Rachel Nordlinger is a Professor of Linguistics and Director of the Research Unit for Indigenous Language at the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Her research focuses on documenting and describing Australian Indigenous languages, with a particular emphasis on syntactic and morphological theory. She has conducted extensive fieldwork with communities speaking Bilinarra, Wambaya, Gudanji, Murrinhpatha, and Marri Ngarr, contributing to language preservation efforts. She holds a PhD from Stanford University and has authored influential works including A Grammar of Wambaya and co-edited volumes like The Languages and Linguistics of Australia . Nordlinger is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities (2017) and leads major grants like the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dynamics of Language (2014-2026). Her work integrates linguistic theory with community-driven language revitalization projects, emphasizing the interconnectedness of language and cultural knowledge. Key research grants include projects on polysynthetic language processing (2021-2025), Indigenous language documentation, and cross-linguistic syntactic analysis. Nordlinger collaborates with institutions such as PARADISEC and the Kanamkek-Yile Ngala Museum to preserve endangered language materials. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges formal linguistic analysis with applied community linguistics.
Patricia D. McGuire is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Work , Carleton University , with a PhD in Sociology from the University of Saskatchewan (2013). Her academic work centers on Indigenous knowledge systems, community-based research methodologies, and decolonizing practices within Canadian sociological and social work frameworks. Doctor of Philosophy (Sociology) , University of Saskatchewan (2013) Master of Arts , Lakehead University (2003) Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) and Honours Bachelor of Social Work , Lakehead University (1988) McGuire's research focuses on Indigenous resilience , decolonizing methodologies , and community-driven solutions , particularly examining Anishinaabe societies. She has contributed extensively to sociology and social work literature through book chapters and peer-reviewed articles addressing Indigenous epistemologies, structural barriers in education, and reconciliation processes. Her publications explore topics like urban Indigenous youth safety , land-based education , and Indigenous women's leadership . McGuire has collaborated with the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) on CIHR-funded projects, including land-based camps and restorative justice practices. Supervision & Education : Supervised PhD and MSW students on CIHR projects (2019–2020), including eight MSW research assistants and one practicum student. Her teaching emphasizes Indigenous community engagement and structural analysis.
Maree Higgins is a Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) , affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the School of Social Work . She serves as the Social Work Honours Program Convenor and is an Associate of the Australian Institute of Human Rights , with links to the Forced Migration Research Network , Kaldor Centre , and Gendered Violence Research Network . Education : Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work), Australian Catholic University (ACU National) Bachelor of Social Work (Hons First Class), UNSW Research Interests : Maree’s work centers on social justice , human rights , and contextualized lived experience , with a focus on refugee and migrant populations , disability studies , aged care , criminal justice reform , and participatory research methods . Her recent publications emphasize lived experience-led knowledge , co-design practices , and trauma-informed approaches . Grants : She has secured funding for projects like Missing Girls: from childhood runaway to criminalised woman (2022–2025; $204,307) and Ethics and community-based participatory research in refugee studies (2019; $5,000). Supervision : Maree supervises PhD candidates in areas such as intellectual disability and support needs , intimate partner violence , and border policy impacts on asylum seekers . Her completions include honors and master’s theses on autonomy in eating disorder treatment , technology-facilitated abuse , and Aboriginal women in maternity care . Professional Engagement : She collaborates with organizations including STARTTS , Foundation House , Black Dog Institute , and Prince of Wales Hospital , while actively participating in Australian Heads of Schools of Social Work , National Field Educational Network , and African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific .
Jacqui Webster is a Professor of Public Health at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), leading the WHO Collaborating Centre on Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development. She serves as the Secretariat for the South Pacific Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers Alliance (SPCNMOA) and continues collaborating with The George Institute for Global Health on salt reduction research. Key Grants: NHMRC Investigator Grant (Leadership 2), NHMRC IDEAS Grant, Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases grants Collaborations: Fiji National University, Deakin University, University of Sydney, UNSW, Northwestern University Her research focuses on reducing cardio-metabolic diseases through food/water security programs and salt reduction policies. Recent articles analyze potassium-enriched salt adoption barriers, global water sodium standards, ultra-processed food impacts in Fiji, and pandemic-related dietary shifts in Australia. She authored the public health-themed book Two Bugs on Bikes (Hembury Books 2025) based on her cycling journey across Europe and Africa. At UTS, she mentors early-career researchers and supports strategic operations for the WHO Collaborating Centre.
