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Giorgia Alù is an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, affiliated with the Department of Italian Studies within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She holds a PhD from the University of Warwick and has taught at institutions including the University of Reading. Her research focuses on intersections between literature, photography, and cultural history, with a specialization in modern Italian studies and women's writing. Education: PhD (Warwick), MA (Warwick), BA (Catania). Research Interests: Travel writing and photographic culture Italian cultural history and visual studies Photography's ethical and aesthetic dimensions WWII Italian detainees' cultural production Recent Projects: Leading an ARC Discovery Project on WWII Italian detainees' creativity and co-investigating multilingual archives in Australia. Her book projects include Sicilian mining's global impacts and Italian female photographers' roles in cultural preservation. Awards: Excellence in Teaching (2013), Senior Fellowship at Freiburg Institute (2022-2023), and multiple research grants from the University of Sydney and ARC. Teaching: Courses on Italian language, literature, and visual culture including ITLN3688 (Advanced Italian Translation) and IC LS2626 (Words & Pictures Across Cultures). Labs/Teams: Member of Sydney Environment Institute and Vere Gordon Childe Centre. Collaborates internationally on digitizing cultural heritage and migrant archives.

• Literary Studies
• Cultural History
• Visual Culture
• +5 more

Dr. Jedidiah Evans is a Lecturer in the Discipline of English and Writing at the University of Sydney, within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. His research focuses on prison writing, creative arts in corrections, and 20th-century American literature, particularly the work of Thomas Wolfe. He runs writing workshops at Parklea Correctional Centre and co-edits Paper Chained , a publication showcasing incarcerated artists' work. Evans holds a BA (Hons) from Macquarie University and a PhD from the University of Sydney. His teaching includes courses on academic writing and interdisciplinary impact. He has been recognized with awards for teaching innovation and excellence. Current projects include developing university-prison partnerships and researching the role of arts education in reducing recidivism. He also leads a scoping review of prison writing workshops' efficacy and advocates for systemic reforms in corrections and academic labor practices. Affiliations: MLA, ANZASA, ACEA Grants: 2023 Sydney Prison Arts Program (FASS External Engagement Fund) Evans' publications span literary criticism, education policy, and prison reform, with his monograph Look Abroad, Angel (2020) redefining Thomas Wolfe's global literary significance.

• Prison writing
• Prison creative arts
• Prison education
• +4 more

Amy Mullens is a Professor at the School of Psychology and Wellbeing , University of Southern Queensland. She serves as Research Theme Leader for Health Equity at the Centre for Health Research (CHR) and contributes to the Institute for Resilient Regions (IRR). Her work focuses on vulnerable communities , with emphasis on sexual health/HIV , diabetes , COPD , substance use , and health behavior change . Education : BA (St Catherine), MSc (North Dakota SU), PhD (QUT). She is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society with Clinical and Health Psychology Endorsements . Her research spans public health , gender studies , and clinical psychology , particularly transgender health , health equity , and social determinants of health . Recent work includes STI/HIV risk modeling , prison health interventions , and LGBTQIA+ mental health . Key scientific awards include: Fellow, Australian Psychological Society Clinical Psychology Endorsement Health Psychology Endorsement Accredited Supervisor (STAP) She supervises doctoral and masters students in areas like transgender incarceration , STI prevention , and health equity . Industry affiliations include clinical credentialed work with West Moreton Health Service , membership in Australasian Society of Behavioural Medicine , and advocacy through Sexual Health Society Queensland .

• Health Psychology
• Public Health
• Gender Studies
• +12 more

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.

• Performance Studies
• Italian Studies
• Migration Studies
• +12 more

Professor Evonne Miller is a leading academic at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where she holds the title of Professor of Design Psychology and serves as Director of the QUT Design Lab . Her work bridges healthcare design , participatory co-design , and planetary health , focusing on creating inclusive environments for vulnerable populations. As a Fellow of the Australian Association of Gerontology , she chaired the 56th AAG National Conference in 2023 and has pioneered innovative approaches to aged care , prison healthcare , and climate change engagement . PhD (University of Otago) Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) Her research expertise spans design thinking , arts-based knowledge translation , and health systems transformation , with over $16M AUD in competitive grants from ARC, NHMRC, and Queensland Health. Notable projects include Grief Guide AI , HEAL (Healthcare Excellence AcceLerator) , and intergenerational living campuses . She has published 140+ academic works , including books on healthcare design and creative research methods. Recent publications demonstrate her focus on AI in mental health , VR training , social prescribing , and arts-based interventions across diverse contexts like prison healthcare and voluntary assisted dying . Awards include Good Design Australia and National Communication Association recognitions, with her work influencing policy changes such as direct access to pain relievers in prisons. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy , she teaches research methods and design thinking while leading co-design workshops globally. Her advocacy for human-centered design extends to climate anxiety , disaster resilience , and everyday activism , supported by a free co-design resource repository for global practitioners.

