Public health and mental health researcher with expertise in co-designed of research, education, and services. 

I have funded programs of co-designed research, working in partnership with diverse communities and interest-holders to define research priorities, generate new knowledge, and develop effective, research-informed and community resonant solutions. I also co-design undergraduate and postgraduate curricula, clinical educaton, models and approaches to care, and workforce frameworks. Central to my work, is a commitment to health equity and knowledge justice for people with lived experience, including of mental health challenges, substance use, disability, chronic illness, homelessness, and marginalisation. 

Capacity development for co-design research is also a central feature of my work. In partnership with people with lived experience, I lead an initiative known as Raising the Bar, which aims to increase capacity for co-design research across the health sector. The Raising the Bar team have co-produced models of research partnership, as well as resources to build capacity for co-design research, including the widely known and disseminated Co-design Kickstarter guide, created in partnership with people with lived experience for the Community Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Research Network, Mental Health Coordinating Council. The Co-design Kickstarter is recommended by the Mental Health Commission of NSW, in the Leading the Change Toolkit.

I have received awards for my co-design work including: 2024 Research Award St Vincent's Health Network for Co-design of a Mobile Cooling Hub for people experiencing homelessness; 2023 Notre Dame Certificate of Excellence of Community and Consumer Involvement in Health Resarch; 2022 UTS Dean's Academic Excellence Social Justice and Equity in research and education; the Raising the Bar team were finalists in the 2025 Australian Consumer Partnerships in Research Awards; and I was a finalist in the 2025 South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Awards for co-design of LGBTQ educational resources.

I am currently the Head of Discipline (Mental Health) in SoNM, College of Health Medicine and Wellbeing. I have held research leadership positions across academia and health services, including as a Conjoint Associate Professor of Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services, Northern Sydney Local Health District, and Director of the Health Equity Research Collective in SoNM at University of Technology Sydney. I have extensive tertiary level teaching and coordination experience (17 years) in mental health and population health, including in collaborative mental health care, trauma-informed care, therapuetic practices, lived experience epistemologies, health promotion, social determinants of health, cultural safety, primary health care, community development, and participatory and qualitative research methods. 

I am an educator, researcher, and community advocate with a strong interest in language education, English studies, and supporting culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

My professional interests include English language teaching, second language acquisition, inclusive education, and community engagement. I am committed to using my knowledge and experience to create accessible, empowering pathways for CALD individuals and families in Australia.

Research Expertise: Interpreting and translation; English as a second langauge; English literature; Arabic Literature

Siddharth (Sid) Acharya is a structural and molecular biologist and final-year PhD candidate in Medical Biochemistry at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and University of Newcastle, Australia.

His doctoral research focuses on mitochondrial ultrastructure and remodelling in the human placenta, integrating advanced volume electron microscopy, cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), computational image processing and quantitative 3D morphometry to investigate placental development and dysfunction.

Sid completed a Bachelor of Biotechnology with First Class Honours in 2023, receiving the University of Newcastle College Medal for academic excellence, and holds an additional Bachelor of Information Technology. His multidisciplinary training in biological science and computing underpins his research interests in developing and applying advanced imaging technologies to complex biological questions.

During his PhD, Sid pioneered the application of array tomography and cryo-ET to investigate mitochondrial networks and cristae architecture in the human placenta. He has subsequently developed computational workflows integrating deep-learning-assisted segmentation, tomographic reconstruction and quantitative morphometric analysis to characterise organelle architecture in healthy and pathological placental tissue.

Sid's research has involved international training and collaborations across leading institutions. In 2025, he completed a three-month internship at the Electron Bio-Imaging Centre (eBIC), Diamond Light Source, United Kingdom, in collaboration with the University of Oxford, specialising in the use of cryo-electron microscopy to characterise pancreatic cancer therapeutics. He was also awarded a competitive Society for Reproductive Investigation International Training Grant to undertake placental stem cell organoid research at the University of Auckland in 2024, and attended the prestigious Placental Biology Course at the University of Cambridge in 2025.

His research contributions include a first-author publication in Nature Communications, a first-author invited review in Placenta, and collaborations spanning placental physiology, mitochondrial biology and reproductive medicine. In 2024, he received the Elsevier Placenta New Investigator Award for Best Oral Presentation at the International Federation of Placenta Associations Annual Conference in Montreal, Canada. He has delivered invited research presentations at institutions including the University of Oxford, University of Melbourne, and University of Auckland.

Sid's research interests encompass placental physiology, mitochondrial biology, structural cell biology, advanced electron microscopy and computational imaging, with a particular focus on establishing innovative imaging approaches to address clinically relevant questions in reproductive and women's health.

