Dr. Gregory Stratton is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Global Urban and Social Studies (GUSS) at RMIT University, Melbourne. His research focuses on criminology, law, and digital society, with an emphasis on wrongful convictions, media representation of crime, and the intersection of technology with criminal justice systems. He actively supervises Masters and PhD students in topics such as gendered injustice, police misconduct, and linguistic gatekeeping in legal contexts. Stratton’s work bridges academic and practical domains, including contributions to Psychology, Crime and Law , Journal of Criminology , and Digital Criminology: Crime and Justice in Digital Society . He advocates for systemic reforms in parole policies and the recognition of racial biases in justice systems. His teaching interests include miscarriages of justice, digital criminology, and media’s role in shaping public perceptions of crime. He is open to supervising research on criminal justice reform, wrongful convictions, and technology’s impact on crime investigation. Stratton’s interdisciplinary approach integrates sociology, cultural studies, and legal frameworks to address contemporary challenges in the justice sector.
Dr Nikki Brunker is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Education and Social Work. She convenes the MTeach Foundations program and teaches courses like EDMT5676: Teaching and Learning and EDMT5502: Teachers and Learners - School Communities . Her research focuses on children's social/emotional wellbeing, alternative schooling models, and innovative qualitative methodologies. Education Background: PhD (Sydney) and BEd (Hons) (Sydney). Prior to academia, she worked as a teacher and principal in mainstream and alternative schools. Her research explores topics such as ITE pedagogy, democratic education, and transitions from home education to teaching roles. Research Projects: Current initiatives include studies on democratic school teachers' educational philosophies (with QUT's Dr Rebecca English) and the experiences of home-educated individuals entering teaching. She employs post-qualitative and arts-informed methodologies, including Lawrence Lightfoot's portraiture techniques modified with patchwork approaches. Awards: Notable recognitions include the 2014 NSW IER Beth Southwell Award for her PhD thesis on educational portraiture, and Excellence in Teaching Awards from the University of Sydney (2010, 2013 nomination). Supervision & Grants: Oversees Honours projects on topics like teacher wellbeing and inclusion/exclusion dynamics. Secured grants including a 2016 Faculty Education Innovation Grant for assessment practice research. Currently supervises Brett Rolfe's project on disruptive humanistic innovations in schools.
Elizabeth S Anderson is a Professor at Leicester Medical School, University of Leicester, where she serves as the Patient Safety Lead and leads the Patient and Carer Group. She has made significant contributions to interprofessional education (IPE), public health, and medical education. Her research focuses on interprofessional education , patient safety , and healthcare for marginalized populations . She has pioneered patient and carer involvement in professional teaching and contributed to public health initiatives such as the 'back to sleep' campaign through her early work on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Her scholarship emphasizes theoretical grounding in learning and service innovation. Anderson was awarded the National Teaching Fellow by the Higher Education Academy in 2007, named a CAIPE Fellow in 2016, and became Joint Chair of CAIPE in July 2021. She has served on national boards including the Disability Partnership: The Prince of Wales Advisory Group on Disability and the UK Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education. She has led a regional interprofessional education strategy across three Midlands universities since 2001 and continues to shape policy and practice in healthcare education. Her leadership includes developing Prince Philip House as a multidisciplinary health center, reflecting her commitment to integrated care and equity.
Dr. Elaine Carnegie is a Lecturer at the School of Health and Social Care , Edinburgh Napier University, affiliated with the Population and Public Health Research Group . Her work spans themes of Health and Culture and Communities , focusing on environmental health, social justice, public health communication, and non-communicable disease prevention. Education: Master of Medical Science in Primary and Community Care Nursing Doctorate Research Interests: Elaine investigates intersections between environmental health , air pollution , and non-communicable diseases in urban and industrial contexts. She specializes in HPV vaccine communication for marginalized groups, addressing barriers to uptake through critical discourse analysis and participatory methods. Her interdisciplinary work with urban geographers explores population density and health outcomes, emphasizing social justice and equitable resource distribution. Scientific Contributions: Principal investigator for projects on secondhand smoke exposure among respiratory nurses (funded by the Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists, £8,077). Collaborator on studies linking petrochemical pollution to chronic kidney disease in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. Co-developer of a cross-cultural HPV engagement model in Scotland. Advising: Elaine supervises postgraduate research on topics including dementia care (Scholastica Odum, MRes), pregnancy support services (Alix Aitken-Arbuckle, PhD), and health disparities in oil-exposed communities (Ogochukwu Okoye, PhD). She is a member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and contributes to policy briefs on environmental health.
