Committee

Professor Helen Partridge (Chair)

Professor Helen Partridge is Pro Vice Chancellor (Scholarly Information and Learning Services) at the University of Southern Queensland, and is an Adjunct Professor at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).  She has published widely in the area of teaching and learning and has received a number of teaching awards including a Teaching Fellowship in 2008 from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC). Helen was commissioned by the ALTC to produce a Best Practice Report on Blended Learning that could be used to guide the future of higher education teaching and learning in Australia. Helen’s research explores the interplay between information, learning and technology. She has been a visiting Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford (2011) and the Berkman Center for Internet and Society and Society, Harvard University (2014). Follow Helen on Twitter @partridh

Kathy Carey

Kathy has over 20 years’ professional work experience across customer service, sales and marketing and event management. This includes Retail Sales, Banking and Finance, business management and ownership across two diverse industries – Aviation/Aerial Photography and Wholesale Distribution of Fast Moving Consumer Goods.  Kathy has worked in the Higher Education sector at the University of Southern Queensland for over 5 years and is currently the Student Experience Coordinator.  Kathy is responsible for ensuring a positive student experience for all students and ensuring that best practice of service delivery across multiple student communication channels is implemented and maintained to assist front line staff in providing this positive experience. Kathy also works part-time as the Regional Executive Officer for the Association of Tertiary Education Management (ATEM) coordinating Professional Development programs for the region and also has a lead role in ATEM’s marketing campaigns including social media.

Dr Kate Davis

Kate Davis is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southern Queensland’s Digital Life lab. She is an interdisciplinary human experience researcher with interests in social media research, information research (particularly in the context of social media), and scholarship of teaching and learning. Her work focuses on people’s experience of digital life, related to work, study and their everyday lives. Kate primarily researches in the emerging domain of information experience and she is also broadly interested in the way people experience social media as part of their everyday lives. Kate has a strong track record as an innovative teacher and a scholar of teaching and learning, having led projects related to online, blended and dual mode course delivery. Kate tweets as @katiedavis.

Associate Professor Helen Farley

Associate Professor Helen Farley researches within the Digital Life Lab at the University of Southern Queensland. Her research interests include investigating the affordances of emerging digital technologies, including virtual worlds, augmented reality and mobile technologies, in formal and informal learning. She is passionate about digital inclusion and leads the $4.4 million Making the Connection project which recently received an Australian Award for University Teaching for Programs that Enhance Learning. It was also awarded the ACODE & Pearson Award for Innovation in Technology Enhanced Learning. The project introduces internet independent digital technologies into correctional centres to provide access to higher education for prisoners. Over the three years of the project, there have been some 1200 course enrolments over the five pre-tertiary and tertiary programs used in the project. Associate Professor Farley has published extensively and is a featured speaker at both educational technology and corrections conferences. She is also on the ASCILITE Executive and chairs the Community Mentoring portfolio.

Hazel Jones

Hazel is an Educational Designer in the Office of Advancement of Learning and Teaching She has worked in similar roles for ten years at institutions across Australia and has recently developed a passion for learning analytics. She is currently undertaking a PhD at USQ, researching the impacts of adopting learning analytics on the learning and teaching culture of small groups from different disciplines and has completed a Masters of Online Education through USQ. Hazel has been an ASCILITE member since 2008, and has presented at several ASCILITE conferences and participated as a Mentee in the Community Mentoring Program. She is currently one of the leaders of the ASCILITE Learning Analytics SIG.

Dr Megan Kek

Dr Megan Kek is a senior lecturer and Associate Director, Student Learning and Development with the Library Services, Scholarly Information and Learning Services at the University of Southern Queensland. Her specialisation is in problem-based learning, student development, student approaches to learning, and educational environments. She has published a number of papers in influential and high ranking journals. In 2017 she published a co-authored book with Springer entitled “Problem-based Learning into the Future: Imagining an Agile PBL Ecology for Learning”, with a foreword written by Professor Ronald Barnett. She was the co-leader of the team that won the national Singapore Prime Minister’s Enterprise Award for Innovation in Education in 2001 and again in 2003. The awards recognised the most outstanding team whose work has created the highest new value to the public service.