Professor Donna Green is an internationally recognized environmental scientist at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), affiliated with the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences. She holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley (2004) and leads multidisciplinary research at the intersection of climate change, energy policy, and air pollution. Her work focuses on balancing improvements in indoor air quality against outdoor pollution sources such as traffic, bushfires, and industry, while addressing increasingly recognized risks from indoor air contaminants including airborne diseases. PhD, University of California, Berkeley (2004) Professor Green's research spans environmental science, climate change impacts, air pollution health effects, renewable energy policy, and environmental justice. Her work demonstrates particular expertise in the health impacts of climate change, with emphasis on vulnerable populations including Indigenous communities. She investigates the synergistic impacts of urban air pollution compounding climate emergencies, and has published extensively on environmental injustice in resource-rich Aboriginal Australia. Her research often bridges scientific findings with practical policy solutions, working collaboratively with engineers, legal practitioners, and public health experts to design evidence-based approaches to environmental challenges. The most recent publications reveal a strong focus on wildfire smoke impacts on health, indoor air quality in educational settings, climate litigation trends, and the intersection of renewable energy development with Indigenous rights. Her work shows increasing attention to the health consequences of climate change, particularly through the MJA-Lancet Countdown reports which document Australia's preparedness (or lack thereof) for climate-related health challenges. There's also a clear trend toward interdisciplinary collaboration, with publications spanning environmental science, public health, engineering, and social justice perspectives. Clean Air Society Australia & New Zealand Innovation & Excellence in Air Quality Award for CleanAir Schools program Professor Green leads the CleanAir Schools program and is currently implementing Fresh Air Innovators in 100 NSW school classrooms. She has secured significant research funding through collaborations with multiple institutions and has supervised numerous students, though specific advisees aren't listed in the provided text. Her research has informed policy discussions on air quality standards, climate adaptation strategies, and environmental justice frameworks. Professor Green directs research teams investigating indoor air quality solutions, climate-health interactions, and renewable energy policy frameworks. Her CleanAir Schools initiative represents a major practical application of her research, translating scientific findings into classroom interventions that protect children from air pollution. She collaborates extensively with engineers, public health experts, and policy practitioners to develop evidence-based solutions to environmental challenges.
Zane M. Diamond is a Professor at Monash University within the School of Education Culture & Society . His research focuses on integrating wisdom pedagogies into modern education systems, drawing from Indigenous Australian traditions, Asian Dharmic philosophies, and sustainability frameworks. Contributed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals in education and sustainability Developed the Wisdom Method for pedagogical reform Collaborated with Indigenous experts in Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and Japan Research Interests include: Wisdom Development in Globalized Education Cross-Cultural and Comparative Education Indigenous and Dharma Education Transformative Teaching-Learning Practices Cultural Safety in Foreign Language Teaching Community-Engaged Pedagogy Teaching Commitments : EDF1062 Approaches to teaching and learning EDF3065 Indigenous perspectives and learning EDF5613 Research Approaches in Education EDF5761 Education in contemporary contexts Leadership Roles : Past President, Oceania Comparative and International Education Society Board Member, Japan International Education Society Research Leader, Daylesford Dharma School Member, Indigenous Cultural Competency Critical Focus Group
Mikala Sedgwick is a Research Fellow at the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, The Australian National University. She specializes in public health, disability, and Indigenous health equity, with a focus on amplifying Aboriginal voices in disability research. Her work emphasizes community-led methodologies and policy advocacy. Education: Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology (ANU, 2023) Master of Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development-Indigenous Policy (ANU, 2010) Bachelor of Arts (ANU, 2009) Research Interests: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing Disability data and policy Autism in Indigenous communities Strengths-based research methodologies Projects and Grants: Assessment of mental health and wellbeing needs during the Voice to Parliament Referendum (2023–2025) Tackling Indigenous Smoking – Regional Grants Impact and Outcomes Assessment (2019–2022) Labs/Teams: She collaborates with the Mayi Kuwayu Study and contributes to the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, focusing on community-driven research to address systemic inequities in health and disability sectors.
