Fiona Whittenbury, Head of Partnerships Australasia for Advance HE will be representing Advance HE at HERDSA. The poster presentation was put together by colleague at Advance HE.

I am a Learning facilitator and lecturer in Bachelor of Health Science degrees for the past 17 years at two premiere education providers in Melbourne, Australia. I have a background in medicine and paramedics and have worked in countries like India, Botswana and Australia. My experience as a homoeopathic practitioner and paramedic (air ambulance) has given me the ability to utilise these skills in the learning environment to provide necessary practical insight in teaching different science subjects. After coming to Australia I have completed a Masters in Health Professional Education at Monash University and am a fellow of Higher Education Academy UK. I am a passionate educator and mentor for students to become expert health practitioners. Being a compassionate health care professional with strong work ethic and a quest for knowledge and research has made me a lifelong learner and educator. My current research as a part of MPhil degree is focused on enhancing student acquisition and retention of clinical examination skills in undergraduate complementary health degree.

Olumide Odeyemi is a multi-award-winning higher education professional. In the last 5 years, he has supported more than 300 research funding applications, averaging approximately 95 applications per year. He has coordinated pre-award management of various Australian Research Council schemes (DECRA, Future Fellowship), State funding (Tasmania Community Fund), and philanthropic funding (Ian Potter Foundation and Perpetual Impact Foundation). Olumide's specialties encompass: Pre-award process improvement Proposal development Costing and pricing research projects Researcher development Research impact and engagement Working with industry Identifying funding opportunities In 2021, Olumide was honored with the Research Funding Due Diligence Award. He also co-received the Vice Chancellor’s Service Excellence Award and the Research Division’s Service Excellence Award. In 2023, he was recognized as a rising star with the Future of the Field Award by the Society for Research Administration International. The following year, in 2024, he was bestowed with the Excellence Award by the same society.

Dr Caitlin Fox-Harding is a Lecturer within the School of Medical and Health Sciences and is also the unit coordinator for components within the Exercise and Sport Science discipline at ECU's Joondalup campus and for the Singapore program.  Caitlin is the course co-ordinator for the undergraduate double degree (W31) Bachelor of Science (Exercise and Sports Science)/Bachelor of Commerce (Sport Business). She is passionate about student learning and was invited to serve as a sessional staff member in ECU's School of Education. Caitlin has been involved in elite sport for 15 years during her time as a competitive athlete in the Olympic sport of fencing.  She is now an active member of the International Fencing Federation (FIE)'s Women & Fencing Council and the chair of Oceania Fencing Confederation's (OFC) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.  She was previously the AFF's national High-Performance Manager and in charge of sporting operations before then serving as a board member. Above all, Caitlin is a mum to 2-year-old Harvey who reminds her each day of the importance of staying well.  

Dr. Ruth Wallace is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Health Promotion Team Lead at ECU. A registered Public Health Nutritionist, accredited Mental Health First Aid Instructor and Senior Fellow of AdvanceHE, her research focuses on health literacy, health promotion and the scholarship of teaching and learning. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5392-5195

Dr Katherine Herbert is currently Sub-Dean Learning and Teaching, and Lecturer in Blended learning in the Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences at Charles Sturt University. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Southern Queensland where her thesis explored learning and teaching professional development in higher education. She also holds a Master of Education (Knowledge Networks and Digital Innovation), and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature. Katherine began her career in the vocational education arena providing consultation services on eLearning and educational technology within the corporate training and development sector, before transitioning into Higher Education in 2013.

Kate Nickelchok (they/she) is a scholar-practitioner in transformative adult education, social innovation, and global leadership development. They specialize in embodied, participatory, and equity-centered pedagogies that foster systems thinking and social change. As a university educator and global education consultant, Kate helps learners and institutions reimagine curriculum, integrate relational and experiential learning, and bridge theory with practice. Their work draws on critical pedagogy, transformative learning theory, and community-centred design, emphasizing whole-person learning approaches that challenge traditional epistemologies in higher education.

