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Tom van Laer is an Associate Professor of Marketing and Deputy Head of Discipline, Research at The University of Sydney Business School. He is globally recognized as the leading expert in storytelling and narrative persuasion, currently occupying the top position on Elsevier's SciVal top 100 list for the most-cited researchers in this domain. His academic journey includes a BA and MA from Nijmegen and a PhD from Maastricht University. Dr. van Laer's research explores storytelling, persuasion, and messaging through an interdisciplinary approach that bridges behavioral experiments, quantitative modeling, and interpretive research. His work spans narrative transportation theory, consumer reviews analysis, digital storytelling, and the psychological mechanisms behind how stories influence consumer behavior. He has developed influential frameworks including the Extended Transportation-Imagery Model and narrative agency theory, with particular expertise in analyzing how stories shape responses to climate change communications and social conflict narratives. His publication record features articles in the most prestigious academic journals including the Journal of Consumer Research (where he serves as Area Editor), Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Management Information Systems, and International Journal of Research in Marketing. His recent work shows a strong trend toward meta-analyses of narrative effects, climate change communication, and the psychological mechanisms of 'bleed' between fictional experiences and real-world behavior. Dr. van Laer is an active media commentator whose research has garnered extensive global coverage across Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US, including national television and radio interviews. His media engagement focuses on storytelling in political campaigns, social media marketing, and the psychological impact of narratives in consumer contexts. He teaches MKTG3121 Advertising: Persuasive Principles and MKTG6006 Persuasive Advertising: Illuminating Dark Art, and has received recognition for both research and teaching excellence. His professional affiliations include the Association for Consumer Research, Australian Marketing Institute, Australian & New Zealand Marketing Academy, and International Society for the Study of Narrative. Dr. van Laer is a member of several university research centers including the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, Sydney Environment Institute, and Charles Perkins Centre, where he contributes his expertise in narrative persuasion to interdisciplinary research on societal challenges.

• Storytelling
• Narrative Persuasion
• Consumer Behavior
• +4 more

Dr. Divya Jayakumar Nair serves as Senior Lecturer in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where she also holds the position of Associate Dean International – South Asia for UNSW Engineering. Her academic work is centered at the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI), focusing on transportation systems, network optimization, and disaster management applications. Dr. Nair's research interests span transportation engineering, disaster management, and urban mobility systems. Her work investigates complex network design problems, particularly in pre-disaster evacuation planning, transportation resilience, and food rescue logistics. She employs advanced analytical methods including traffic equilibrium modeling, network optimization techniques, and data-driven approaches to solve real-world transportation challenges with significant societal impact. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on transportation resilience during disasters, with particular attention to equity considerations in pre-event planning. Dr. Nair's research shows how transportation networks can be optimized to improve emergency response while ensuring equitable access to safety for all population segments. Her work bridges theoretical network optimization with practical applications in urban environments facing climate-related challenges. Dr. Nair collaborates extensively with leading researchers in transportation including S. Travis Waller, Vinay V. Dixit, David Rey, and Taha Rashidi. Her collaborative approach spans multiple institutions and addresses pressing challenges in urban transportation systems worldwide.

• Transportation Engineering
• Disaster Management
• Network Design and Optimization
• +4 more

Professor Vinayak Dixit serves as the IAG Chair of Risk in Smart Cities and Director of the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. With a distinguished career spanning academia and research leadership, Professor Dixit has established himself as a leading expert in transportation risk analysis and smart city infrastructure. Professor Dixit's research focuses on studying risk in transportation infrastructure systems, with particular emphasis on highway safety, travel time uncertainty, and resilience against natural and man-made disasters. His work integrates cutting-edge approaches including quantum computing applications for transportation network optimization, analysis of connected and automated vehicles, and development of models for transportation resilience. His research interests span multiple disciplines, bridging civil engineering, transportation science, risk analysis, and computational methods. Professor Dixit has secured significant research funding from prestigious organizations including the United States National Science Foundation, Federal Highway Administration, and the Strategic Highway Research Program of the Transportation Research Board. His leadership extends to directing the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI), where he oversees a comprehensive research program addressing critical transportation challenges in smart cities through multiple focus areas including Connected Mobility Services, Deep Data and Digitization, Engineering Smart Cities & Logistics, Human-Centred And Automated Systems Design, and Integrated Infrastructure Strategic Planning. Professor Dixit previously served as the Associate Director of Research for the Gulf Coast Centre for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency at Louisiana State University, where he founded the Driving Simulator Laboratory in collaboration with other faculty members. This demonstrates his longstanding commitment to innovative research infrastructure development and interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering, economics, computer science, and urban planning to address complex transportation challenges in the 21st century.