Dr. Shingisai Chando is a Research Fellow at the Sydney School of Public Health within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. They hold degrees including BA, MA, MPH, DN, and PhD. Their research focuses on Indigenous health, child and adolescent health, health services management, and workforce dynamics, employing qualitative and translational research approaches. Key research interests include evaluating health programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, stakeholder engagement in health interventions, and addressing health disparities through policy and program design. They collaborate with interdisciplinary teams on projects such as the Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health (SEARCH) and have contributed to understanding diagnostic practices in pediatric otitis media. No scientific awards are listed for Dr. Chando. Their work has been published in journals such as the Health Promotion Journal of Australia , Health Services Research , and Medical Journal of Australia . While no advising or grants are explicitly mentioned, their research demonstrates expertise in Indigenous health equity, child development, and healthcare system optimization.
Jillian Holt is a Senior Lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology, affiliated with the School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education. She holds a PhD in Practice-led Research (2015), a Master of Design in Multimedia Design (2005), and brings over two decades of professional experience as a film editor across feature films, documentaries, and television. She has held leadership roles including Academic Leader and Course Director for the Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours), and has significantly contributed to the internationalization of Swinburne’s film programs through CILECT and ASPERA affiliations. Her research centers on the intersection of creative practice, phenomenology, and pedagogy in film editing. Key interests include intuition in editing, embodied cognition, rhythm, and the teaching of creativity in postproduction. She has developed influential educational resources such as The Art of Editing: Australian Screen Editors Discuss Creativity in Editing . The recent publications reflect a consistent focus on creative editing, documentary storytelling, and pedagogical innovation. Her works span academic articles, creative documentaries, and thesis-based practice research, highlighting a blend of scholarly and artistic contributions in screen and digital media. Scientific Awards: Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Award, Swinburne University of Technology (2007) Supervision and Grants: She is actively co-supervising multiple PhD candidates on topics involving cultural identity, Indigenous research, and community-based documentaries. She has secured competitive grants, including a 2022–2023 research contract with the Australian Vietnamese Women's Association for a documentary project celebrating multicultural communities. Professional Engagement: She has held leadership roles in the Australian Screen Editors Guild (ASE), and served on committees for ASPERA and CILECT, reinforcing her national and international impact in film education and practice.
Professor Murray Phillips is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences , University of Queensland , specializing in the historical and contemporary dimensions of sport . He has held academic roles at the Universities of Canberra, South Australia, and Queensland, joining UQ in 2000. His research spans sport history , Indigenous sport , digital history , and socio-cultural analyses of sport . Education: PhD in Sport History (University of Queensland, 1992) Key Research Areas: Sport and war, gender in sport, rugby league history, sport coaching, Indigenous public history, and sport-related brain trauma. His recent work focuses on brain trauma in sport , including editing the 2025 book Head in the Game , and analyzing Indigenous sport history in Cherbourg and Torres Strait. He has secured funding from the Australian Research Council, Australian Sports Commission, and other institutions. Professor Phillips is also a prominent editor and reviewer for journals like Sporting Traditions and Journal of Football Studies .
Dr. L. Jane McMillan is a Professor and former Canada Research Chair (2006-2016) in the Department of Anthropology at St. Francis Xavier University. Her work focuses on Indigenous legal frameworks, treaty rights, and sustainable community development, particularly among Mi’kmaq communities. She leads the Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Communities Lab, fostering collaborative research with Indigenous communities to address governance, resource rights, and social justice. Her research emphasizes the intersection of historical treaties with modern practices, aiming to disrupt colonial dependency patterns. Key research areas include treaty implementation strategies post-R. v. Marshall (1999), Mi’kmaq ecological knowledge systems (Netukulimk), urban Indigenous wellbeing, and social policy frameworks informed by Indigenous traditions. She collaborates with institutions like the Tripartite Forum and Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program, training graduate students and advocating for culturally congruent policies. Notable achievements include policy-informing publications on Mi’kmaq resource rights and family violence dynamics, as well as community-driven initiatives to enhance cultural competency in healthcare and justice systems. Her work highlights the transformative potential of Indigenous self-governance and reconciliation efforts. Awards: Canada Research Chair (2006-2016) Grants: Canadian Foundation for Innovation funding for collaborative research labs Labs/Teams: Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Communities Lab
Claire Adams is an Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University (ECU). She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from ECU (2022). Her research focuses on mental health, aging populations, healthcare access barriers, and Indigenous health equity. Key areas include mental health help-seeking behaviors among older adults, chronic disease management, and early childhood development interventions. Her work integrates behavioral theories like the Theory of Planned Behavior with public health interventions. Recent studies address pandemic impacts on mental health service accessibility, cultural security in Indigenous maternal healthcare, and systematic reviews of early childhood cognitive interventions. She has collaborated on a $200,000 research project funded by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (2020–2023), focusing on Aboriginal health during the pandemic. Publications span journals like Journal of Counseling Psychology , Australian Journal of Psychology , and Systematic Reviews . Her research emphasizes evidence-based approaches to improving health equity through policy-informed interventions.
