Murdoch University Staff Awards Winners Gallery 2015

School of Engineering
& Information Technology

Graduate Poster Prize
Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
Proudly supported by
School of Engineering and Information Technology
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Jane Pearce
2014 SENATE MEDAL
for exceptional service to the University
Dr Jane Pearce
Associate Dean Learning and Teaching (Retired)
Please tell us when you first joined the Murdoch community. How
would you describe your role at Murdoch? What contribution does
your role make to the university as a whole?
I came to Murdoch in 1996 as an Associate Lecturer in the School of
Education, teaching philosophy and sociology of education. I found a
vibrant and welcoming community. I have had many different roles at
Murdoch. At first I worked part-time in the School of Education while
I studied for my PhD, and then in 2003 became one of two
foundation members of School of Education staff teaching at the
Rockingham campus. I also worked in the UniFocus Program, which
enabled many people from Rockingham, Kwinana and Mandurah to
achieve their dream of studying at university. From late 2012 to the
end of 2014 I was Associate Dean Learning and Teaching in the
School of Education.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Jane Pearce
2014 Senate Medal
You’ve received a 2014 Senate medal. Please tell us what inspires
you to go beyond the call of duty in your role at Murdoch.
Many inspiring people – teachers, students, colleagues –have shown
me that learning at its best is both joyful and life-changing. My late
father, Bob Pearce, was one of those people. He was a passionate and
committed educator, in many ways ahead of his time. He held
strongly-held convictions about what education can and should be. As
a teacher and school principal he always looked for the best in every
student, and worked to help them achieve more than they could ever
have imagined. These were his guiding principles, and I have always
tried to practise them myself.
Is there anyone from your team and the Murdoch community you’d
like to acknowledge for your success? What have they done to help
you?
I have known some amazing teachers and researchers. My two brilliant
supervisors – Jan Currie and Simone Volet – set me on the path to
becoming a scholar, and working with Barry Down I learned what it really
means to be a researcher. In my Rockingham colleagues, such as Liz
Moore, Sarah Veitch, Deb Hamblin and Pim McCready, I found
inspiration and collegiality, and as Associate Dean I received invaluable
guidance from Judy MacCallum and Steve Ritchie. David Holloway, Paul
Comiskey, Louise Dixon, Lisa Cary, Anne Allen, Linda Morton, and the
other ADLTS were wonderful to work with as I came to terms with the
new MUCC environment. I have had stimulating and thought-provoking
conversations about teaching with Kit Lawson, Chris Glass, Nado Aveling
and Caroline Mansfield. Most of all, I acknowledge the support, trust and
friendship of the School of Education ‘family’.
What kind of achievements would you like to see from the Murdoch
community in the next 3-5 years?
I’d like to see everyone taking good care of one another, and continuing
to transform lives by conducting ground-breaking research and practising
ground-breaking pedagogy