Prof. Stephen Ackland is Professor, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastleand Consultant Medical Oncologist at Lake MacQuarie Oncology. He is an Executive member, Hunter Cancer Research Alliance; Director, University of Newcastle Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research Innovation and Translation; Director of Clinical Cancer Research Network HNE Health; Co-director of Hunter Medical Research Institute Cancer Research Program; Director, Australasian GastroIntestinal Trials Group . He has played a key role in organisation, harmonisation and enhancements of translational and clinical research locally, on a state basis and nationally. He is Editor-in-Chief, Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology. He was previously the Director of Hunter Cancer Research Alliance (2011-2019),  and was an inaugural member of the PRIMe consortium (Pharmacogenomics Research towards Individualised Medicine), a NSW Cancer Council-funded collaboration of 8 NSW hospitals and research institutes with the aim of facilitating cancer pharmacogenomics research in NSW (2011-2016).

Previous committee appointments include: Honorary Secretary, Medical Oncology Group of Australia, 1997-2000; Chairman, Medical Oncology Group of Australia, 1999-2000. Chair, Specialist Advisory Committee in Medical Oncology, RACP, 1999-2000; AMWAC Committee on Medical Oncology 1999-2001; President, Clinical Oncological Society of Australia 2004-2005; Director, Australian & New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group, 2007-, (and Chairman 2015-2017); Director, NSW Cancer Council, 2006-2014.

He is the author of over 150 original publications in peer-reviewed journals and first author on 31 of these. He was co-owner of 2 patents. He has been investigator on grants totaling $30m since 1999, including lead investigator on 24 grants valued at approx $22m. He has had extensive involvement in cancer clinical trials, clinical pharmacokinetics and pre-clinical pharmacology of anticancer drugs and combinations. He has been the principal investigator on several Australian multi-institutional randomised controlled trials run through cancer cooperative trials groups, and principal investigator on a number of phase I & II trials. He is/has been a member of the trial management committee of a number of cancer cooperative trials groups, undertaking multi-institutional trials in breast and GI cancer.

Research Expertise
Basic and clinical pharmacology of anticancer drugs, including drug measurement, pharmacokinetics pharmacodynamics, and relevant genetics/genomics. Clinical trials in cancer mainly medical oncology.

Teaching Expertise
Teaches medical, nursing and allied health students and postgraduates in basic and clinical oncology. Also science students in pharmacology.

Administrative Expertise
Director of Medical Oncology 2001-2005. Managed the Medical Oncology research program (9 staff, clinical and lab, 1987-2019). Chair of HMRI Cancer Research Program 2003-2019. Director, Hunter Cancer Research Alliance 2011-2019. President of Clinical Oncological Soc of Australia 2004 and 2005. Chairman, Medical Oncology Group of Australia 1999 and 2000. Board member, TheraPPy Pty Ltd 2004-2006. Board member (non-Executive Director) Cancer Council NSW 2006-2014. Member, International Affairs Committee, Am Soc of Clin Oncol, 1998-2000 and 2006-2009. Board member (non-Executive Director), ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group 2007-2017 (Chairman, 2015-2017).

Research Expertise: Medical Oncology; Pharmacogenomics; Clinical Trials; Medicine; Pharmacology; Pharmacokinetics

Marc T. P. Adam is an Associate Professor in Computing and IT at the School of Information and Physical Sciences. He received the undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg, Germany, and a PhD in Information Systems (Dr. rer. pol.) from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany.

Dr Alexandra Adams is a Lecturer and early career researcher in the Discipline of Psychological Sciences at the University of Newcastle.

Her research examines how neurological and gastrointestinal functioning relate to cognitive performance, social behaviour, and emotional wellbeing. Her early work advanced understanding of social cognitive difficulties in populations experiencing neurological change, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and healthy ageing.

Dr Adams’ current research focuses on the microbiota–gut–brain axis, with a particular interest in how gut health and the gut microbiome relate to cognitive performance and subjective cognitive difficulties such as “brain fog”. Her work involves multidisciplinary collaborations across psychology, microbiology, dietetics, and exercise physiology to better understand links between gastrointestinal functioning, cognition, and wellbeing.

Research Expertise: Social cognition; Gut-brain axis; Emotional wellbeing; Stroke; Cognition

Dr Danielle Adams is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow within the School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, specialising in statistical genetics and bioinformatics. Her research investigates the genetic factors that contribute to disease progression, with a focus on conditions such as anorexia nervosa, coronary artery disease, dyslexia, and hypertension. Dr Adams uses cutting-edge statistical techniques and large-scale genetic data to better understand which individuals may benefit from personalised medical interventions.

Dr Danielle Adams demonstrates exceptional analytical skills through her application of advanced statistical methods to complex genetic data. Her work involves integrating multiomic datasets and large biobank datasets within high powered computing environments. She employs techniques such as causal inference modelling, polygenic risk scoring, mendelian randomisation, and variance quantitative trait loci analysis to uncover biological mechanisms underlying complex traits, with a focus on methodological applicability rather than disease specificity. By triangulating evidence across models, Dr Adams ensures the reliability and validity of her findings. Her analytical expertise not only advances understanding of disease progression but also supports the development of targeted interventions within precision medicine.