Dr David Jackson is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Visualisation at Manchester Metropolitan University's School of Digital Arts (SODA). As SODA Doctoral Student Lead and Research Degrees Coordinator, he explores the creative application of AI in narrative contexts, focusing on audience engagement, prosody in conversational agents, and parasocial dynamics. His work includes the Audience with a Hero project (Innovate UK-funded) and co-founding Algorithms for Marginalised People (AMP) , addressing AI biases through projects like Mood/Music . Research interests: His practice-led work bridges AI, digital storytelling, and immersive technologies. Key areas include conversational agent design, reparative approaches to algorithmic bias, transdisciplinary methodologies, and the psychological impact of voice-based interactions in VR environments. He investigates how prosodic features (tone, pitch, pace) affect audience perception of synthetic voices and the role of parasocial relationships in shaping interactions with digital personas. Scientific contributions: Notable works include the Storybox conversational agent framework and the D-PAF conversational storytelling methodology. His AHRC post-doctoral fellowship (2018) advanced techniques for integrating audience psychology into AI-driven narrative systems. Selected publications: Recent articles examine generative AI's cultural biases in creative education ( Brazilian Creative Industries Journal , 2023), speech-led VR documentaries ( XR-Metaverse Cases , 2023), and chatbot development for Shakespearean narratives ( Expert Systems with Applications , 2021). His 2026 book Listening In: How Audio Surveillance became Artificial Intelligence will explore surveillance technology's evolution.
Dr Katerina Cerna is an Assistant Professor (Associate Senior Lecturer) at the School of Information Technology, Halmstad University, Sweden. She leads research on participatory and more-than-human design, embedding learning sciences, sustainability and care ethics into technology development. She coordinates work in the REBEL research programme, is Area Leader for Participation in CAISR Health, and drives projects such as PadAI, Grow 2B Well and PAS-SAP. Education: PhD in Education Sciences, University of Gothenburg Research Interests: Her scholarship converges around enabling meaningful participation in design processes, especially for marginalised or vulnerable groups. Current strands include: Mental-health technology co-designed with young adults (PadAI) Embodied and multispecies engagements with plants for urban wellbeing (Grow 2B Well) Care-full participatory design with older adults (ACCESS, Demokit) Proxy-user methods for hard-to-reach populations (PAS-SAP) Publications at a glance: The 2022-2025 corpus reveals an intensifying focus on mental health support systems , multispecies and more-than-human design , and care-centred participatory methods . Qualitative, ethnographic and design-research methodologies dominate, often applied in contexts of ageing, disability, youth mental health and environmental sustainability. Scientific Awards & Fellowships: No specific awards listed; recognition is implicit through sustained funding (REBEL, CAISR Health, ACCESS, PadAI, PAS-SAP, Grow 2B Well). Advising & Grants: Principal investigator/supervisor on PadAI (participatory AI for youth mental health) Area Leader for Participation – CAISR Health Work-package leader – REBEL programme “Re-imagining Future Smart Living” Coordinator – ACCESS (postdoc project on older adults’ digital literacy) Workshop leader – I.N.S.E.C.T. summer camps on multispecies design Labs & Teams: She is embedded in the REBEL collective – an interdisciplinary group of researchers, designers and practitioners re-imagining inclusive futures. She collaborates closely with the CAISR Health research environment and has ongoing partnerships with Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, Umeå University, Bergen University and Salzburg University.