• Transportation Risk Analysis
• Highway Safety
• Travel Time Uncertainty
• +6 more

Dr. Julie King is Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Southern Queensland. Her research addresses intersectional challenges in disability inclusion, disaster management, and gender-based violence prevention, with fieldwork across Australia, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Research Themes: Dr. King's work examines barriers to disability-inclusive disaster response, healthcare access for women with disabilities in low-income countries, and safety challenges in public transportation systems. Her projects employ qualitative methods to center marginalized voices in policy development. Global Health Focus: Field studies in Vietnam, Solomon Islands, and Bangladesh have informed guidelines for disability-inclusive services. Recent work evaluates transportation safety interventions to reduce gender-based violence in Bangladesh and Cambodia. Supervision: Mentors doctoral candidates researching spinal injury healthcare, disaster communication for marginalized communities, and gender identity studies.

• Disability Studies
• Gender-Based Violence
• Disaster Management
• +2 more

Suzanne Estaphan is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Science (Physiology and Clinical Pharmacology) at the Australian National University (ANU) School of Medicine and Psychology . She holds qualifications including a Doctorate of Physiology (2015) , MSc in Physiology (2012) , MBBCh (2005) , and Basic Certificate in Medical Education (2018) . Her academic roles span curriculum development, admissions, and assessment committees in the ANU Medical School. Senior Lecturer, ANU (2023–present) Academic Editor, PLOS ONE (2024–present) Review Editor, Frontiers in Physiology (2023–present) Dr. Estaphan's research bridges oxidative stress and inflammation in disease pathology with medical education innovation . Her work explores antioxidant interventions for organ damage and investigates AI/virtual reality applications in education. Recent projects include studying sleep dysfunction in eating disorders and diabetes medication effects on exercise capacity . Between 2023–2025, her 15 most recent publications span oxidative stress , medical education , and molecular pathophysiology . Themes include homeostasis , clinical reasoning , and metabolic disorders , with subfields like MMP-9 biology , pancreatic injury , and VR-based hypoxia training . Scientific accolades include the American Physiological Society Travel Award (2017) and recognition as Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2023) . She mentors medical students, contributes to national physiology curriculum consensus projects, and has secured approximately $200,000 in research funding .

• Medical Physiology
• Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
• Medical Education Research
• +2 more

Professor Ester Cerin is a leading academic at the Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University (ACU), where she leads the Behaviour, Environment and Cognition Research Program. She holds an adjunct professorship in Statistics at the Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, and is an Honorary Professorial Fellow at both the Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute and the School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong. Her international career includes academic roles in Australia, the USA, and Hong Kong. Her research centers on the environmental and psychosocial determinants of lifestyle behaviors and health, with a focus on physical activity, cognitive health, and sustainable environments. She employs advanced statistical methods to study how urban design and neighborhood characteristics influence health across the lifespan. Her work bridges public health, urban planning, and behavioral science. The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on built environment impacts on physical activity and cognitive health across age groups and continents. Her studies frequently employ multi-country designs (e.g., IPEN, iMAP) and advanced methodologies including meta-analyses, cohort studies, and objective environmental assessments. Key themes include walkability, urban densification, aging, and mental health. Top 1% of scholars, University of Hong Kong, 2015 Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher, 2019 Professor Cerin has secured over $24 million in research funding from prestigious bodies including NHMRC, ARC, NIH, and World Cancer Research Fund. She has led 12 major grants as Lead Investigator and serves as Principal Investigator for the iMAP and EPOCH studies. She supervises HDR students and mentors early-career researchers. Her leadership extends to editorial roles as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity and Associate Editor of Health & Place . She co-founded the International Cognitive Health and the Environment Network (ICHEN) to promote research and advocacy for environments that support cognitive health. Her work is embedded in large international collaborations, including multi-country cohort studies and systematic reviews under the IPEN and CEPA working groups.