Associate Professor Warren Midgley

Associate Professor Midgley is Head of School (Linguistics, Adult and Specialist Education) at the University of Southern Queensland. His teaching experience is in the area of English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD), having taught English as a Foreign Language in Japan for 12 years, as well as English as a Second Language in Australia. His research expertise is in Sociolinguistics, Educational Research and Digital Futures in Education. Associate Professor Midgley is the lead editor of four books and co-author of two books on research in Education, and has published widely in various scholarly books and journals.

Carmel O’Sullivan

Carmel is the Director of Library Services at the University of Southern Queensland, and has significant experience in the library and information sector, ranging from pioneering a new national role for a top tier law firm, to managing a broad portfolio of cultural services for a local government, and roles at several Australian Universities.   She has extensive experience in change processes and in leading large scale library building and renovation projects, including the acclaimed Science Library at UWA.   She has presented to national conferences and contributed to the profession through her scholarly publications.  Carmel has an excellent understanding of the needs of academics and students in the tertiary education sector, and a deep commitment to client engagement and collaboration.  As USQ’s Director, Library Services, Carmel leads the library team in a process of change and innovation, so as to re-position USQ’s library service for a dynamic future. Twitter: @C_OSulliv

Associate Professor Petrea Redmond

Petrea Redmond is an Associate Professor of Educational Technology in the School of Teacher Education and Early Childhood at the University of Southern Queensland.  Her research is situated in interrelated fields of educational technology including: blended and online learning and teaching; online collaboration; online communities of inquiry; online mentoring; gender and STEM (with a particular focus on technology); community of inquiry; and the integration of technology to enhance learning and teaching in the school and higher education contexts. She has published and co- published in a number of international refereed books, journals and conference proceedings. Petrea has received 6 outstanding conference paper awards at international conferences; faculty and university awards for research and teaching, along with the 2009 Ascilite Fellow Commendation Award (Early Career). She also participates as a mentor in the Ascilite mentoring program and is a Section Editor for Australasian Journal of Educational Technology (AJET).

Adrian Stagg

Adrian Stagg is currently the Manager (Open Educational Practice) for the University of Southern Queensland. His career has included over 14 years in both public and academic libraries, as well as positions as a Learning Technologist and eLearning Designer.  Adrian holds a Master of Applied Science (Library and Information Management). His interest in Open Educational Practice (OEP) has prompted the commencement of a PhD at the University of Tasmania focusing on the practitioner experience in the reuse of Open Educational Resources (OER). His research areas include the ecology of open educational practice and higher education policy as it relates to and supports, open educational initiatives.

Dr Eliza Whiteside

Dr Eliza Whiteside is a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences and a School Coordinator for Learning and Teaching at the University of Southern Queensland. She was awarded her PhD from the Centre for Molecular Biotechnology at Queensland University of Technology in 2001, has held National Health and Medical Research Council-funded research appointments at QUT, Royal North Shore Hospital and University of Sydney and has lectured at QUT, University of Sydney and University of Bedfordshire (UK). Eliza leads a multi-disciplinary research program currently investigating the potential of functional foods in preventing cancer and improving post-cancer wellbeing through psychosocial interventions. In her teaching, Eliza employs experiential learning design and inquiry-based practice and has delivered workshops on creating authentic learning experiences and assessment for biomedical science students in face to face, blended and online environments.

Leonie Sherwin

Leonie is the Manager for Research Support in the University of Southern Queensland’s library.  She has over 25 years work experience in the library sector in public, school, university and special libraries. Prior to her current appointment, Leonie was employed by the University of New England for over seven years as the health-medical librarian. The role was specifically established to support the joint medical program with the University of Newcastle.

Professor Shelley Kinash

Professor Shelley Kinash is the Director, Office for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ). She directly supervises four Associate Directors, each of whom is responsible for a staff team in the four respective areas of: courses, programs, media-enhanced content and academic development. The resulting high-impact outcomes have been: advancement of academic (teaching) staff engagement and achievements, the overall student learning experience and graduate employment. Prior to taking-on this position at USQ, Professor Kinash was the Director of Learning & Teaching at Bond University for 8.5 years. She completed her PhD in Educational Technology through the University of Calgary, Canada and has been an academic for 25 years. Professor Kinash led three national research projects competitively funded through the Australian Government, Office for Learning and Teaching – Graduate Employability, Postgraduate Student Experience and Student Evaluation of Teaching.