Professor Angela Dew is the Discipline Lead for Disability and Inclusion at Deakin University's School of Health and Social Development within the Faculty of Health. With over 40 years of experience in the Australian disability sector and academic work since 2011, she leads the Disability and Inclusion research stream, focusing on participatory and co-designed research involving people with disability and complex support needs, including those from refugee backgrounds. Professor Dew earned her PhD from The University of Sydney in 2011 and completed her Masters (Hons) from the University of Western Sydney in 2005. Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to disability inclusion and rights-based approaches to research and practice. Her research centers on understanding the lived experiences of people with disability and their families, with particular attention to those from refugee backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and rural and regional settings. Professor Dew employs innovative arts-based research methods and maintains a strong human rights framework in all her work. Her research interests span complex support needs, LGBTQI issues in disability, dementia, abuse prevention, and sexuality and relationships. She fundamentally believes that 'all people are entitled to fairness, equity and a good life,' which drives her research and teaching philosophy. Professor Dew's publication record reveals a consistent focus on disability inclusion, with increasing emphasis on intersectional approaches that examine how disability intersects with refugee status, cultural background, and geographic location. Her recent work shows sophisticated methodological approaches, particularly in arts-based methods like body mapping and photovoice, which empower participants to express their experiences in non-traditional ways. As an educator, Professor Dew teaches in the postgraduate Masters of Disability and Inclusion program and contributes to undergraduate units. She actively supervises PhD students working on diverse aspects of disability research, including Phuong Do, Tom Voigt, Jane Adams, Peter Conway, and Simone Rowe, among others. Professor Dew has secured significant research funding from the National Disability Research Partnership, Australian Research Council Discovery, and UNSW Disability Innovation Institute. Her major projects include 'Co-designing Resources to Increase Access to Information and Services' for Syrian and Iraqi people with disability from refugee backgrounds, 'Women marginalised by mental health, disability or refugee status,' and 'Planning for a better life under the National Disability Insurance Scheme' for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability.
Dr. Natasha Ginnivan is an Adjunct Lecturer and Senior Research Associate with the School of Population Health at the University of New South Wales. She serves as an Associate Investigator with the Ageing Futures Institute, where her research focuses on psychology and attitudes to ageing, stigma and ageing, and self-perceptions of ageing. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from UNSW, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology from Macquarie University, and a PhD in Population Health, Psychology & Ageing from the Australian National University. Dr. Ginnivan's research encompasses the lived experience of ageing and dementia, with particular focus on ageing in marginalised populations, including ageing prisoners. Her current research investigates elder abuse in the form of financial abuse and drug mule scams, alongside ageing prisoner health. She has pioneered innovative methodologies using immersive art-based approaches and virtual reality to engage with the embodied, sensory and affective experience of living with dementia. Her work often intersects criminology, gerontology, and digital health technologies. Her publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to prisoner health research, particularly for older adults in the justice system. The trajectory of her work shows progression from examining media portrayals of older people to specialized studies on ageing prisoners and dementia in custodial settings, increasingly incorporating advanced methodologies including virtual reality and text mining of research literature. Best Paper presentation by a student, Emerging Researchers in Ageing Conference, ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research, University of New South Wales, November, 2011, $250 ANU Vice-Chancellor travel grant $3000 (travelling to the Philippines for field work / data collection), December, 2011 Dr. Ginnivan has secured multiple research grants totaling over $1 million, including funding from the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, Australian Human Rights Institute, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research. Her projects address ageism interventions, dementia care pathways, and the specific needs of older prisoners. She collaborates extensively with multidisciplinary teams across psychology, criminology, public health, and digital technology fields. Notable projects include SEASONS (Shifting Expectations and Age Stereotypes of Older persons), DECODE (Daily-life Contexts and perceived Age-based judgements in a Lab without Walls), and ASCAPE (Audio App-delivered Screening for Cognition and Age-related Health in Older Prisoners). She is actively involved with creative research initiatives such as 'The Visit' and 'Course of Empathy,' which utilize virtual reality technology to build understanding of dementia experiences and promote empathy. Her work has been presented at major international conferences including IEEE VR, International Conference on Interactive Storytelling, and the World Psychiatric Association Congress.