• Environmental Determinants of Health
• Psychosocial Determinants of Health
• Physical Activity
• +12 more

Brett Smith is an Associate Professor in the UWA Business School at the University of Western Australia, affiliated with the School of Social Sciences and the Planning and Transport Research Centre (PATREC). His research focuses on transport planning, land use analysis, and choice modeling, with emphasis on autonomous vehicles, public transport policy, and gig economy workers' rights. He holds roles including UWA Research Representative on PATREC's Research Committee and Centre of Business Data Analytics Research Fellow. Education details are not explicitly listed in the text, but his professional roles and research output demonstrate advanced expertise. His research interests span micro-economic analysis, experimental design, and policy evaluation, with notable contributions to Perth's transport modeling and strategic planning. He has led over AU$2 million in industry-funded grants, including projects on e-rideables, working-from-home impacts, and land use-transport integration. His research has influenced state policies, such as public transport fare restructuring and strategic transport modeling updates. Awards include the Lyndsay Oxlad Best Paper Award and Eric Pas Dissertation Prize. He supervises students in areas like blockchain in food transparency and AV adoption, and teaches courses in business analytics and data-driven decision-making. Key Projects: Transport Mode Choice Development (PATREC, $80k) Impacts of e-Rideables (PATREC, $92k) Working from Home Transport Demand Modeling (i-Move CRC, $260k) Labs/Teams: PATREC, Centre of Business Data Analytics, and collaborations with global institutions like Leeds University and Czech Republic’s Transport Research Centre.

• Transport Planning
• Land Use Analysis
• Choice Modelling
• +5 more

Roles and Affiliations: Doina Olaru is a Professor in the Department of Management and Organisations at the University of Western Australia (UWA) Business School. She is affiliated with the Planning and Transport Research Centre and holds a visiting position at the University of Burgos, Spain. Her work focuses on transport planning, urban sustainability, and data-driven decision making. Education: PhD in Transport Engineering (University Politehnica of Bucharest, 2000). Prior industry experience includes roles as a railway engineer and Postdoctoral Research Scientist at CSIRO. Research Interests: Urban transport systems, travel behavior modeling, accessibility analysis, environmental impacts of transport, and applications of artificial intelligence. She emphasizes sustainable solutions integrating land-use and transport policies. Grants and Collaborations: Principal investigator on 31 grants, including ARC Linkage Projects and industry partnerships with iMOVE CRC. Collaborates with institutions like the University of Oxford, University of Leeds, and University of Sydney. Awards: Multiple teaching awards (UWA Business School) and recognition for contributions to transport research, including the Dennis Moore Australian Computer Society Orator honor. Teaching: Courses include Data Analysis and Decision Making, and Quantitative Data Analysis. Over 10 teaching excellence nominations. Current Projects: Focus areas include smart transport technologies, roundabout modeling via drone analytics, and hybrid work impacts on transport demand.

• Transport Planning
• Urban Sustainability
• Data Analysis
• +5 more

Justyna Karakiewicz is a Professor in Urban Design at the Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on urban design, sustainability, and complex adaptive systems, with a particular emphasis on high-density environments and urban form evolution. She has been recognized for her work, including the RIBA Housing Design Award (2008) for Spinney Garden and authored influential books such as Promoting Sustainable Living (2015) and The Making of Hong Kong (2014). Her recent projects explore sustainability transitions and urban resilience in coupled natural-urban systems, leveraging interdisciplinary approaches that integrate computer science, social sciences, and design. Her research directions include 'Design and Creative Research' and 'Future Cities,' with a focus on volumetric urbanism and adaptive systems. Key publications span urban morphology analysis, sustainability frameworks, and speculative urban futures. She leads the Southern Cities Research Centre and Complex Adaptive Systems and Rule-Based Design initiatives, emphasizing practical design solutions and theoretical advancements in urban sustainability. Her work bridges academic and practical domains, advocating for cities that balance ecological, social, and infrastructural challenges through innovative design strategies. Awards and publications reflect her global influence in urban studies and sustainable development.