Her research involves collaboration with global initiatives such as the UK Biobank, and she contributes to clinical trials aimed at implementing precision medicine in real-world healthcare. In addition to her research, Dr Adams has taught and mentors students across levels, from primary education to postgraduate research, and is active in the scientific community through peer review work for academic journals.

Research Expertise: Complex trait genetics; Anorexia nervosa; Bioinformatics; Statistical genetics; Medical genetics; Genome wide association studies

Professor Frank Agbola is a Development Economist. Frank Agbola joined the University of Newcastle, Australia, in 2002. Before this, Frank Agbola held lecturing positions at Monash University, Australia, Curtin University, Australia, and the University of Queensland, Australia.

Research Expertise:

Frank Agbola's research expertise is in the area of Agricultural Economics, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Development Economics, International Economics, Tourism Economics and Small Business Economics. Frank Agbola has published over 120 research outputs, including 67 articles in top-tier journals, 2 books, 4 book chapters, 4 industry reports and several conference papers.

Frank Agbola is an experienced supervisor. He won the 2021 College of Human and Social Futures Inaugural Excellence Award for Research Excellence - Supervision. Frank has supervised and is currently supervising several PhD and Master's students in the areas of Economic Growth, Capital Flows, International Trade and Finance, Poverty and Inequality, Technology Adoption in Agriculture, SME Firm Performance, Supply Chain Management, and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Teaching Experience:

Frank Agbola has taught econometrics, business statistics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, development economics, agricultural economics, international trade and marketing courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Editorial Roles:

Frank Agbola has served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Small Business Management, Guest Editor for Tourism Economics, Guest Editor for Economies, Editor-In-Chief of the African Journal of Technical Education and Management, and Editorial Board Member of Tourism Economics, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Contemporary Management Research, and Economies. Frank Agbola is serving as a reviewer for several leading international journals.

Administrative Expertise:

Prof. Frank Agbola has held several leadership positions at the University of Newcastle, Australia.

1. Director, Asia Pacific Research Centre, College of Human and Social Futures, (2021:01-2022:12)
2. Assistant Dean - Asia-Pacific Engagement & Founding Director of Asia Pacific Research Centre, College of Human and Social Futures, (2021:01-2022:12)
3. Assistant Dean Research Training, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Newcastle, Australia (2019:10-12).
4. Deputy Head (Research), Newcastle Business School, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Newcastle, Australia (2014:01-2019:09).
5. Deputy Head (Teaching and Learning), Newcastle Business School, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Newcastle, Australia (2014:01-2015:03).
6. Head of Economics Discipline, Newcastle Business School, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Newcastle, Australia (2009:01-2012:12).

Research Expertise: Environmental Economics and Sustainability; Small Business Economics; Economic Development; Applied Econometrics; Tourism Economics; International Finance and Trade; Agricultural Economics; Econometrics

Kylie commenced employment at the University of Newcastle as a casual academic in 2004, and held a permanent appointment between 2007 and 2014. She left this position in 2014, but continues to be engaged at the University as a conjoint lecturer and in casual positions. Her practice experience includes work with homeless and vulnerable young people and women experiencing domestic violence, in contact with the criminal justice system and working towards employment. Kylie has developed, taught and evaluated a variety of theory, practice and research courses, also researching and publishing in the area of undergraduate social work experience.

Research Expertise
Kylie is particularly interested in qualitative research with vulnerable populations, and has conducted research with Indigenous communities, women from disadvantaged backgrounds and residents in aged care facilities. She is particularly interested in researching family estrangement with three studies completed; older people estranged from their adult children, adult children estranged from one or more parents, and Palliative Social Workers' experiences of working with estranged clients at the end of life. She has researched the experiences of frontline workers in unemployment and emergency relief services. She has also researched the undergraduate social work experience including; the new graduate experience, the first year experience, teaching social work students about violence and trauma, teaching social work students about LGBTI issues and work integrated learning.

Teaching Expertise
2011 - Team member: "Renewing social work curriculum about non-heterosexualities to support student experience and increase professional development", UoN Teaching and Learning Project Grant ($10,000).
2011 - Team member: "Indicators of work readiness in social work students", UoN External Relations Project Grant ($7,000).
2008- 2010 - Team member of joint university project: "On-line student supervision training – accessible and cooperative learning in social work", Australian Learning and Teaching Council Competitive Grant ($179,000). 

Research Expertise: Social work; Groupwork; Ageing; Grief and loss; Family Estrangement; Qualitative research; Social Work Education; Self-care (stress, burnout and vicarious trauma); Domestic and family violence; Experience based learning

I am a young and dynamic materials researcher, innovator and chemical engineer in the field of energy, oil/gas and nanotechnology with experience of over 6 years of academia, research and industry in India, UAE and Australia.