Dr. Valerie McTaggart is an Academic Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of Business at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo Campus. She also serves as a Principal Investigator at the Centre for Research in Social Professions (CRiSP). Beyond academia, she acts as an evaluation expert for the European Commission and contributes to the COST working group REAL, focusing on digital technologies in civic engagement and democracy. Education : PhD in Engineering and Technology (2016–2022), Dublin City University (DCU) MSc in Consumer Buying Behaviour (2002–2004), Liverpool John Moores University Diploma in Teaching and Learning (2008), University of Galway Bachelor in Quality and Food Standards Agency (1997–1999), Queen Margaret University Research Interests : Valerie’s work explores Digital Transformation leadership, AI integration in business, Disruptive Technology analysis, and Remote Working dynamics. She also investigates Digital Humanities and Digital Marginalisation, particularly how IT-driven changes affect organizational structures and societal engagement. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges technology, management, and social sciences. Scientific Awards : Customer Professional of the Year (2006) PhD Contribution to Knowledge (2023) Public Sector Digital Transformation Awards (2024) Advising & Grants : Valerie is actively accepting PhD students and holds external roles such as Expert in the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program (2024–present) and Principal Investigator for RELINK2 (2024–2028). These roles highlight her engagement in large-scale research initiatives and policy-related projects. Labs/Teams : As Principal Investigator at CRiSP, she leads research in social professions, emphasizing digital technologies’ societal impact. Her collaborations span institutions in Alaska, Hawaii, and other regions, reflecting a global research network focused on digital transformation and civic engagement.
Dr. Neil Crawford is a Lecturer in International Politics & Public Policy at the University of Stirling, Scotland. His research focuses on climate/environmental justice, forced migration, urbanism, gender/sexuality, international organizations, and East African politics. He holds a fellowship from the Higher Education Academy and contributes to the Centre for Policy, Conflict and Co-operation Research (CPCCR). Neil’s work emphasizes qualitative methods such as art-based and ethnographic research. His recent publications (2023–2025) explore themes like UNHCR policy dynamics in Nairobi, intersectionality in climate justice, and disaster displacement in Bangladesh. Earlier work includes analyses of urban refugee camps and Scotland’s climate emergency responses. Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Labs/Groups: Centre for Policy, Conflict and Co-operation Research (CPCCR) His research bridges theoretical and applied perspectives, advocating for decolonial methodologies and equity-focused climate policies. Current projects include visualising urban climate crises and improving data on climate-induced mobility in Zambia.
Professor Anna McNamara is a leading academic and educator at the University of Surrey, serving as Director of Internationalisation at the Guildford School of Acting (GSA), part of the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences and affiliated with the Surrey Institute of Education. She holds the academic rank of Professor and has previously held key leadership roles including Director of Learning and Teaching and Interim Head of School. Her work spans actor training, inclusive pedagogy, crisis management, and gender equity in the creative industries. PhD in Contemporary Actor Training, University of Surrey MA in Education BA Theatre Studies, Rose Bruford College Diploma in Dance Education (DDE), ISTD Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), University of Gloucestershire Anna’s research focuses on transformative pedagogies in performing arts education, with an emphasis on inclusivity, student voice, and decolonising curricula. She has pioneered initiatives such as the Be the Change digital conference and book series, which bring together global experts to reimagine actor training. Her work integrates playful learning, flipped classrooms, and intimacy coordination into conservatoire education. Her recent publications include edited volumes such as Actor Trainers on Acting: for the Twenty-First Century (Routledge, 2024), Inspire: Learning for Teaching in Higher Education (Nova, 2024), and the groundbreaking The Women Who Shaped UK Actor Training (Routledge, 2024), which centers the contributions of women in UK drama education. Her articles explore themes of lived experience, crisis leadership, and gender empowerment, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary and action-oriented approach. Anna has received numerous accolades for her teaching and leadership, including: National Teaching Fellow (NTF) Principal Fellow of Advance HE (PFHEA) Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) University of Surrey Vice Chancellor’s Award for Teacher of the Year (2017) Finalist, Creative Businesswoman, Great British Businesswoman Awards (2023/24) She actively supervises PhD candidates in theatre and dance, has served on multiple university and faculty committees, and acts as an external examiner for institutions across the UK. Her outreach includes national inclusion projects with Get Into Theatre and The Mousetrap Foundation, supporting underrepresented youth in accessing creative careers. She also chairs a primary school governing board and is involved in LIPA Sixth Form College’s local governance. Anna leads the GSA People’s Network initiative to diversify staff recruitment and has developed mental health training with Mental Health England. She founded the GSA Gillian Lynne Choreography Competition and other student voice initiatives, reinforcing her commitment to student empowerment and institutional change.
