Helen MacGillivray

Helen MacGillivray is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Mathematical Sciences at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She holds leadership roles including immediate Past President of the International Statistical Institute (ISI), first female President of the Statistical Society of Australia, and inaugural Chair of the UN Global Network for Statistical Training. Her expertise spans statistical education, curriculum design, and pedagogical innovation.

Education: PhD (University of Queensland), BSc(Hons) (University of Queensland).

Research interests include statistical education methodologies, authentic learning, curriculum development across disciplines, and the application of statistical research in diverse fields. She emphasizes teaching strategies for data science and statistics, advocating for pedagogical excellence through national awards and grants. Her work bridges theoretical statistical research with practical educational implementation.

Publications focus on teaching statistics, data science education, and curriculum design. Recent works explore pedagogical frameworks and interdisciplinary approaches to statistical education.

• Elected member of the International Statistical Institute (ISI)
• Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society
• Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Leadership roles include founding QUT’s Maths Access Centre and directing Symposia in Statistical Thinking. She chairs university department reviews internationally and advises on teaching statistics in universities and with the Royal Statistical Society.

Key contributions include establishing the Australian Conferences on Teaching Statistics and leading committees for major international conferences such as the International Conference on Teaching Statistics. She advocates for student-centered learning through extension programs like MathX and career showcases like Maths Futures.