• Urban Design
• Sustainability
• Architecture
• +3 more

Associate Professor Jason Thompson holds an Associate Professor position in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne. He is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and previously served as Co-Director of the Transport, Health and Urban Systems (THUS) Research Laboratory at the Melbourne School of Design. He earned a PhD in Medicine (2015) from Deakin University, a Master's in Clinical Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science with Honours. His research focuses on computational social science applied to injury rehabilitation, compensation systems, and healthcare design. He has attracted over $5M in research funding and published over 100 articles. Key areas include agent-based modeling, systems dynamics, and policy analysis for public health challenges such as pandemic response and urban mobility. Thompson currently leads the NHMRC Centre of Excellence in Compensable Injury after Road Crashes. Grants: ARC Future Fellowship (2022), DECRA (2017) Awards: Best Paper Award (Computational Social Science Society of the Americas, 2017) Labs: THUS Research Lab (until 2024) His work bridges epidemiological modeling (e.g., influencing Victoria's 2020 pandemic exit strategy) and complex systems analysis for injury prevention and health system design.

• Computational Social Science
• Public Health
• Injury Prevention
• +4 more

Professor Trina Myers serves as the Head of School for the School of Information Technology at Deakin University's Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment. With extensive experience in academia and research leadership, she plays a pivotal role in shaping IT education and research directions at Deakin. She is also an active member of the Australian Council of Deans of ICT (ACDICT), having served as its immediate past President. Her educational background includes: Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science from James Cook University Master of Business Administration from James Cook University Master of Information Technology from James Cook University Professor Myers' research focuses on semantic technologies, ontology engineering, Internet of Things, knowledge management, natural language processing, and human-computer interaction . Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, bridging technology with fields such as healthcare, marine science, environmental conservation, and business. She has pioneered approaches in academagogy (academic gamification) to enhance online learning engagement, particularly for adult learners. Her IoT research has significant applications in healthcare space optimization, environmental monitoring, and resource management. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trajectory in applying AI and IoT technologies to solve real-world problems, particularly in healthcare, education, and resource optimization. There's a clear pattern of interdisciplinary work connecting computer science with healthcare, education, and environmental science. Her research increasingly focuses on human-centered technology design, especially for vulnerable populations like adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Her notable achievements include: Fellow of the Australian Computer Society (2023) Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) Teaching Award (2020) Women in IT Professional Leadership Award Finalist (2020) Asia-Pacific International Triple E Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year Award (1st runner-up, 2020) Australian Computer Society, National Digital Disruptor ICT Educator of the Year (2019) Professor Myers actively supervises doctoral students across diverse research areas including gamification in language learning, brain tumor analysis using deep learning, AI in higher education, AI for refugee resilience, data integrity in edge environments, and quantum-driven satellite networking. She has secured significant research funding, including a recent grant for "Indiginizing ICT Curriculum: A Starter Framework for the Community of Practice" through the Australian Council of Deans of ICT. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes active learning methodologies, Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL), blended learning, and collective intelligence approaches.

• Semantic technologies
• Ontology engineering
• Internet of Things
• +10 more

Professor Pauleen Bennett is a leading scholar in Anthrozoology at La Trobe University's Bendigo campus, serving in the Department of Psychology, Counseling and Therapy within the College of Science, Health and Engineering since 2018. Her research program centers on human-companion animal relationships, particularly focusing on the psychological dimensions of human-dog bonds, veterinary wellbeing, and child-pet interactions. Her research interests span Anthrozoology , Human-Animal Relationships , and Companion Animal Psychology , with particular emphasis on dog behavior, veterinary burnout, and the therapeutic applications of human-animal bonds. Bennett leads the Anthrozoology Research Group (www.anthrozoologyresearchgroup.com) and has made significant contributions to understanding how animals impact human mental health across diverse contexts from farms to universities. Analysis of her recent publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) human-animal relationship measurement tools development, (2) veterinary workplace wellbeing challenges, and (3) practical applications of human-animal bonds in agricultural, educational, and healthcare settings. Her work consistently bridges theoretical psychology with practical animal welfare applications. Bennett previously served as Associate Editor for Anthrozoos and on the board of the International Society for Anthrozoology. She co-supervises higher degree students across multiple Australian universities and maintains active community engagement through the Anthrozoology Research Group. Her funded research includes the Wildlife Victoria Inc Mental Health and Wellbeing Review (2021-2024), which developed recommended good practice guidelines for wildlife volunteer support programs. Bennett also serves as a consultant on human-animal interaction projects, translating academic research into practical community applications. Bennett maintains a productive research laboratory focused on human-animal interactions, with current projects examining puppy socialization practices, veterinary technician burnout, and the psychological benefits of animal-assisted interventions in university settings. Her Bendigo-based laboratory operates in close collaboration with Australian farms, veterinary clinics, and community organizations.

