8H -
Tracks
Track 8
| Thursday, July 9, 2026 |
| 1:45 PM - 4:10 PM |
| Stephen Riady Centre (SRC) Seminar Room 8 Level 2 |
Speaker
Dr Alyce Mason
University of Wollongong
Cultivating Inclusive Learning & Teaching: A Critical-Relational Approach to Professional Learning
1:45 PM - 2:10 PMBiography
Dr Alyce Mason is a third space educational leader working at the intersection of academic, professional, and strategic domains to drive excellence, innovation, inclusion and transformation in learning and teaching across the higher education sector. She specialises in learning design, digital pedagogies, emerging technologies, and academic development, with a strong focus on building communities of practice, enhancing curriculum and teaching quality, and leading institution-wide educational initiatives. Alyce’s approach is collaborative and relational, grounded in empowering others and fostering inclusive, future-focused learning environments and experiences where all learners can thrive. Her research explores the role of technology and professional learning in enhancing inclusive teaching practice and student partnership. Alyce is deeply committed to inclusion, teaching excellence, and purposeful learning design, and partners widely to shape educational strategy and delivery of impactful, multimodal learning experiences across diverse higher education contexts.
Associate Professor Shamika Almeida worked in the corporate sector, spanning the FMCG, banking, apparel, travel, and recruitment consulting industries, for over 10 years before entering academia. Her lived corporate experiences of discrimination in the workplace motivated her to seek answers to why employers may be hesitant to recruit skilled migrants in the Australian workplace. In 2007, Shamika undertook a PhD at the University of Sydney to find answers to these real-life experiences. She is passionate about giving voice to the 'underdogs' in society and using research and education to create awareness regarding exclusionary behaviour in the workplace and identify opportunities to create an inclusive society. To this end, her teaching and research focus is on diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing. She primarily focuses on skilled migrant employment and careers, as well as gender-inclusive work practices that support career progression, the wellbeing of healthcare professionals, and inclusive organisational and leadership practices founded on a care-based perspective.
Assoc Prof Weina Zhang
National University of Singapore
Effective Andragogical Practices for Adult Learners: Survey Evidence from University Educators
2:15 PM - 2:40 PMBiography
Associate Professor Weina Zhang is with the Department of Finance at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School. She is Deputy Director of Sustainable and Green Finance Institute at National University of Singapore and the Academic Director of Master of Science Program in Sustainable and Green Finance. She is the Fellow of NUS Teaching Academy.
Weina is a passionate and devoted educator, teaching undergraduates, postgraduates, and adult learners. She has published more than 50 scholarly outputs including journal articles, whitepapers, and case studies and has received many teaching excellence awards at both the NUS Business School and university levels. She obtained her Ph.D. in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, USA.
Miss Laura Fairbrother
Associate Director Curriculum, Assessment and Teaching Development
Charles Darwin University
From Accidental to Intentional: How teaching recognition shapes academic identity and motivation
2:45 PM - 3:10 PMBiography
Laura Fairbrother is a dedicated and highly skilled curriculum and learning specialist who leads collaborative teaching, training, and professional learning across a variety of international contexts. Laura focuses on building capability to enhance quality teaching and learning in higher education, and she is a strong advocate for continued professional learning.
Prof Deanne Gannaway
University of Queensland
Co-presenter
Biography
Professor Deanne Gannaway is the Academic Lead of the Advancing Teaching portfolio in the Institute of Teaching and Learning Innovation (ITaLI) at the University of Queensland. In this role, Deanne works collaboratively to enhance teaching and learning innovation, teaching practice and recognition of teaching expertise. Her teaching and scholarship focus on continuing professional learning for university teachers and professional education for students; her research collaborations on strategic, evidence-based and innovative projects influencing policy and practice institutionally, nationally and internationally.
Dr Pratima Majal
Temasek Polytechnic
Supporting educator role transitions in the age of ai: implications for professional learning design
3:15 PM - 3:40 PMBiography
Dr Pratima Majal is the Deputy Director at the School of Business, Temasek Polytechnic, where she oversees staff development and academic quality. With extensive experience in pedagogical design and technology integration, she has led numerous training initiatives across schools and Institutes of Higher Learning in Singapore. Previously, she served as Assistant Head at the Centre for eLearning at the National Institute of Education (NIE). Her research interests include AI in education, andragogy in online learning and Workplace Learning.
She holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Western Australia, where her thesis focused on teaching adult learners online in Singapore. She also holds a Master of Education from the University of Sheffield, a Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and a Specialist Diploma in eLearning and Instructional Design from NIE Singapore. In addition to her education-focused qualifications, she holds a Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) from Bombay University and a Bachelor of Commerce and Economics (B.Com).
Dr Joanne Harmon
Adelaide University
Developing innovative interdisciplinary reflective practice, for enhancing academic staff teaching through effective translation, dissemination, and sustained implementation strategies: Teaching Squares.
3:45 PM - 4:10 PMBiography
am Dr Joanne Harmon (RN), a Lecturer in Nursing, where I balance an active research agenda with comprehensive teaching responsibilities.
Research
My research program centres on improving pain management for older adults and promoting active, healthy ageing. Through industry partnerships and multidisciplinary collaboration, I develop user-informed research that contributes to national policy and transatlantic clinical guidelines. I also lead scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) initiatives, including interdisciplinary teaching squares across academic units and theory assessment moderation processes for large nursing and midwifery student cohorts.
Teaching
Over the past ten years, I have coordinated large teaching teams and student cohorts across three campuses, preparing undergraduate nursing students for successful clinical practice. My experience with large-scale course delivery has enabled me to develop innovative approaches that ensure students are work-ready and confident in frontline healthcare settings.
Collaboration
I welcome opportunities for research collaboration and am available to supervise research degree candidates whose interests align with my research areas.
Chair
Dongmei Li
Senior Lecturer
James Cook University, HERDSA Fellow