Fiona Whittenbury is representing Advance HE at HERDSA in her capacity as the Head of Partnerships, Australasia. The study was written by Associate Professor, Deanne Gannaway, Associate Professor Gwen Moore, Revd. Professor Will Foster (Project Lead) and poster compiled by staff at Advance HE.

Jiapei Xia is a current PhD student at the University of New South Wales School of Education, and an academic English teacher at UNSW College. Her research interest includes teacher development, teaching in higher education, Chinese as a foreign language learning and teaching, and English as a second language learning.

With over 20 years of experience of teaching in Higher Education in various roles, Dr Saher Ali is a traditionally trained scientist with extensive training in the teachings of anatomy and physiology. Currently employed at Torrens University Australia she has also served as an Academic Integrity officer for the university. Saher’s research interests include the delivery of biomedical education to undergraduate students, digital literacy and academic integrity. Prior to her role at Torrens, she was teaching as lecturer and received her doctorate from RMIT University. Alongside her doctorate, she has acquired training in anatomy and physiology pedagogy. Her academic journey has allowed her to embark on a journey to increase student engagement and improve learning outcomes using modern and innovative teaching. Saher's current project is about investigating digital literacy where academics reflect on their self perceived-digital literacy.

I am teaching and research academic in the School of Biomedicine at the University of Adelaide. Whilst leading a research lab focused on improving outcomes following traumatic spinal cord injury, I am equally passionate about the scholarship of learning and teaching. I have lead curriculum development for core courses focused on the development of foundational research skills within undergraduate programs. I am interested in understanding how employability skills can be effectively developed in undergraduate students to support them throughout their programs and future professions. In particular, my research focus has been on implementing initiatives to increase career awareness in non-professional degrees in order to increase motivation and academic success.

Lauren is a Senior Lecturer at Queensland University of Technology, Australia who works on Turrbal and Yuggera land and is of settler/European descent. She provides sector-wide professional development on learning and teaching effectiveness. She is the HEA Fellowships Program Lead for the specialist award of Associate Fellow Indigenous Perspectives and Knowledges.

Dr. Mifrah Ahmad is currently involved as a senior lecturer in game design and development at Torrens University, Melbourne campus. Teaching across faculties including IT, Design and education, enabled her to bring a sense of adaptive, transformative, and experiential learning across schools at Deakin (since 2013 (Malaysia) to 2018–2023 (Deakin)). Her focus of research involves unpacking educational game design through a software lens and recently, it has refocused to a more educational view of ‘experiential learning’ across games and educational game design processes.

Prof. Dr. Ali Ahsan is a distinguished academician with extensive experience in higher education, specialising in Business, Technology, and Mergers. Having worked in the USA, Asia, Australia, and Africa, he has held high-level strategic positions in both academia and industry, revolutionising institutions through his dedication to knowledge and education. Dr. Ahsan is an academic leader, entrepreneur, consultant, counsellor, and professional development trainer, working with some of the world’s most renowned corporations, including Fortune 500 companies. Currently serving at Torrens University Australia, he is a Board Member of The WISSEN Group and an Academic Board Member of Torrens University. Dr. Lucija Boskovic is a Program Director at Torrens University Australia, overseeing the Master and Bachelor of Information Systems. She is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at Griffith University's School of Engineering and Built Environment. Under her leadership, the program has achieved accreditation from the Australian Computer Society (ACS), signifying its adherence to high-quality training and industry relevance.

Dr Lucija Boskovic is an accomplished academic leader with over two decades of experience in engineering, information systems, and engineering management. She is currently the Head of the Master and Bachelor of Information Systems programs at Torrens University Australia, where she leads a team of 55 academic staff and drives strategic curriculum innovation in collaboration with global industry leaders such as AWS, CISCO, and the ACS. Passionate about enhancing student employability, diversity, and inclusion, Dr Boskovic is committed to delivering transformative learning experiences. She also holds an Adjunct Research Fellow position at Griffith University, contributing to research in Nanoscience and mentoring emerging scholars.