Deborah Husbands is a Reader in Race and Sociocultural Psychology at the University of Westminster's School of Social Sciences, affiliated with the Centre for Psychological Sciences. She co-chairs the University's Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, co-founded and co-chairs the BME Network, and leads the Black History Year programme. Additionally, she serves as Outreach Coordinator for the School of Social Sciences and chairs the Psychologist and Digest Editorial Advisory Committee for the British Psychological Society. Her educational background includes: BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Westminster, 2009 (First-Class Honours) PhD in Black and Minority Ethnic psychology student experiences in higher education (2019), focusing on Black women's identity construction and sense of belonging Dr. Husbands employs qualitative methods (thematic analysis, IPA, content analysis) with critical race theories to investigate marginalized experiences in higher education. Her work centers on identity construction, intersectionality, ethnicity, gender, sense of belonging, and the impostor phenomenon, aiming to improve retention, satisfaction, and progression for underrepresented students through pluralistic frameworks. Her scientific recognition includes: Elizabeth de Lowernthal Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy Associate Fellowship of the British Psychological Society She supervises PhD researchers including Khalid Uddin (collective identity development among migrant workers), Daniella Sykes, Iris Sirendi (Cripping the Collections project), and Isang Emeneka (music/memory in racially minoritised communities). Her research funding includes: SRHE (2024) : 'I’m an impostor! Get me out of here!' project on impostor phenomenon AHRC (2023) : W-ICAD development for inclusive museum interpretation AHRC (2021) : 'I don’t see what you mean' co-created museum audio project NIHR (2021) : AUDITED health information chatbot study Leverhulme Trust (2021) : Disinformation sharing motivations research Dr. Husbands leads the Black History Year programme and BME Network, organizing conferences and workshops addressing racial inequality across academia, industry, politics, and mental health through critical dialogues and community engagement.
Khalid Hossain is a Research Fellow in the Department of Human Centred Computing at the Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University. His research focuses on community informatics, environmental informatics, and digital citizenship for disadvantaged communities, particularly through the PROTIC2 and PROTIC III projects in Bangladesh. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (Management), RMIT University, Australia (Australian Leadership Award Scholar) Master of Diplomacy and Trade, Monash University, Australia (Australian Development Scholarship) Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) His research interests span climate change adaptation, sustainability, ICT for Development (ICT4D), governance, and natural resource management. His work strongly aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in equity, climate action, and sustainable communities. His recent publications reflect a strong trend in applying information technology and data systems to empower marginalized communities, improve healthcare through digital records, and enhance climate resilience using renewable energy and participatory design. He explores how AI and big data can be leveraged in developing economies, especially in sectors like textiles. Scientific Awards: Dean’s Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (2024) Industry Partnerships Seed Fund (2022) Khalid has collaborated with doctoral students and academics on major research initiatives. He has secured funding for impactful projects such as 'Active Maternal and Child Health Climate Resilience in Indo-Pacific Region' and 'Protic III - Information Empowered Communities and Indigenous Data Sovereignty in the Global South'. His grants reflect a strong focus on interdisciplinary, community-centered research with real-world applications in development contexts. He is a key member of the Impact Labs research group at Monash, working on participatory research models that emphasize ownership, technology access, and information equity for Indigenous and disadvantaged populations in the Global South.
Dr. Elaine Bidmead is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Cumbria, specializing in health and social inequalities. She is affiliated with the Inequalities and Marginalised Communities theme of the NIHR ARC NENC and collaborates on projects addressing digital health innovation and community participation in research. Research Interests: Qualitative research in health and social inequality. Adoption of digital innovation in healthcare and care delivery. Public involvement and community engagement (PICE) in research processes. Recent Publications: Elaine's work focuses on digital health implementation, pandemic impacts on communities, and socioeconomic disparities in healthcare access. Her studies span telemedicine, indices of deprivation, and remote diagnostic solutions. Labs/Teams: Elaine contributes to the University of Cumbria’s Cumbrian Centre for Health Technologies and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on NIHR ARC NENC initiatives.
Dr Waqas Tufail is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the School of Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University. His work bridges academic research, activism, and policy critique, focusing on the intersections of race, crime, and policing. Key research areas include: Racialisation of crime and anti-racism Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism Critical policing studies Media representation of criminality Decolonising criminology His research on the racialised framing of UK 'grooming gang' scandals has had significant policy impact, notably influencing a 2020 Home Office report. He co-founded the Northern Police Monitoring Project, a grassroots initiative addressing police harassment. Current supervised doctoral research explores the far-right's impact on ethnic minority perceptions of Britishness. Waqas collaborates with international human rights organisations and contributes to public discourse through media commentary.