Research Expertise: Nanoporous material synthesis and application; catalysis; fine chemical synthesis; Nanotechnology; Mesoporous Materials; corrosion; self healing coatings; Advanced material characterization; carbon capture

Dr Iftekhar Ahmed is an Associate Professor and previous Program Convenor of the Master of Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development, University of Newcastle, Australia. He teaches policy and social aspects of disaster risk reduction, resilience of the built environment and sustainable development. His research interests include post-disaster housing, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and urbanisation in the Asia-Pacific. He has written several books and many peer- reviewed publications and engages in various research and evaluation projects relating to disaster resilience. He is the lead author of the recent book "Disaster Resilience in South Asia: Tackling the Odds in the Sub-Continental Fringes" (Routledge, UK, 2020).

Research Expertise: Vernacular Architecture; Developmental Architecture; Community Engagement; Appropriate Construction Technology; Resilience; Urban Built Enviroment; Climate Change Adaptation; Disaster Risk Reduction; Post-Disaster Reconstruction

Dr. Muhammad Ibrar Ahmed is a research associate at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He is an accomplished electrochemist who has been working on developing advanced materials for energy applications for more than ten years. With a Ph.D. focused on electrochemical ammonia production from the University of New South Wales, Australia, Dr. Ibrar has been at the forefront of developing alternative methods to the energy-intensive Haber‑Bosch process.

Before moving to Australia, Dr. Ibrar contributed significantly to advanced materials development at the esteemed Centre of Excellence in Nanotechnology at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, by collaborating on projects with global impact. His work as a research Scientist focused on developing materials for heterogeneous, photo/electrochemical catalysis and petrochemical applications.

Dr. Ibrar's current research continues to break new ground, focusing on nitrate reduction as an innovative pathway for ammonia production. His contributions have been published in top-tier scientific journals and recognized with prestigious awards within the energy research community. As a student of science, Dr. Ibrar is committed to inspiring and learning from the next generation of scientists, sharing his knowledge through formal teaching and public speaking engagements. 

Research Expertise: Ammonia; Nanotechnology; Energy storage and conversion; Electrochemistry; Hydrogen; Catalysis

Eugene Aidman is Principal Scientist at Defence Science & Technology Group (DSTG) in South Australia. He is also Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Sciences (University of Newcastle) and Psychology (University of Sydney), a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Sports Medicine Federation. He is the originator of the Cognitive Fitness Framework, with his current research at the intersection of neuroscience, performance psychology and human factors focused on developing Cognitive Gym interventions that integrate performance optimisation with preventative mental health measures.

Jo joined the University of Newcastle in mid-2010. Prior to that she held academic positions at The University of Edinburgh, Queensland University of Technology and Charles Sturt University. She has also held positions as Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood at Queensland University of Technology (2009-2011) and Visiting Scholar at the Moray House School of Education, The University of Edinburgh (Aug - Dec 2013). As a classroom teacher Jo taught children from 6 months old through to 10 years old across primary schools and early childhood education settings in Queensland, Australia and in London, UK.

Jo's early childhood research investigates relationships of power in early childhood education, including how relationships are produced and managed in early years settings – between children and children, staff and children and parents and staff. She has also undertaken policy analysis research on preschool education and on the historical place of women/mothers in early childhood education. Overall Jo is interested in questions about relationships of power and of care, and how women and children constitute their daily lives and relationships as mothers, early childhood practitioners and children in early years settings.

Jo is also working on a research and teacher training project involving a rural school in Zimbabwe, together with Dr Stephanie Bengtsson. Our work in Zimbabwe is centred on school community development, and examines how local expertise and capacity can be harnessed to overcome the many challenges facing the Zimbabwean education system today.

In collaboration with Dr Margot Ford, Jo leads the University of Newcastle's National Exceptional Teaching for Disadvantaged Schools project. This project is run in collaboration with UNE, ACU, Deakin, VU, & WSU. This is a teaching and mentoring project for outstanding preservice teachers who are committed to working in schools that service communities in areas of Low SES.

Research Expertise
Jo's research is situated in early childhood education and care. Jo aims to find spaces that help us think in different ways about young children, their education and the relationships between the adults who care for them. To do this she makes use of poststructural theorising, to investigate and challenge some of the 'common knowledges' of early childhood education, for example play. Her emphasis in this research and investigation is enabling positive spaces for thinking about (and talking about) young children, their education and the work of those who care for them. She hopes that this thinking helps us reflect upon and challenge the nuances and complexities of early childhood education and care. Aspects of this work are historical and political, engaging in policy analysis and investigating broader historical, social and cultural contexts of families, women's paid work, care and childhood. More recent aspects of Jo's research are focused on the care and education relationship between parents and early childhood educators, including their understandings of their relationships not only with each other as adults, but also their place in the lives of the child/ren they care for.