• Design Psychology
• Healthcare Design
• Co-Design and Participatory Design
• +6 more

Professor Kelly Freebody is a leading academic in Drama Education and Social Justice within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at The University of Sydney. She holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne and has extensive experience in teacher education, curriculum development, and applied theatre. Her research focuses on the intersection of drama, creativity, and social change in educational contexts. Currently serving as Head of School for Education and Social Work, she leads initiatives bridging theory and practice in education. Her educational background includes a BArts (Drama) from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), a BEd (Secondary) with Honours from QUT, and a Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies from the University of Sydney. These qualifications underpin her expertise in both theoretical and applied aspects of education. Research interests include drama-based pedagogy for social justice, participatory theatre methodologies, and the role of creativity in fostering equity. Notable projects address prison theatre, decolonial citizenship education, and teacher training reforms. Her work often employs critical policy studies and ethnomethodology to analyze educational practices. Recent grants include collaborations on theatre and wellbeing (2023), international partnerships with the University of Toronto (2024), and advocacy for applied theatre in youth contexts (2023). She has supervised numerous research students and authored influential books such as Higher Education, Pedagogy and Social Justice (2019) and Drama and Social Justice (2016). Professor Freebody’s leadership extends to editorial roles in academic journals and advisory roles in educational policy. Her work is part of interdisciplinary teams focused on transforming education through arts integration and community engagement.

• Drama Education
• Social Justice
• Creativity Studies
• +3 more

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.

• Psychology of Ageing
• Attitudes to Ageing
• Stigma and Ageing
• +7 more

Dr. Zahra Stardust is a Lecturer in the School of Communication at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), within the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice. She holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales and advanced degrees in Gender and Cultural Studies, Law, and Modern History from the University of Sydney. Her research focuses on intersections of gender, sexuality, and technology, with particular emphasis on critical criminology, queer legal theory, and sex tech governance. **Education**: Doctor of Philosophy (UNSW) Master of Arts in Gender and Cultural Studies (USyd) Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (USyd) Bachelor of Arts in Modern History (USyd) Diploma of Legal Practice (NSW College of Law) **Research Interests**: Zahra’s work examines how technology shapes intimate labor, surveillance capitalism’s impact on queer communities, and the legal frameworks governing sex work and pornography. Her projects often involve collaborations with marginalized groups, emphasizing participatory design and policy advocacy. Recent studies include analyses of sextech use among LGBTQ+ individuals, harm-reduction strategies for chemsex, and community-led prison policy reforms for transgender detainees. **Key Contributions**: Zahra has published widely on feminist pornography, digital media governance, and sexual health equity. She co-authored submissions to Australian parliamentary committees addressing social media regulation and led projects on decriminalizing sex work. Her 2024 book Indie Porn: Revolution, Regulation and Resistance critiques corporate censorship in adult content industries. **Affiliations**: Zahra is affiliated with QUT’s Digital Media Research Centre and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S). She actively participates in global policy dialogues on technology ethics and human rights.

