cinema through decolonial lenses such as pluriversality and the colonial matrix of power. She is particularly interested in how film institutions like festivals and archives value, share, and mobilize cinema, often challenging dominant hierarchies and canons. Her recent work emphasizes marginalized perspectives in cinephilia and co-curation as a decolonial practice. Her publications reveal a consistent trajectory in analyzing ideological structures within European A-list film festivals, especially regarding the representation of migration and Italian cinema. She has developed a method of ideology critique rooted in Lacanian and Žižekian theory, examining festival apparatuses, paratexts, and film texts to uncover power dynamics. Her work spans monographs, peer-reviewed articles, policy reports, and public writing, reflecting a commitment to both scholarly and public engagement. Scientific Contributions and Recognition: Author of Film Festivals, Ideology and Italian Art Cinema (Amsterdam University Press, 2023) Co-investigator on Canada Research Council-funded project Decolonizing Film Festival Research in a Post-Pandemic World Co-founder of the New Voices in Cinephilia network with Professor Stephanie Dennison Active member of NECS, BAFTSS, and IAMHIST Rachel Johnson supervises PhD students on topics including Pan-African film history, puzzle films, and decolonial cinema, and mentors practice-based research in videographic criticism and podcast documentaries. She is deeply involved in public film culture as co-director of Leeds Cineforum and collaborator with Hyde Park Picture House. Her grants and collaborative projects reflect a strong commitment to social justice, institutional critique, and empowering marginalized voices in global film culture. Research Labs and Teams: Centre for World Cinemas and Digital Cultures, University of Leeds New Voices in Cinephilia network (co-founded) Italian Cinemas/Italian Histories project (collaborator) Practice Research SIG, BAFTSS
Dr. Susan Williams is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London. She is a historian specializing in 20th/21st-century African history, Cold War espionage, and the United Nations' role in decolonisation. Her groundbreaking research combines archival analysis, oral histories, and visual evidence to expose covert operations by Western powers in Africa. PhD, MA, BA Hons (First Class) Research Interests: Williams investigates the intersections of imperialism, nuclear weapons development, and postcolonial justice. Her work challenges conventional narratives about African state failure by documenting CIA interventions in Ghana, Congo, and UN operations during decolonisation. Key themes include: Covert neocolonial operations African nationalist movements UN's role in decolonisation Nuclear material extraction in Congo Historical memory and reparations Article Trends: Recent publications focus on CIA activities in postcolonial Africa, Dag Hammarskjöld's death investigation, and Congolese uranium's link to Hiroshima. Keywords reveal Cold War geopolitics (40%), UN history (30%), and neocolonialism (30%). Sub-fields emphasize aircraft sabotage (15%), nuclear hegemony (15%), and historical revisionism (70%). Scientific Awards: 2023 Windham-Campbell Prize for Nonfiction Advising & Grants: Supervises PhD research on Northern Rhodesian independence movements. Collaborates with UN Panel of Experts on Hammarskjöld inquiry. Recipient of multiple research grants for declassified document investigations. Labs & Teams: Works with UNA Westminster on international conferences. Collaborates with Dr. Mandy Banton on Commonwealth research seminars and joint publications. Provides historical consultancy for film productions like A United Kingdom and BBC documentaries.
Dr. Billian Otundo is a postdoctoral researcher at the Cluster of Excellence Africa Multiple and habilitation candidate at the Department of English Linguistics, University of Bayreuth (Germany). She investigates multilingual African learning spaces through translanguaging frameworks, focusing on the intersection of language, identity, and digital innovations in Kenya. Her research integrates quantitative and qualitative methodologies with tools like SPSS, R, Praat, and MAXQDA. Co-convener of Postdoctoral Working Groups at Africa Multiple Collaborating with University of Cologne’s Phonetic Laboratory on Kenyan English and Kiswahili intonation Research Interests: Sociolinguistics, World Englishes, Translanguaging, Code-switching, Sociophonetics, Decolonisation of Linguistics Curriculum, and Educational Linguistics. She examines language attitudes, variation in intonation, and inclusion policies in African education systems. Scientific Awards: DFG Postdoctoral Grant (2022) TWAS-DFG Cooperation Grant (2021) NWO-WOTRO Funding (2018) BIGSAS Doctoral Fellowship (2011-2015) Dr. Otundo actively contributes to academic service as an editorial board member of the Journal of Linguistics, Literary and Communication Studies and the Africa Multiple publication series. She founded the Philippines-Kenya Education Network and consults on inclusive policy design for Kenya’s Bungoma County Government.
