Jane Frank

Dr. Jane Frank is a Lecturer in Communication at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) based at the Moreton Bay campus. With prior professional experience as a ministerial speechwriter, publications manager, and festival administrator, her academic work bridges communication studies and creative practice. She holds a PhD in Cultural Studies from Griffith University, an MBus in Arts Management from QUT, and a BA(Hons) in Art History from UQ.

Her research focuses on communication theory, cultural sociology, creative industries, and the evolving role of print culture in the digital age. Notable work includes her monograph Regenerating Regional Culture: A Study of the International Book Town Movement (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018), which examines how book towns function as cultural and creative hubs. She is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research (2017–2024).

Teaching responsibilities include courses on professional editing, communication campaign planning, and contemporary communication theory. She coordinates the Bachelor of Communication program and emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches linking theory with creative practice. Her creative outputs span poetry exploring themes of memory, identity, and cultural landscapes, published in journals like Authora Australis and Eunoia Review.

Frank’s work often intersects regional arts, book festivals, and cultural policy, reflecting her commitment to revitalizing rural cultural ecosystems through creative industries. She actively contributes to public discourse through media commentary and festival curation, particularly in Queensland’s arts sector.