• Gender and Sexuality
• Critical Criminology
• Queer Legal Theory
• +7 more

Dr. Alison Baker is an Associate Professor in Youth and Community Studies at Victoria University, based in Melbourne on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. She is affiliated with the Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities and has held academic appointments at Victoria University since 2012, progressing from Senior Lecturer in Social Pedagogy (2012-2019) to her current position as Associate Professor in Community Programs (2020-present). Previously, she served as a Research Fellow in Child Well-Being and Anti-Racism at the University of Melbourne (2011-2012) and as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Victoria University. Her educational background includes a BA from the University of Memphis (2003), an MSc from North Carolina State University (2008), and a PhD from North Carolina State University (2011), all obtained in the USA. Dr. Baker's research explores how systems of inequality shape the lives, identities, and everyday experiences of young people and other marginalised communities. Drawing on critical community and liberation psychologies, feminist and critical race theories, her work is deeply grounded in participatory ethics and collective praxis. She specializes in arts-based and sound storytelling methodologies, including digital audio, zines, and documentary-inspired approaches, to support young people in making sense of and intervening in the worlds they inherit. Her research focuses on creative approaches to cultivating relational care, epistemic justice, and community-based responses to structural harm. Her publication record shows a consistent focus on youth studies, community psychology, and social justice, with increasing emphasis on creative methodologies and climate justice in recent years. Her work demonstrates interdisciplinary reach across education, human society, health sciences, psychology, and language/communication fields, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to reduced inequalities, good health and well-being, and gender equality. Dr. Baker actively supervises graduate students across multiple disciplines, with research interests spanning educational research, community development, social justice, and youth studies. Her funded research projects include the VicHealth Impact Research Grant on Aboriginal Australian dietary practices, the Regenerative City Living Lab, and several projects focused on youth engagement and social justice concerns. She is affiliated with the Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities and collaborates extensively with community organizations, including Western Edge Youth Arts and Thorne Harbour Health. Her work demonstrates a strong commitment to community-based research that centers collective meaning-making, political imagination, and transformative action.

• Youth Studies
• Community Psychology
• Social Justice
• +5 more

Professor David Cross is Professor of Visual Arts at Deakin University within the Faculty of Arts and Education/School of Communication and Creative Arts. Based at Melbourne Burwood Campus, he maintains an active studio practice alongside his academic responsibilities, with his professional website providing further insight into his artistic work. David Cross's research interests focus on visual arts, particularly public art, performance, installation, video, curation, and theories of subjectivity. His practice extends across multiple media including inflatable structures to negotiate interpersonal exchange, examining themes of risk, pleasure, and participation. He has performed internationally at live art festivals in Poland and Croatia and represented New Zealand at the 2011 Prague Quadrennial. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on public art practice, curatorial methods, and contemporary art theory. The articles reveal consistent engagement with site-specific interventions in public spaces, environmental contexts, and community engagement. Cross frequently explores the relationship between art and infrastructure, particularly in water treatment facilities and coastal environments. His work shows a commitment to collaborative practices and international contexts, with projects spanning Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia. Cross co-founded the Public Art Commission (PAC) research initiative at Deakin University in 2017 with Cameron Bishop, which has developed numerous significant projects including Treatment series (2015-2023), Venetian Blind (2019), Six Moments in Kingston (2019), and Front Beach Back Beach (2022). He currently serves as Research Leader of the Public Exchange Bureau at Deakin. Cross has extensive supervision experience with 8 current doctoral candidates and 1 current masters student, plus 15 completed doctoral candidates. His grant history shows consistent funding for public art projects from various councils and organizations including Wyndham City Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, and Creative Victoria. As an active member of the academic community, Cross serves as Treasurer for the Deans of Design and Creative Arts, Australia, and as a Board Member for NETS (National Exhibition Touring Scheme), Victoria. His professional practice bridges academic research, artistic creation, and community engagement through numerous public art commissions and curatorial projects.

• Visual Arts
• Public Art
• Performance Art
• +6 more

Professor Richard Chew is Director of the Arts Academy at Federation University Australia's Camp Street Campus. A composer, pianist, and baritone, he has held academic roles at University of South Australia, Elder Conservatorium of Music, and Federation University Australia since 2018. His work spans orchestral, operatic, and interdisciplinary music-theatre forms, with commissions from English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, and international festivals. PhD in Communication Studies (UniSA, 2014) Master of Music Performance Studies (Royal College of Music London, 1991) Associate Researcher at Lythrum Press and Australian Music Centre Chew's research focuses on contemporary composition practices, blending opera, music theatre, and devised performance. His work integrates visual arts (e.g., Ford Madox Brown's painting), literature (Gerard Manley Hopkins, Michael Ende), and social justice themes. Notable projects include the oratorio Stari Most (commissioned for Salisbury Cathedral's 750th Anniversary) and founding the vocal ensemble The Shout, described by The Times as a blueprint for 21st-century choral singing. Recent publications include chamber works for Inscape Piano Trio and adaptations like Momo (2022). His music is characterized by transparent melodic lines, jazz-inflected harmonies, and collaborations with institutions such as the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Creative Victoria, and the National Theatre (London). Awards include the Royal College of Music's President's Rose Bowl and multiple international performances at venues including Southbank Centre and Her Majesty’s Theatre.

