Ruari Elkington

Ruari Elkington is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries at Queensland University of Technology within the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice and School of Creative Arts. His research spans screen studies, film distribution, theatrical exhibition, and enterprise education, with a focus on Indigenous perspectives and digital media. He is a Chief Investigator at QUT's Digital Media Research Centre and a 2018 Churchill Fellow.

Education:

• PhD in Creative Industries (Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence, QUT)
• BA (Hons) in Creative Industries (QUT)

Ruari's research examines how screen content navigates creative-commercial tensions and audience engagement, particularly in digital distribution and theatrical exhibition. His work also explores enterprise skills development in Work-Integrated Learning and Indigenous cultural safety in higher education.

Ruari's 15 most recent publications analyze trends in Australian cinema exhibition, AI in screen education, and audience behavior across film festivals and cinema markets. His articles span digital media shifts, documentary distribution, and policy comparisons (e.g., French cinema models).

Scientific Awards:

• 2016 AMP 'Tomorrow Maker'
• 2018 Churchill Fellowship
• 2020 Triple-E Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year
• Associate Fellow (Indigenous) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Institutional and national teaching awards

Ruari leads a faculty-wide community of practice to embed Indigenous perspectives in teaching and mentors students through initiatives like the World Economic Forum Expert Network. He also secured a New Columbo Plan grant (2020) for Pacific screen-industry collaboration.