Mary Gonzalez is a Petroleum Engineering Academic Staff member and the Associate Head of People and Culture for the School of Chemical Engineering. Mary is passionate about Learning and Teaching and Gender Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. She is an Education Specialist and a member of the Adelaide Education Academy and the Adelaide College of Reviewers. She is also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Mary joined the Australian School of Petroleum and Energy Resources in 2009, bringing with her several years of experience in the oil and gas industry. During her time in the industry, she worked as a Petroleum Engineer and consultant, delivering practical Petroleum Engineering consultancy services and solutions in subsurface and production engineering. Her career has exposed her to a diverse range of projects, clients, and environments, enhancing her expertise across the field. Mary possesses strong skills in leadership, mentoring, supervision, consulting, and aligning business objectives with engineering practices. She is an active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and serves as a peer reviewer for several Elsevier Journals. Additionally, Mary has contributed her expertise as a technical program committee member for numerous conferences hosted by SPE International and the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA).

Dr Imtinan is a Lecturer in Information Technology at School of Information Technology, Murdoch University, Australia. Her research interests include education technologies including mobile, blended and online learning. In this domain, she is keen to explore the role of cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI and large language models to support teaching and learning. Umera also conducts research in sustainable computing, green IT and human computer interaction. She has received several awards for her excellence in teaching, research and contribution to the community.

Eliza is a dedicated lecturer in Event Management and Tourism, specialising in Event Design and Management, Tourism Studies, Tourism Interpretation, and Business Planning. She is an Advance HE Fellow and was honored with the Gold Cutting Edge Research Award from the Event Management Journal in 2024. Eliza’s previous role at Leeds Beckett University in the UK saw her focus on event management and lead industry projects in collaboration with organizations such as Meetings Professionals International (MPI). Her passion for the field drives her commitment to shaping the next generation of tourism and event professionals.

Nabil Sabra is the founder of the MENA student mentoring programme at AUT. He has recently submitted his PhD at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). The study is interdisciplinary (positioned between graphic design and education) and is a manifestation of his concerns with enhancing learning environments, so they embrace deeper levels of student reflection and personal relevance.

Dr Christine Storer is the senior lecturer in agribusiness with Charles Sturt University teaching agribusiness accounting, finance, risk, investment, marketing, commodity trading and business planning. She has supervised more than 20 post graduate students and worked on over 80 research projects with industry to solve real problems and come up with practical solutions. Many projects have been focused on better meeting industry need for business leaders by understanding the demand for university graduates and how to tailor university education to meet industry needs. Based on linkages with industry she has been successful in securing over $100,000 a year in student scholarships and prizes to attract students to study at Charles Sturt University.

Dr. Jennifer Cutri is a lecturer and researcher at Swinburne University of Technology's Department of Education. She directs the Bachelor of Education Early Childhood Teaching and Bachelor of Education Studies. With six years in the department, she has taught various courses and has international teaching experience in Hong Kong. Her research includes international education, intercultural competence, and virtual reality in early childhood education. Jennifer's primary interests are the sociology of international education and the transnational flow of educators, students, and curriculum in the Asia-Pacific region.

Emma McComb is a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia, a passionate physiotherapist, and a dedicated paediatric clinical educator. Her research focuses on preparing physiotherapy students for clinical placements, with a particular interest in exploring how technology, such as 360-degree cameras, can enhance pre-placement learning and improve student engagement. Emma is committed to bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world practice by investigating evidence-based interventions that support student readiness. She is especially interested in how immersive and interactive learning approaches can enhance clinical education and reduce placement-related anxiety. As a clinical educator, she strives to create innovative and supportive learning environments that empower students to develop confidence and competence. Beyond her professional pursuits, Emma is a busy mum of two young children and enjoys spending time with her cavoodle, Margot. She is passionate about lifelong learning and continuously seeks ways to improve physiotherapy education through research and technology.

Dr Leanne Mullan is a senior lecturer and course coordinator within the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine at the Australian Catholic University. Leanne is interested in increasing student engagement through innovative teaching and learning involving the use of artificial intelligence and experiential learning. In addition to Leanne's role as a Lecturer, Leanne works clinically as a credentialled diabetes educator consulting with patients with all forms of diabetes within a multidisciplinary primary care general practice. Leanne also provides research assistance to Deakin University with her clinical research interests being in diabetes management and primary care service delivery.