Teaching Expertise
At the undergraduate level Jo teaches in foundations of early childhood education, including history of early childhood education, sociology of childhood, approaches to early childhood education and policy for early childhood education. She also supervises Honours, Masters, EdD and PhD theses on a range of topics related to early childhood education.

Administrative Expertise
Jo was Program Convener of the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)/Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies degree on Callaghan campus at the University of Newcastle, 2010-2015. She is also course coordinator of undergraduate and masters courses. She has been a member of various University committees and boards across Charles Sturt University, QUT, UoE, and UoN. Jo is currently the Secretary of the International Board of Directors for a non-governmental organisation called Tariro: Hope and Health for Zimbabwe's orphans.

Collaborations
Jo is interested in collaborations with researchers and RHD students investigating history, policy and day-to-day relationships in early childhood education and care.

Research Expertise: Foundations of early childhood education; Relationships in early childhood education; Poststructuralism in early childhood education; Theories of play; Childhood studies; History of early childhood education

Laureate Professor Aitken’s research career began with a PhD in reproductive biology from the University of Cambridge under the supervision of RV Short. Following post-doctoral positions at the Institute of Animal Genetics, University of Edinburgh and the University of Bordeaux, he joined the World Health Organization in Geneva, where he managed two WHO task forces within the Human Reproduction Unit.  In 1977, he was appointed to the Medical Research Council’s Reproductive Biology Unit, University of Edinburgh, to establish a research group in gamete biology with clinical outreach into infertility. In 1992, John was awarded an Honorary Professorship within the Faculty of Medicine of Edinburgh University and in 1998 received an ScD degree from the University of Cambridge, in recognition of his research contributions to reproductive science.  In the same year he moved to the University of Newcastle, NSW, as Chair of Biological Sciences. He is currently Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Medicine. 

John has played a leadership role at many levels within the University sector as Head of Department, Head of School, Director of an ARC Centre of Excellence headquartered in Newcastle and  Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Medicine. This Faculty delivers a very comprehensive suite of educational programs across 4 Schools (Nursing and Midwifery, Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, Medicine and Public Health and Allied Health Sciences) on 27 different locations across NSW. During his term of office the number research fellows within the Faculty has increased from 8 to more than 65, generating research revenue ($62 million in 2018) that currently accounts for more than half of the total research income generated by all the other University Faculties combined. 

John maintains an active research program with a current focus on biotechnology and the molecular origins of genetic mutations in the germ line. He has published over 600 research articles, given more than 430 invited lectures and filed 12 patents. His work has also been cited >42,379times giving him an h-index of 107. Since arriving at the University of Newcastle he has generated nearly $50 million in research income (https://www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/john-aitken#grants)  and has been continuously funded by both the ARC (Discovery, Linkage and Centre of Excellence grants) and the NHMRC (Project and Program grants). His research area (Reproduction and Paediatrics) received the maximum ERA ranking of 5 (above world standard) in the past 2 rounds of evaluation. 

Examples of professional awards include the Walpole prize (Society for the Study of Fertility) in consecutive years (1986,1987), the Puvan Memorial Lecture (Royal Malaysian College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology), Bruce Stewart Memorial Lecture (American Society of Reproductive Medicine) the Amoroso lecture (the most prestigious award offered by the Society for the Study of Fertility) the Jennifer Hallam Memorial Lecture (Family Planning Association of the United Kingdom) and the MJ Edwards lecture (Australian Birth Defects Society).  In 2003, he gave the Lloyd Cox Memorial oration to the University of Adelaide and in 2004 delivered the Founders Lecture (the most prestigious award offered by the Society for Reproductive Biology) at a combined meeting of the SRB and the Endocrine Society of Australia in Sydney.  In 2005, he received the ST Huang-Chan Memorial Medal from the University of Hong Kong, was appointed a Laureate Professor by the University of Newcastle and received the 2005 Scientist-of-the-Year award from the Hunter Medical Research Institute.  In 2006, he delivered the Keynote Address to the American Society of Andrology meeting in Chicago and a Plenary Lecture to the Fertility Society of Australia. He also presented a Keynote Address at the 2007 Frontiers in Bioscience Symposium, to celebrate the 120^thanniversary of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong.  In 2009 he gave the Inaugural Dame Anne McLaren Memorial Lecture at the Fertility 2009 Congress in Edinburgh and in 2010 presented ‘The Yanagamachi Lecture’ to the University of Hawaii and the ‘IJA lecture’ (the most prestigious ward offered by the European Academy of Andrology) to the European Congress of Andrology in Athens. In 2012 he received the Simmet Prize, the highest honour bestowed by the International Congress on Animal Reproduction, for contributions to reprtoductive biotechnology. In the same year he was named as the NSW Scientist-of-the-year. In 2014, he gave John Hughes Memorial Lecture to the International Congress of Equine Reproduction in New Zealand and undertook the prestigious SRF ‘Sex-in-3-cities’ lecture tour of the United Kingdom, delivering public lectures on reproductive health in Edinburgh Nottingham and London. This tour culminated in John being made a Lifetime Member of the UK’s Society for Reproduction and Fertility in recognition of his contributions to reproductive science.  In the same year, he was also made an Honorary Lifetime member of the Austrlaian Society for Reproductive Biology in recognition of his services to the discipline. In 2015 John gave several prestigious plenary lectures including the Lloyd Cox Oration to the University of Adelaide and the RG Edwards Memorial Oration to the Association of Clinical Embryologists in India. In 2016 he was awarded the Carl G Hartman prize, the most prestigious international award in reproductive science, at the Society for the Study of Reproduction’s annual meeting in San Diego, Texas. This was only the second time in its long 47-year history that this award has been bestowed on someone outside of North America. In 2019, John will give a prestigious plenary lecture (David and Rosemary Adamson Lecture on Excellence in Reproductive Medicine) to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine at their annual conference in Philadelphia. 