Dr. Victoria Odeniyi is a Research Fellow at the University of the Arts London's Decolonising Arts Institute, where she leads institutional decolonization initiatives. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Canterbury Christ Church University (2020) and a Master of Education from the University of Sheffield (2015). She has held senior academic roles including Senior Teaching Fellow at University College London (2016-2020) and Research Assistant on the Mellon-funded Reading Peer Review project (2018-2019). Her research focuses on multilingualism, decolonial pedagogy, and educational equity. Key projects include the Reimagining Conversations initiative (2020-2022) promoting multilingualism in arts education and editorial leadership for the In Other Words Dictionary Project . She supervises doctoral research in language studies and education, specializing in areas like colonial language structures and intercultural communication. Professional activities include committee memberships with the Professional, Work-based and Academic Literacies (PAWBL) SIG and peer review roles for journals like Language Assessment Quarterly . She is affiliated with UCL's International Centre for Intercultural Studies and actively contributes to international conferences on decolonial methodologies and linguistic equity.
Dr. Anne-Marie McCallion is a Lecturer in Philosophy at Manchester Metropolitan University within the Department of History, Politics & Philosophy. She holds a BA from Durham University, an MA from the University of Sheffield, and a PhD from the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on decolonising philosophy and education, with current investigations into liberal justice frameworks and critiques from Marxist, critical race, and indigenous perspectives. Her research explores: Theoretical foundations of decolonisation in academic disciplines Intersections of gender, race, and philosophical discourse Critical analyses of diversity initiatives in higher education Her publications demonstrate a consistent focus on feminist philosophy and educational reform, with recent works examining women's philosophical contributions and decolonisation methodologies. Article analyses reveal strong thematic focus on gender representation, curriculum diversity, and epistemological critiques. While no scientific awards are documented, she collaborates with AQA and the British Philosophical Association to develop educational resources promoting diversity in philosophy curricula. She convenes modules including Gender, Race and Sexuality, Philosophy of Education, and Feminist Ethics, and welcomes supervision of postgraduate research in feminist ethics, Wittgenstein studies, and Marxist philosophy. She maintains active involvement with the Diversity Reading List project and is developing a podcast on underrepresented philosophical traditions funded by the University of Manchester.
Dr. Harry Kuchah Kuchah is an Associate Professor of Language, Social Justice, and Education at the University of Birmingham’s School of Education, within the Department of Education and Social Justice. He concurrently serves as Chair of the British Council English Language Advisory Group and has consulted for organizations including the British Council, the Council of Europe, and Windle Trust International. His research focuses on social and epistemic justice in language education, particularly in TESOL and English Medium Education (EME). He investigates classroom practices that decentre and decolonise education, context-appropriate pedagogies, and the impact of language policies on multilingual learners in sub-Saharan Africa. Notable projects include a British Council ELTRA study on multilingual learners in Cameroon and an ESRC-funded study on girls’ educational experiences in Rwanda. He has co-edited books including International Perspectives on Teaching English in Difficult Circumstances (2018), Ethical and Methodological Issues in Researching Young Language Learners (2021), and Teacher Research in Africa (2022). His work aligns with UN SDGs 4 and 5, emphasizing equitable education access and gender equality. Dr. Kuchah Kuchah’s professional activities include postgraduate supervision, grant leadership (e.g., British Council ELTRA project), and collaborative research with global institutions. His contributions bridge academic research with policy advocacy in multilingual educational contexts.