Dr Leonie Newnham has many years’ experience in tertiary education including academia and education and training. Coupled with a similar number of years’ experience in businesses across various sectors including all levels of government, academia, education and training, corporate governance, and not-for-profit sectors. Her career has included academia, education and training programs, executive and strategic management, operational policy, organizational and workforce planning, innovation and change management, major business projects and managing organisations and teams. Leonie has been researching for over two decades. She has taught at a number of Higher Education Institutions and works at Torrens University as a Senior Lecturer. She has been recognised by receiving a number of awards for excellence in teaching. She is undertaking research in the following areas: The relationship between Workplace innovation and Culture, Public Sector Management, Innovation and Culture and The Future of work including agile workplaces, innovation and culture. She is passionate about making a positive change to teaching and the practice of scholarship and has been working on initiatives around authentic assessments for post-graduate students.

Dr Chinh Ngan Nguyen Le is a lecturer in the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Department at Hue University of Foreign Languages. She is currently a visiting researcher at the School of Education at the University of Adelaide. She holds a Master’s in TESOL from Hue University of Foreign Languages, a Master’s in Education, and a Doctoral degree in Education from the University of Adelaide. Her research focuses on TESOL, educational technology, curriculum development, lexicography, and corpus linguistics. Currently, her work emphasizes popularizing corpus linguistics as a tool for advancing interdisciplinary research.

Dr Sharon Oberstein is a Senior Lecturer and Nexus Fellow (UNSW Sydney, School of Optometry and Vision Science), and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK). She qualified as an optometrist in South Africa (Cum laude) and graduated with PhD on driving with central vision loss and bioptic telescopes (UNSW Sydney), for which she was awarded the Menzies Research Scholarship in Allied Health Sciences. She co-ordinated, developed and teaches into the Graduate Diploma in Orientation and Mobility. Advanced skills in low vision have led to contributions to multi-disciplinary conferences and low vision rehabilitation planning committees.

Dr Rebecca Russell (pronouns she/her) is a Teaching and Research Academic in the Curtin School of Population Health. She is a qualified chef and a lecturer in the Nutrition Discipline where she teaches in the Undergraduate Nutrition degree in public health nutrition and food and nutrition sociology. Rebecca is recognised professionally as a Registered Public Health Nutritionist with the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) and she is the Co-Chair of the NSA Perth Regional Group.

Craig Sims is a Lecturer in Learning Technologies at Curtin University's School of Education in Perth, Australia. With a Bachelor of Science degree and extensive teaching experience across secondary schools, further education colleges, and higher education institutions in the United Kingdom and Australia, Craig has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing educational practices. His teaching areas include human biology, molecular biology, pharmacology, STEM education, and the integration of technology into learning environments. Craig's research focuses on contemporary themes such as attitudes toward STEM education, gamification in learning, and the innovative use of virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching methodologies. Craig has published studies on game-based learning tools, applications of VR in student orientation, attitudes to STEM education of Western Australian pre-service teachers, and the application of generative AI in education. His dedication to educational innovation and technology-enhanced learning has garnered him multiple accolades and recognition for his contributions to the field. Craig also collaborates with industry leaders to develop AI-driven student-centred learning tools, further cementing his impact on the academic community.

Dr Kathy Egea is a Senior Lecturer ands a member of the Central UTS Teaching and Curriculum team. In that role she leads the First and Further Year Experience (FFYE) program, where she was the inaugural l coordinator since 2011. .This university-wide program represents a systematic approach to enhancing the student transition journey through their degree programs, that provides grants, and data to academics, runs forums and a blog program for academics, professional staff and students, and facilitates a huge FFYE Community Microsoft Teams site (over 1100 members). Kathy leads a local team of faculty coordinators and together they work with an advisory team of professional staff in middle management roles to ensure faculty and student support are cognisant of current challenges. She is a STARS Fellow, for her practice, and was a finalist in 2021 CAULLT Global Good Practice Award. In 2023, She co-authored the inaugural module on First Year Transition for Contemporary Approaches to University Teaching (CAUT) MOOC.