John has been elected a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Royal Society of New South Wales and the Australian Academy for Health and Medical Sciences.  He is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and has chaired the Academy’s selection committee representing Animal Science. He is an active member of the NHMRC Academy as well as immediate past President of the International Society of Andrology. 

In terms of extramural contributions, John is on the Editorial Boards of several journals at the present time and Chairman of two Scientific Advisory Committees in the healthcare sector (CellOxess and Memphasys). He is also a consultant for Ferring Pharmaceuticals in the area of stem cell biology in a partnership with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. His work has been featured on television [Horizon, Tomorrow’s world, Beyond 2000, Catalyst (3x), radio (Capital radio, SBS radio, ABC national and local radio as well as the BBC’s Crucible, Science Now and Medicine Now)] and printed media including feature articles in the New Scientist, Nature, Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian.

Research Expertise: Infertility; Fertility regulation; Gamete Biology; Biotechnology; Cell Biology; Reproductive Biology; Reproductive Sciences

Dr Taiwo Akanbi is a Senior Lecturer and the Head of Food Science and Human Nutrition. He holds a BSc in Food Science and Technology, an MSc in Food Biotechnology, and a PhD in Food Chemistry and Biotechnology. Since completing his PhD at Deakin University, Australia, he has developed an internationally recognised research program focused on the recovery, stabilisation, and utilisation of high-value compounds from plant, marine, and food by-products.

His research combines food chemistry, biotechnology, and innovative processing technologies to develop sustainable food ingredients and functional products. A major focus of his work is the use of enzymes to produce novel bioactive compounds, including conjugates of marine lipids and polyphenols with potential health benefits. He also develops advanced encapsulation systems for nutrient delivery and investigates strategies for food waste valorisation.

Dr Akanbi is a co-inventor of two patents (WO2015024055A1 and WO2017197453A1) relating to the development and stabilisation of functional food ingredients. These technologies are currently used by industry partners, demonstrating strong commercial impact. He has led several successful industry collaborations, including a recent industry-funded project with Southcoast Mariculture (2024–2025) that resulted in the commercial launch of a mussel-derived pet product.

His contributions to research innovation and industry engagement have been recognised through numerous national and international awards, including the 2026 University of Newcastle Outstanding Service Award for leadership in delivering high-impact industry partnerships.

Research Areas

• Food Bioprocessing
• Food Enzymes
• Encapsulation for Nutrient Delivery
• Functional Food Ingredients
• Marine Bioactive Compounds
• Food Waste Valorisation
• Sustainable Food Processing Technologies

Available Research Projects

1. Non-thermal processes for shelf-life extension and preservation of seafood
2. Novel strategies for extraction of bioactive compounds from food processing waste.
3. Winery waste valorisation.
4. Encapsulation of biofunctional ingredients.

Associate Professor Behnam Akhavan, an Australian Research Council (ARC) DECRA Fellow and an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Newcastle, Australia, heads the Plasma Bio-engineering Laboratory at the School of Engineering and the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI).

Since obtaining his PhD in Advanced Manufacturing from the University of South Australia in 2015, he has held postdoctoral and academic positions at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research and Fraunhofer Institute of Microtechnology in Germany, and the University of Sydney.

AProf Akhavan's pioneering work in plasma surface bio-engineering, published in over 90 journal articles, has led to innovative applications in healthcare and beyond. He is recognised by Engineers Australia as one of the nation’s Most Innovative Engineers.

Research Expertise: Biomaterials; Functional materials; Bio-engineering; Plasma surface engineering; Biomedical Engineerin

Dr Al-iedani is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the HMRI Imaging Center, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing. He received his PhD from the School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle in 2020. Oun’s PhD designed and implemented a novel FAST MRSI technique and multi-voxel segmentation method to map the neurometabolic profiles of Multiple Sclerosis patients and healthy control subjects.

