Ms Cleo Anderson is an Lecturer in Psychology at Deakin University's School of Psychology , with a focus on mental health and digital interventions. Her research spans clinical psychology, eating disorders, and behavioral therapies, combining academic rigor with technology-driven solutions. Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology) (Honours), Deakin University Her work emphasizes public health psychology , digital mental health apps , and body image research , often collaborating on meta-analyses of clinical interventions for depression, insomnia, and disordered eating. Articles highlight trends in artificial intelligence applications and dialectical behavior therapy mobile tools. While no formal scientific awards are listed, her publications demonstrate expertise in randomized controlled trials , self-guided psychological interventions , and user engagement with health technologies . Contact: cleo.anderson@deakin.edu.au , ceand@deakin.edu.au
Professor Skye McDonald is a leading Clinical Neuropsychologist at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), School of Psychology, with over 170 peer-reviewed publications focusing on social cognition and brain injury rehabilitation. She leads the national Centre of Research Excellence in Brain Recovery 'Moving Ahead,' addressing psychosocial rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury. McDonald holds a BSc (Honors, First Class) from Monash University, an MSc in Clinical Neuropsychology (First Class Honors) from the University of Melbourne, and a PhD from Macquarie University. With 10 years of clinical experience working with individuals with acquired brain disorders prior to her academic career, she brings significant practical insight to her research. Her research program centers on understanding how the brain processes emotions and social cognition following injury, particularly how social signal interpretation breaks down after brain trauma. McDonald is an active member of the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment and serves as a core member of PsycBITE, a database cataloging evidence-based treatments for brain injury disorders. Her work spans multiple methodologies including neuroimaging, behavioral experiments, and clinical intervention development, with recent emphasis on telehealth assessment tools, cross-cultural emotion perception, and biopsychosocial frameworks for apathy. Professor McDonald's publications reveal a consistent trajectory examining social cognition assessment and rehabilitation across diverse populations including traumatic brain injury patients, dementia populations, and cross-cultural contexts. Her recent work has expanded into developing and validating brief assessment tools like the Brief Assessment of Social Skills (BASS) and implementing group-based social cognition interventions such as SIFT IT. The temporal pattern of her publications shows increasing focus on ecological validity, cross-cultural considerations, and implementation science in neuropsychological rehabilitation. As a respected leader in her field, McDonald contributes to professional discourse through her extensive publication record and leadership roles. Her work bridges clinical practice and research, with particular emphasis on translating findings into practical assessment tools and rehabilitation protocols that address real-world challenges faced by individuals with brain injuries and their families. Professor McDonald maintains an active research program with numerous current projects examining emotion recognition, social disinhibition mechanisms, and culturally adapted assessment tools. Her work on the Vietnamese Montreal Cognitive Assessment demonstrates her commitment to global applicability of neuropsychological instruments, while her leadership in the Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative reflects national recognition of her expertise.
Dr. Anna Podorova is a Lecturer in the School of Curriculum Teaching & Inclusive Education within the Faculty of Education at Monash University. She serves as the Research and Scholarship Lead for the Association for Academic Language and Learning (AALL) Executive. With extensive language teaching experience across various Australian and international contexts, Dr. Podorova contributes significantly to educational research and practice in multicultural settings. Research Interests Dr. Podorova's research focuses on cultural identity, intercultural communication, and the use of English as an international language. She investigates post-entry English language proficiency and personal literacy and numeracy development in tertiary settings. Her work addresses the challenges faced by international students in Australian higher education, particularly during work placements and academic transitions. Her recent research has centered on improving international students' placement experiences, developing integrated academic language resources for both academics and students, and implementing the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE). Dr. Podorova's work bridges theory and practice, creating practical solutions for language and learning challenges in diverse educational contexts. Research Trends Analysis of Dr. Podorova's publications reveals a consistent focus on language education within multicultural contexts, with increasing attention to practical applications for international students. Her work has evolved from foundational research on English as an international language to more applied studies addressing specific challenges in teacher education and work placement settings. Recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on developing practical resources for academic language development. Research Projects Primary Chief Investigator: 'Improving work placement for international student, their mentors and other stakeholders' (2014-2016), funded by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (Australia) Professional Activities Dr. Podorova is actively engaged in academic communities, regularly presenting at conferences including the Biennial Conference of the Association for Academic Language and Learning (2019, 2021, 2023) and the International Congress on Mathematical Education (2021). Her collaborative work extends across multiple institutions, reflecting her commitment to international educational research.