Pascal Scherrer is Associate Dean (Research) and Professor within the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts at Southern Cross University . Based in Lismore, Australia, he combines an administrative leadership role with active research in sustainability, regional development, tourism and visitor management. His work bridges academia, industry and government, having jointly secured over AUD $2 million in competitive funding and delivered high-impact projects for clients such as the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation. Education BSc – Griffith University BSc (Hons) – Griffith University Graduate Certificate TESOL – Bond University PhD – Griffith University Research Interests Dr Scherrer’s scholarship centres on sustainability science applied to tourism and regional development. His current flagship project is a circular-economy partnership with the Australian Meat Processor Corporation aiming to reduce plastic packaging waste across red-meat supply chains. Earlier work includes sustainable-visitor-capacity assessments on Rottnest Island , alternatives to summiting Wollumbin-Mt Warning that informed a AUD $7.4 million NSW government trail investment, and longitudinal monitoring of visitor experiences at Point Fraser artificial wetland in Perth. Cross-cutting themes include visitor risk perception in remote alpine and coastal settings, community engagement in protected-area governance, Indigenous tourism business models , and the intersection of digital culture (e.g., selfie-taking) with tourism safety. Scientific Awards 2023 – Southern Cross University Research Award 2014 – Southern Cross University Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Community Engagement Grants & Advising Scherrer has jointly attracted over AUD $2 million in research and consultancy funding from state and federal agencies, industry bodies and NGOs. He currently supervises Honours and PhD candidates across topics in sustainable tourism, regional development and visitor management, and teaches undergraduate and postgraduate units covering sustainable tourism, visitor-economy management, and planning & policy. Professional Affiliations & Service Member, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Member, North Coast Regional Advisory Committee, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service External facilitator for community and local-government projects
Petra T. Buergelt is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Canberra’s Faculty of Health. She holds affiliate roles at the UC Health Research Institute, HEAL Global Research Centre, and Joint Centre for Disaster Research (Massey University, NZ). A transdisciplinary scholar, her work bridges Indigenous knowledge systems with Western paradigms, focusing on disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and cultural revitalization. She has led over $10.32M in grants, including the NAIDOC award-winning Dharray Manymakkuŋ Energy Efficiency Project. Education: PhD (Massey University, 2011) Master (1st Class Honours, Massey University, 2004) Bachelor (Psychology, Massey University, 2001) Bachelor (Horticulture, Dresden-Pillnitz, 1993) Research Interests: Her research employs Indigenist participatory action research to explore resilience, disaster preparedness, and climate adaptation in remote Indigenous communities. Notable projects include the Waka Ngurrkanhayngu initiative with Yolŋu clan leaders in Australia and Taiwanese Indigenous communities. Teaching & Leadership: She leads the Psychology Indigenising Curriculum Team, redesigning curricula to incorporate Indigenous epistemologies. Her teaching spans Health Psychology, Qualitative Research, and Cross-cultural Competence workshops. Awards & Recognition: UC Faculty of Health Outstanding Early Career Researcher (2021) Indigenization of the Curriculum Award (2023) Sylff Fellow (Tokyo Foundation, 2011–present) Grants & Partnerships: $9.12M Manymak Energy Efficiency Project (2013–2016) $219,770 Waka Ngurrkanhayngu project (2021–2024) Collaborations with ANU, CDU, and international institutions Labs & Teams: Co-founder of the Group of Energy Efficient Researchers (GEER) Australia and leadership roles in the International Transformative Learning Association (ITLA).
Douglas Bird is Professor of Anthropology at Penn State, researching interactions between social/ecological systems in foraging societies. His collaborative fieldwork with Martu Aboriginal communities examines hunting, fire ecology, and landscape evolution. Key research areas: Ethnoarchaeology of hunter-gatherers Anthropogenic fire regimes Co-evolution of humans/ecosystems Coastal archaeology Field sites include Australia's Western Desert and Torres Strait Islands.