Research Expertise: FAST MRSI; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); Multiple Sclerosis (MS); Data post processing; Image Processing; In vivo diffusion studies; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)

James Albright joined the Newcastle University’s School of Education in 2008 after working at Singapore’s National Institute of Education (Nanyang Technological University) and Teachers College, Columbia University. He is internationally known for his contributions to the sociology of education, and his research in curriculum theory, literacy education, professional development, and school change.

Jim was recently awarded funding for the project, Enabling Better Engagement in Learning for All: Mapping UON's 'Enabling Pedagogy' in a conceptual framework. A Newcastle University Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education (CEEHE) commissioned project, it critically examines pedagogical and curricular issues within the context of the university’s commitment to non-traditional students enrolled in its enabling education programs.

Since his appointment, he has served as chief investigator on two ARC Linkage projects. The Educational and career aspirations in the middle years of schooling: understanding complexity for increased equity (2012-2015) gathering data from students, teachers, and parents from diverse settings throughout NSW to investigate socioeconomic influences on the emerging aspirations of students in the middle years. A ‘composite capital construct’ juxtaposing the theories of Bourdieu (1986) and Becker and Tomes (1986) was used to theoretically frame the investigation. Drawing on data from a mixed-method longitudinal study of more than 6000 students in Years 3-12 in New South Wales public schools, the project mapped the intersection of students’ career aspirations with SES and other demographic variables. The project questioned two key assumptions about outreach activities: first, that students from low-SES backgrounds hold lower career aspirations; and second, that these activities appropriately target secondary school students, given that younger students’ aspirations are relatively under-developed. Its analyses demonstrated both the early solidification of students’ aspirations and the significant, but complex, impact of socioeconomic differences. This project contributed to the evidence base for academic, educational, and political work on access to higher education and the policies, practices, and outcomes that might ensue. Initial findings are reported in Gore, J., Holmes, K., Smith, M., Southgate, E., & Albright, J. (2015). Socioeconomic status and the career aspirations of Australian school students: Testing enduring assumptions. The Australian Educational Researcher, 42(2), 155-17.

The Peopling Educational Policy: Realising the New Australian English and Mathematics Curricula (2011-2013) project researched the impact of the Australian Curriculum (AC) initiative in English and mathematics. The project focused on the resources needed and professional learning opportunities needed to support teachers in the implementation of these new curriculums and the system and teacher learning and processes needed to support improvement in practice in the context of the new curriculum. Recent publications from this project are: Albright, J. & Knezevic, L. (2017). Professional Learning for a new English Curriculum: Catholic Education Melbourne primary teachers and AUSVELS English F-10. English in Australia, (52)1, and Knesevic, L. & Albright, J. (2016) Responding to the National Curriculum: The embedded approach to change of the Catholic Education Office Melbourne. Leading and Managing. 2, Summer/Fall.

His forthcoming co-edited book with Deborah Hartman and Jacquie Widdin, Bourdieu's Field Theory and the Social Sciences (Palgrave, 2017) emerged from a colloquium he organised on Bourdieusian inspired research employing field analysis. The colloquium show-cased a broad range of research applying field analysis, by presenters from Europe and the UK (via video links), Denmark, New Zealand and Australia.

Jim is editor in chief of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102) a scholarly international open access journal that publishes extended full-length research papers that have the scope to substantively address current issues in education. He is also a member of the editorial boards of Pedagogies and Digital Culture in Education.

He enjoys teaching and is passionate about encouraging students to become confident educational researchers through practice-based learning. His research expertise informs both masters and doctoral teaching and advising.

In 2015 he was appointed to the ERA Research Evaluation Committees (RECs) – University of Newcastle, Education and Human Society Committee.

Research Expertise: Professional Development; Qualitative Research; Curriculum Studies; Literacy Education; Teacher Education; Multiliteracies; School Reform; Bourdieu

Research
Carissa's PhD thesis focused on pharmacy health services in the field of sleep health. Her research centred on developing professional practice guidelines for pharmacist-delivered sleep apnoea services. Since working at the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health, her secondary field of research interest lies in rural health.

Teaching
Carissa has experience as an academic teacher and course coordinator in health and medical sciences in higher education. Programs she has taught within include: health science, foundation studies nursing, medical science, pharmacy, and paramedic practice. Carissa is a senior fellow with the Higher Education Academy. Senior fellowship status acknowledges key contributions to high quality student learning, incorporation of scholarship within pedagogic practice, and successful leadership of others within a higher education environment.

Clinical
Carissa is a registered pharmacist with experience in the private and public health care sectors.

Industry
Carissa has experience in business management, team leadership and supporting staff development. 