• Contemporary Composition
• Opera and Music Theatre
• Jazz and World Music
• +6 more

Dr. Torika Bolatagici is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Art at RMIT University, Australia. Her research and creative practice intersect contemporary art, decolonial feminist theories, and embodied identity studies. She focuses on public space interventions through street art, digital media, and gallery installations, often addressing themes of hybridity, postcolonialism, and queer theory. Her work explores the intersections of militarism, Fijian cultural identity, and the commodification of bodies. Key projects include examining co-created archives resisting bureaucratic systems and theorizing neuroqueer postmotherhood. She actively supervises research on topics such as soft cyborgs and decolonizing academic spaces. Dr. Bolatagici’s publications span art criticism, feminist theory, and postcolonial studies, with notable contributions in Peace and Conflict and Journal of Intercultural Studies . She is open to mentoring PhD/Masters students on creative narratives in public art and decolonial feminist futures.

• Contemporary Art Practices
• Decolonial Feminist Theories
• Embodiment and Identity Studies
• +3 more

Professor Lisa Scharoun is a multi-award-winning academic, designer, and researcher specializing in Visual Communications and Cross-cultural Design. She holds a PhD from Griffith University and currently leads the School of Design at QUT. Her career spans roles as Program Director at Deakin University, University of Canberra, and visiting professorships in Singapore and Norway. Key research focuses include healthcare design, transdisciplinary education, and cross-cultural design practices. She has pioneered initiatives like the Cross-cultural Design Lab and contributed to global projects such as the Gates Foundation's vaccination monitoring system. Education: PhD, Griffith University (2009) Master of Arts in Design Studies, Central Saint Martins (2003) Research Interests: Professor Scharoun's work bridges design with societal challenges, emphasizing cultural sensitivity in healthcare, transdisciplinary collaboration, and global design education. Her projects often involve co-design methodologies to address real-world issues like vaccination compliance and prison healthcare accessibility. Awards: 6 Vice Chancellor's Excellence Awards, Distinguished Teaching Award, Gates Competition finalist, and multiple photography/design accolades. Labs/Initiatives: Founder of the Cross-cultural Design Lab at University of Canberra and contributor to QUT's design innovation programs.

• Visual Communications
• Cross-cultural Design
• Healthcare Design
• +3 more

Dr. Leah Barclay is a Senior Lecturer in Design and Discipline Lead at the University of the Sunshine Coast's School of Business and Creative Industries. She holds a PhD (Griffith University) and BMus (Honours) from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Her work bridges sound art, design, and science to address environmental challenges, focusing on ecoacoustics, acoustic ecology, and conservation technology. Key projects include Biosphere Soundscapes (mapping UNESCO reserve soundscapes) and River Listening (freshwater ecosystem monitoring via hydrophones and AR). She leads interdisciplinary initiatives like Listening to Country , collaborating with Indigenous communities to integrate acoustic ecology into cultural preservation. Her research has been supported by grants from the Australia Council, Lowitja Institute, and Ian Potter Cultural Trust. Awarded the 2019 APRA AMCOS Experimental Music Prize, Barclay's work has been exhibited globally, including at the Smithsonian Museum and COP21 Paris. She advocates for deep listening as a tool for climate action and community reconnection with nature. Professional memberships include the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology and Climate Reality Leadership Corps.

• Ecoacoustics
• Acoustic Ecology
• Sound Design
• +7 more

Associate Professor Rob Pensalfini holds dual appointments in the School of Communication and Arts and School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Queensland. He is an Affiliate of the Centre for Critical and Creative Writing. His academic career began with a PhD in Theoretical Linguistics from MIT (1997), followed by Visiting Assistant Professorship at the University of Chicago before joining UQ in 1999. Promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2003 and Associate Professor in 2016, his work bridges linguistics and drama, particularly focusing on Indigenous Australian languages (Jingulu/Mudburra) and innovative prison-based Shakespeare performances. Education: PhD in Theoretical Linguistics, MIT, 1997 Fieldwork-based research in Northern Territory's Barkly Tableland Research interests: Documentation of endangered Indigenous languages Language contact phenomena between Jingulu/Mudburra Shakespearean performance in correctional facilities Phonological typology and morphosyntactic theory Interdisciplinary links between linguistics and theatre Leadership roles: Founder of Australia's longest-running Prison Shakespeare program Artistic Director of Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble Co-lead on biocultural knowledge projects with Indigenous communities Labs/Initiatives: Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble Prison Shakespeare Project (since 2008) Collaborations with Batchelor Institute on Indigenous language preservation

• Theoretical Linguistics
• Indigenous Australian Languages (Jingulu/Mudburra)
• Shakespeare Performance Studies
• +3 more