Professor Geoff Webb is a world-leading data scientist at Monash University , serving as Director of the Monash University Centre for Data Science within the Faculty of Information Technology . His research focuses on leveraging data science to enable evidence-based decision making and derive actionable insights through artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics. Core expertise in data mining , bioinformatics , and computational biology Developed Magnum Opus software and contributed to the Weka machine learning workbench Recipient of the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Data Science and leadership roles in major data mining conferences Research Interests Professor Webb's work spans artificial intelligence , machine learning , and data analytics , with a focus on black-box user modelling , interactive data analytics , and statistically-sound pattern discovery . His recent publications highlight advancements in Bayesian networks , time series analysis , and genomic data interpretation , demonstrating his interdisciplinary impact. Scientific Contributions AI in healthcare : EHR-ML framework for clinical records analysis Biological applications : KcatNet for enzyme prediction, PFresGO for protein function Data mining innovations : OPUS search algorithm, proximity forest techniques As a technical adviser to data science company Froomle , he bridges academic research with real-world applications. His work has been recognized through numerous research awards and leadership as Editor-in-Chief of Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery for a decade.
Feng Liu is an Assistant Professor at the Decision Systems and e-Service Intelligence (DeSI) Lab within the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute (AAII) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). He also serves as a Visiting Scientist at RIKEN-AIP, Japan. His academic journey includes a PhD in Computer Science from UTS (2020), an MSc in Probability and Statistics from Lanzhou University (2015), and a BSc in Mathematics from the same institution (2013). His educational background includes: Ph.D. (2020), Computer Science, University of Technology Sydney, Australia M.Sc. (2015), Probability and Statistics, Lanzhou University, China B.Sc. (2013), Mathematics, Lanzhou University, China Feng Liu's research centers on developing trustworthy intelligent systems through hypothesis testing and reliable knowledge transfer across domains. His work spans two-sample testing for distribution comparison, transfer learning for knowledge adaptation across domains, and defending against adversarial attacks to improve model robustness. His approach combines theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in domain adaptation with interval-valued data and secure multi-source learning. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on trustworthy machine learning, with significant contributions to interval-valued data processing, novel class discovery under unreliable sampling conditions, and privacy-preserving domain adaptation. His work bridges theoretical machine learning with practical applications in computer vision, bioinformatics, and recommender systems, showing a consistent pattern of addressing fundamental challenges in trustworthy AI. Among his notable recognitions are: Outstanding Reviewer Award of ICLR (2021) AAII Best Student Paper Award (2020) Best Student Paper Award from IEEE International Conference on Fuzzy Systems (2019) UTS-FEIT HDR Research Excellence Award (2019) Publons Peer Review Awards - Top 1% reviewers in Computer Science (2019, 2018) Dr. Liu has actively contributed to the academic community through supervision and service. He has helped supervise four students who collectively produced eight academic papers, three of which were published in CORE Tier A* venues. His service includes program committee roles for major conferences including NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, and AAAI, as well as reviewing for prestigious journals like IEEE-TPAMI and IEEE-TNNLS. His research has been supported by various grants, including the Australian Laureate postdoctoral fellowship. As part of the AAII at UTS, Dr. Liu contributes to a vibrant research environment focused on advancing artificial intelligence through interdisciplinary collaboration. His work in the Decision Systems and e-Service Intelligence Lab addresses real-world challenges in trustworthy machine learning, with applications spanning healthcare, robotics, and secure information systems.
Sally Baker is a Senior Lecturer of Language and Literacies in the School of Education at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), within the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture. She serves as the Education focal point in the Forced Migration Research Network (FMRN@UNSW) and chairs the Refugee Education Special Interest Group. Her research explores issues of equity in higher education, with specific focus on refugee education, higher education equity and language policy, educational experiences of students from culturally and linguistically diverse migrant and refugee backgrounds, academic language and literacies, transitions, methodological and ethical issues with research in 'fragile contexts', and qualitative longitudinal research. She has developed expertise in navigating ethical considerations when conducting research with vulnerable populations. Dr. Baker's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on refugee education pathways, equity in higher education, and the challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse students. Her work spans multiple disciplines including education policy, social justice, refugee studies, and language education, with particular emphasis on Australian contexts while maintaining international relevance. She frequently collaborates with researchers across Australian institutions and internationally. Invited speaker at Refugee Alternatives conference at UNSW (2017) Recipient of Visiting Fellowship at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (2017) Featured Symposium representative at British Educational Research Association conference (2017) Dr. Baker has secured significant research funding including projects with the NSW Department of Education and the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education, focusing on equity initiatives, university responses to enhancing equity in post-COVID landscapes, and opportunities and challenges for CALDMR students in online learning environments. She collaborates on the Australian Refugee Integration Research Database (ARRID) and leads projects examining parents' expectations, oracy in schools, and HyFlex teaching impacts on equity. She is actively engaged with the Forced Migration Research Network at UNSW, the Kaldor Centre Emerging Scholars Network, and serves as Chair of the Refugee Education Special Interest Group, demonstrating strong commitment to community engagement and knowledge translation in her field.