Research Expertise: sleep health; health services research; pharmacy practice; rural health

Dr. Jessica Allen has a multidisciplinary background spanning both chemical engineering and chemistry. She has worked in both industry and academia on projects spanning fundamental research to commercial design. Dr Allen completed her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at the University of Newcastle before taking up a PhD in chemistry with the CSIRO Energy Centre, Newcastle. After completing her PhD, focused on solar thermal hydrogen production, Dr Allen accepted an industry position as a project/research engineer with start-up bioenergy technology company Pacific Pyrolysis. Dr Allen returned to academia in 2013, taking up a post-doctoral position with the University of Newcastle in the Applied Electrochemistry group, part of the Faculty of Science and IT. Dr Allen was then appointed in 2017 as a lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Newcastle, and as a principal researcher for the Priority Research Centre for Frontier Energy Technologies and Utilisation. In 2021 she was awarded and Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award specialising in integration of carbon electrolysis for carbon capture and utilisation as well as solar thermal manufacturing processes.

Research Expertise

Dr Allen has worked and published extensively in:

• Renewable energy systems for biomass and solar thermal (pyrolysis, molten carbonates)
• Energy storage (Electrochemical: including fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors, and  thermochemical: including the chemical storage of energy as hydrogen through solar driven thermochemical water splitting)
• Low emission coal (direct carbon fuel cell)

Energy storage, particularly electrochemical energy storage, is Dr Allens’ particular specialty area. She has worked and published extensively in electrolyser and fuel cell technologies as well as collaboratively on the development and fabrication of supercapacitor and battery materials.

Dr Allen’s post-doctoral work focused on the direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC), which is a high temperature fuel cell with the potential to halve carbon emissions and eliminate particulates related to thermal processes, making the technology able to be located close to urban areas. Her area of study encompasses electrochemical assessment of the carbon electrooxidation reaction, molten salt properties, as well as engineering design of high temperature fuel cells.

She has also been directly involved in renewable energy systems for biomass as a professional engineer through her work with Pacific Pyrolysis and Licella. As a research engineer working for Pacific Pyrolysis, Dr Allen operated an innovative slow pyrolysis, greenwaste-to-biochar pilot plant and carried out extensive mass and energy balance investigations including the development of a model able to predict energy generation expected for a specific feedstock.

Dr Allen also has experience in solar thermal energy since her PhD work referred to the hybrid sulfur cycle, a thermo-electrochemical cycle for the production of hydrogen from water using solar energy inputs. She has several highly cited relevant research papers in this area as the cycle and its applications are of increasing research interest globally.

More recently and as part of her DECRA fellowship, Dr Allen is also interested in molten alkali-metal carbonate salts, which have properties favourable for application in concentrating solar power (CSP) technology as well as interesting electrochemical properties. She is an advocate for the development of carbon negative technologies which also have economic advantages, such as the Solar Thermo-electrochemical Carbon Generation (STECG) process for which she has developed a novel process concept.

Research Expertise: electrochemistry; energy storage; fuel cells; biomass; hydrogen; carbon dioxide utilisation; molten salts; high temperature fuel cell; bioenergy; solar thermal

Dr. Muhammad Alqudah (RN, MSN, Ph.D.) is a lecturer in nursing at the University of  Newcastle (UON) - School of Nursing and Midwifery. Dr. Alqudah is also a registered nurse with more than 20 years of experience in clinical practice in Australia and overseas; he completed his Bachelor's degree in Nursing in 1998 from Jordan, his Master's degree from Wollongong University Australia in October/2008, and was awarded his Ph.D. from Western Sydney University - School of Nursing and Midwifery in 2015. 

Muhammad is a former academic staff member in the School of Nursing and Midwifery - at Western Sydney University from 02/2012 to 07/2016, where he taught undergraduate nursing courses. He teaches in undergraduate nursing programs and supervises and supports Ph.D. students at the University of  Newcastle. Dr. Alqudah has considerable experience in teaching different subjects, including- Evidence-Based Nursing, Research Methodology, Foundation for clinical practice, and Bioscience for nursing students.

My Philosophy: I believe that education is the best tool to improve people's knowledge, change their attitudes, believes, and increase their confidence. The presentation of any educational program is crucial; any educational material should be managed and demonstrated carefully for easy delivery, good understanding, and benefit to our population. As an academic staff and a lecturer, I have the responsibility in recognizing our clients' intellectual levels, levels of health literacy, their interests and needs, and possible ways to attract their attention. Education can make changes if it is delivered in the right way.

Objectives: With my academic and clinical experience in Australia and Overseas, I will aim to develop health education programs in different fields to suit most people with different educational and literacy levels. 

Area of interest

1. Health education
2. Education program development
3. Emergency Department Management
4. Literacy and Health Literacy
5. Health promotions 

DR. MUHAMMAD ALQUDAH |RN, MSN, PHD 

Faculty of Health and Medicine

School of Nursing and Midwifery T: +61 2 49854455

E: muhammad.alqudah@newcastle.edu.au

The University of Newcastle (UON)

University Drive-Callaghan NSW 2308Australia