• Anthrozoology
• Human-Animal Relationships
• Companion Animal Psychology
• +4 more

Vanessa Bowden is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychological Science at The University of Western Australia. She serves as Graduate Research Coordinator for the School, Deputy Director of the Master of Industrial and Organisational Psychology program, and Co-Director of the Human Factors and Applied Cognition Laboratory. Her academic credentials include a PhD from The University of Western Australia and a Graduate Diploma in Human Factors and Safety Management Systems from the University of South Australia. Dr. Bowden's research expertise spans multiple domains within human factors and cognitive psychology. Her primary research interests include: Human interaction with technological systems Automation design and human-automation interaction Driver distraction and transportation safety Cognitive processes in complex work settings Situation awareness and workload management Prospective memory in applied contexts Her recent research has focused on understanding how humans interact with automated systems across various domains, from driving to air traffic control. Dr. Bowden has developed computational models of human decision-making with automated advice and has investigated the impact of automation transparency on operator performance. Her work has important implications for designing safer technological systems that optimize human performance. Dr. Bowden has received significant research funding, including an Australian Research Council Discovery grant (2024) for $924,198 for "A Unified Computational Model of How Humans Use Automated Advice" and multiple Department of Defence grants. Her research has been published extensively in top-tier journals in human factors and cognitive psychology. She has supervised numerous research students and currently accepts PhD and other Higher Degree by Research students. Dr. Bowden teaches several courses including Psychology of Training (PSYC5573), Industrial and Organisational Psychology (PSYC3309), and Perception and Sensory Neuropsychology (PSYC3318).

• Human factors
• Applied psychology
• Visual perception
• +5 more

Liang Choon Wang is an Associate Professor and Economics PhD Program Director at the Department of Economics, Monash University. He holds a PhD from the University of California San Diego (2010), where he was a Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellow. Prior to joining Monash in 2011, he worked at the World Bank’s Development Research Group in Washington DC. His research focuses on behavioral economics, education economics, labor economics, development economics, public economics, and health economics, employing field/natural experiments and observational data to analyze outcomes in both developed and developing nations such as Australia, Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam. He has led and contributed to research projects including the 'Reliable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 CRC' and studies on affirmative action, energy conservation, and educational interventions. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in reducing inequalities and promoting sustainable development. Key publications include studies on electoral competence, remote learning efficacy in Bangladesh, and the impact of housing costs on transportation. Education: PhD in Economics, University of California San Diego (2010) Grants/Projects: Multiple grants from RACE for 2030 CRC, World Bank collaborations, and randomized controlled trials in education and health. Teaching: ECC4860 (2012–2015) and ECC2400 (2016–present). Wang’s research emphasizes policy relevance, with contributions to government technical assistance and global equity initiatives. His recent articles analyze low-tech education solutions, energy conservation, and labor market dynamics, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to socio-economic challenges.

• Behavioural Economics
• Economics of Education
• Labour Economics
• +4 more

Julie Saunders is an Associate Professor and Head of the School of Population and Global Health at The University of Western Australia. Her research spans public health with emphasis on physical activity, gender studies, transportation systems, and aged care interventions, contributing significantly to UN Sustainable Development Goals in health and well-being across Australian communities. Her research fingerprint reveals dominant expertise in Australia Social Sciences (100%), Physical Activity Psychology (75%), and Sex Differences Psychology (75%), with substantial work in Gender Difference Nursing (50%) and Student Transportation (41%). Current investigations focus on active school transportation patterns, gender-responsive offender rehabilitation, and dental workforce integration in aged care facilities. Recent publications demonstrate consistent thematic focus on translating public health research into practical Australian interventions, particularly examining children's active mobility environments, school walkability metrics, and gender-specific treatment efficacy in criminal justice settings. Dr. Saunders leads five major research projects including the longitudinal TREK Study on child transportation and community dental care evaluations for homeless populations, collaborating with iMove CRC, Fremantle Women’s Health Centre, and St Patrick’s Community Support Centre across Western Australia. She maintains active research networks with collaborators including Gannett, Hooper, Trapp, and Slack-Smith, directing school-wide initiatives while supervising graduate research in population health disciplines.

• Public Health
• Physical Activity
• Gender Studies
• +4 more