Dr. Dale Harris serves as a Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow at Victoria University's Institute for Health & Sport in Melbourne, Australia, with an additional Adjunct Research Fellow position at La Trobe University since February 2024. His academic career spans multiple roles including Senior Lecturer (commencing January 2025) and Research Fellow (since January 2020), establishing him as a specialist in exercise science and neuromodulation interventions for Parkinson's disease and neurological conditions. Dr. Harris completed his educational journey with: PhD in Exercise and Sports Science from Deakin University (July 2021) Masters in Exercise and Sports Science, Strength and Conditioning from Edith Cowan University Bachelors in Exercise Science (Hons) from Deakin University Dr. Harris's research focuses on falls prevention , neuromodulation techniques , and exercise-based interventions for Parkinson's disease . His technical expertise includes transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), surface electromyography (EMG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), balance assessment using the NeuroCom Balance Master, and clinical examinations including the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. He developed a reliable Parkinson's disease-specific falls questionnaire now used internationally by the Struthers Institute and translated into multiple languages. Analysis of Dr. Harris's publication record reveals a strong trajectory in neuromodulation approaches for Parkinson's disease management, with increasing focus on strength and power training protocols tailored for neurological populations. His recent work demonstrates innovative integration of gym-based powerlifting adaptations for people with early-onset Parkinson's disease, alongside significant research on sex-specific exercise responses and neuromuscular adaptations across diverse populations including elite athletes and women's health. Dr. Harris has received significant recognition for his contributions: Victoria University's Early Career Research Award (2021) Shake-It-Up Foundation travel award to present at the World Parkinson's Congress in Spain (2023) Australia Active National Awards Program Finalist - Most Inclusive and Diverse Programs (2025) for his clinical trial 'Powerlifting for People with Early Onset Parkinson's disease' As an active supervisor, Dr. Harris co-supervises three HDR students with research spanning resistance training for women's health and physical activity patterns in law enforcement. He successfully secured a $50,000 AUD grant as lead investigator in 2023 for a world-first exercise training feasibility study in people with young-onset Parkinson's disease through the Bethlehem Griffiths Research Foundation. His community engagement includes expert panel discussions with Fight Parkinson's on exercise for people living with Parkinson's disease, reaching multiple community members across Victoria. Dr. Harris maintains active collaborations with clinical and research partners, contributing to both academic advancement and practical applications of exercise science in neurological rehabilitation. His work bridges laboratory research with real-world implementation, particularly evident in his community-focused outreach and innovative clinical trials.
Dinesh Palipana OAM is a Senior Lecturer at Griffith University's Australian Centre for Precision Health and Technology and an emergency department physician at Gold Coast University Hospital. He is Queensland's first quadriplegic medical intern and Australia's second doctor with quadriplegia, having overcome a spinal cord injury sustained during medical school. Palipana holds dual qualifications as a medical doctor (Griffith University) and lawyer (Queensland University of Technology), and serves as co-leader of the BioSpine research team focused on spinal cord injury rehabilitation. His research interests span spinal cord injury, rehabilitation engineering, emergency medicine, and disability inclusion in healthcare. Palipana has received numerous prestigious awards including the Medal of the Order of Australia (2019), Henry Viscardi Achievement Award (2019), and Queensland Australian of the Year (2021). His academic appointments include Senior Lecturer at Griffith University (2021-present), Lecturer in the School of Medicine (2018-present), and Adjunct Research Fellow at the Menzies Health Institute of Queensland (2019-2024). Palipana's publication record shows a strong focus on spinal cord injury rehabilitation, emergency medicine, and disability inclusion, with recent work exploring digital twin technology, patient dignity in rehabilitation, and pandemic impacts on emergency department presentations. His research consistently addresses the intersection of technology, healthcare access, and patient-centered care for people with disabilities. Medal of the Order of Australia (2019) Henry Viscardi Achievement Award (2019) Queensland Australian of the Year (2021) Griffith University Young Alumnus of the Year (2021) Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service's Junior Doctor of the Year (2018) John Monash Scholar Palipana serves as a senior advisor to the Disability Royal Commission, is a founding member of Doctors with Disabilities Australia, and published his autobiography 'Stronger' in 2022. He also holds significant non-academic roles including Non-Executive Director of George Steuart & Co and Advisory Board Member for Woolworths Group's HealthyLife initiative. His work exemplifies the integration of clinical practice, academic research, and advocacy to improve healthcare accessibility and outcomes for people with disabilities.