Dr Jasmine Thomas

Jasmine Thomas is Senior Project Coordinator (ICT Services) at the University of Southern Queensland. Jasmine holds a Bachelor of Laws (hons) (USQ) and Graduate Certificate of Art and Design (UNSW). She has lectured in e-commerce law, privacy law and postgraduate legal research methodology. Her research interests lie in the areas of technology law, privacy law and legal ethics. She investigated technology use and the priority of place in lawyers’ ethics for her PhD (USQ) thesis, due to be awarded in 2017.

Madelaine-Marie Judd

Madelaine-Marie is the Workplace Learning Coordinator within Scholarly Information and Learning Services at the University of Southern Queensland. Prior to this role, Madelaine-Marie was a Project Manager at Griffith University developing University-wide professional development resources for academics and students relating to Graduate Attributes / employability. Madelaine-Marie has also served as a Project Manager on a range of national research grants funded by the Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching (Graduate Employability, Postgraduate Student Experience, Student Evaluation of Teaching and Model United Nations Conferences). Her research passions include: graduate employability; global and cross-cultural competency; and professional learning. Twitter: @MadelaineMarieJ

Leila Javazmi

Leila Javazmi is a nanotechnology researcher, specialising in Electrospinning Process and Nanofiber Characterization. She undertakes research on nanofiber production, developing well-defined three dimensional nanostructures, hollow nanofiber yarns and potential applications of nanofibrous in agriculture. Leila completed her M.Sc. in Textile Technology Engineering at Isfahan University of Technology in Iran, and joined University of Southern Queensland as a PhD student in 2015. She is a member of Australia Nanotechnology Network and now doing her PhD research under the supervision of Dr Tobias Low and Dr Anthony Young at USQ.

Joel Robbins

Kate Taylor

Kate Taylor is a student at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Toowoomba. Her background in rural and remote Australia has instilled in her a desire to facilitate access to information, providing others with the knowledge needed to comprehend events, as well as political and social changes in the wider world. Her experiences in isolated communities have taught Kate the importance of value-based communication as a key to help individuals and communities unlock the similarities and differences which connect us all. Kate is passionate about the ways in which individuals and groups express their creativity through a variety of artistic mediums and currently volunteers with Artsworx, an arts venue and production house based at USQ Toowoomba. In addition to Kate’s background in retail and management, she sings, teaches guitar and has performed as a support act for The Rubens. Kate is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (Extended).

Kiara Elias

I am a twenty one year old in my final year of my BEDU (primary). Outside of my studies I work in client services at a law firm, tutor primary students and am brand ambassador for a Sunshine Coast styling business. In 2013 I graduated high school with distinction and completed my first year at USQ studying psychology before transferring my degree. I am still interested in developmental and cognitive psychology and may choose to further my studies in the future. Nurturing a growth mindset is important to me and I seek opportunities that will help me to develop personally and professionally. My interest in social media has also allowed me to connect with and be inspired by other teachers. I live on a property outside of Toowoomba with my husband, our two cats and four hens. My happy place is at the farm, enjoying the simple things.

Remal Azitoni

Remal Azitoni is a PhD student at the University of Southern Queensland. After she graduated from college, Remal spent two years as an assistant teacher in the Department of English, Libya. Her educational background includes Licentiate in Education from Libya, Master of Applied Linguistics and Master of Arts from University of Southern Queensland, and she is currently undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy. She has lived in Australia since 2010 with her husband and three children. When she isn’t glued to a computer screen, she spends time cooking, sewing and writing Arabic poetry.

Adina Gunnis

My name is Adina and I am in the final stages of completing a law degree. I am passionate about human rights, equality and the advocacy of the rights of vulnerable people (in particular children). My favourite animals are dogs (golden retrievers above all others!) and I love being on the beach. In my free time I enjoy reading and going jogging. I grew up on a (kind of) farm and think that Toowoomba is just a beautiful mix of the country and city. The number one thing on my bucket list is to become fluent in Italian and to live, breath and feel the beautiful culture for a few years while fulfilling my language dream. I am delighted to be a part of ASCILITE conference and am looking forward to helping make this conference the best one yet!

Jacinta Hoffman

I am a second year nursing student at USQ. I love my degree and cannot wait to be able to go out and pursue a career in the nursing industry, specifically in midwifery. I love travelling, experiencing the world and immersing myself in different cultures. I hope to one day be able to incorporate my love for travelling into my career and work all around the world.