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Erich von Dietze
2014 VICE CHANCELLOR’S AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE IN PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES
Dr Erich von Dietze
Manager Research Ethics
Division of Research and Development
I joined Murdoch in 2006. My role is predominantly in research
support. My office provides a range of support for the Animal Ethics
Committee, Human Research Ethics Committee, the Safety in
Research & Teaching Committee and its sub committees, as well as
administering research policy and providing support to the
university’s research integrity processes. To fulfil this role requires
working with diverse committees and also working with those who
need to obtain each committee’s approval for their research –
providing workshops, information and something akin to a
‘translation’ service between researchers and committees. It also
requires sensitivity to many different areas of research both
methodologically as well as the pressures on researchers and
demands made of participants, animals, resources and the like. The
involvement across the university is thus very broad. I find that I am
also frequently consulted on wider matters of ethics and integrity,
and occasionally asked to provide a guest lecture or workshop to
interact with students as they grow into becoming researchers.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Erich von Dietze
2014 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Professional Services
You’ve received the 2014 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Professional Services. Please tell us what inspires you to go beyond
the call of duty in your role at Murdoch.
Learning is integrated into everything we do. I am privileged to be
challenged regularly by some of the greatest thinkers at Murdoch,
and to work with people from the wider community including
members of the various ethics and safety committees and learn from
them their questions and insights. In a role which works
collaboratively with people at all levels, we are constantly open to
being questioned or challenged at some stage. A part of my role is to
communicate the questions the committees ask in a manner which
hopefully enables applicants to respond and which provides for an
effective research approval process. A great privilege in all of this is to
work with students and to see their understanding grow as they
progress through the relevant processes, as well as being challenged
by their insightful questions.
you?
Success in my role is never individual; everything is integrated into team
work. I am grateful to the entire team of staff I am privileged to work
with. In particular I would like to acknowledge the hard work of Moira
Desport, Cree Monaghan, Rebecca Crisp, Joanne Davis, Aggie Meerwald,
Vanessa Hahn and Sarah Dias; each of whom contributes important skills
to the team. I would also like to thank the members of the various
committees who provide voluntary service often over and above their
normal workload, and especially the lay members who come voluntarily
from the wider community and attend regularly, providing their critical
insights. All of these people contribute in diverse and important ways to
the integrated team which enables us to provide our service to the
university.
I see Murdoch as an important university both locally and internationally.
Our relatively small size is an advantage in many ways, and our overall
reputation is excellent. I would like to see us mature further into our
vision, to grow appropriately and to bring the best research we can to
bear onto issues relevant to the wider communities which we serve. This
presents many exciting challenges over the next few years.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Amy Glen
2014 VICE CHANCELLOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
IN LEARNING AND TEACHING
(General Teaching Excellence in a Discipline)
Dr Amy Glen
Lecturer Mathematics and Statistics
I joined Murdoch University as a Lecturer in Mathematics & Statistics
in mid 2009.
You’ve received a 2014 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Learning and Teaching. Please tell us about what inspires you to go
beyond the call of duty in your role at Murdoch.
Teaching is a strong passion of mine. For one, it allows me to share
my excitement for mathematics with students; to open their eyes to
the wonder and beauty that is Mathematics . I also take great delight
in building up a rapport with students. Seeing them mature in
mathematical ability and knowledge makes the teaching experience
all the more rewarding and enjoyable too.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Jeremy Hultin
2014 VICE CHANCELLOR’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
IN LEARNING AND TEACHING
(General Teaching Excellence in a Discipline)
Dr Jeremy Hultin
Lecturer New Testament
School of Arts
I'm a lecturer in Theology/Religion, and I've been teaching here since
the middle of 2012. My primary area is New Testament, but I've also
taught the history and literature of Second Temple Judaism, patristic
theology, Hellenistic philosophy, and Christian apocryphal texts.
Understanding the historical origins of ideas and beliefs is an
important part of navigating our diverse, interconnected world.
There's something exciting and empowering about knowing where
ideas came from.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Jeremy Hultin
Learning and Teaching
General Teaching Excellence in a Discipline
Learning and Teaching. Please tell us what inspires you to go beyond
I try to help students clarify and refine the questions that emerge
from their encounters with the subject matter. Because I want to
challenge students to think critically and creatively (rather than simply
to absorb what I or other scholars believe), I make it my goal to urge
them to identify what they find perplexing or difficult, and then I
stand along side them, as it were, in setting about on the search for
answers to those questions. It's fun to try to solve problems together.
you?
My colleagues in the School of Arts are terrific. Our dean, Rikki Kersten,
is an outstanding leader. And Associate Dean Jim Trotter, who also
teaches in the field of Old Testament, has helped me in ways too
numerous to list.
If we as a university are going to offer a lot of external teaching—and it
appears that we will—then it is important that we do it really well. I think
we're moving in that direction, but there's still a lot of work to do.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Andrew Currie
2015 VICE CHANCELLOR’S CITATION FOR
EXCELLENCE IN ENHANCING LEARNING
Dr Andrew Currie
Senior Lecturer in Immunology
School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
I joined Murdoch in June 2010. I teach the core immunology content
for the biomedical and veterinary science courses in VLS. I chair the
Biomedical Science Honours programme. I also conduct research on
newborn human and animal infection and immunity, supervising PhD
and Honours students. My activities contribute to Murdoch’s
recognised teaching and research strengths in immunology and
medical microbiology.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Andrew Currie
2015 Vice Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence In
Enhancing Learning
You’ve received a 2015 Vice Chancellor’s Citation for Excellence in
Enhancing Learning. Please tell us what inspires you to go beyond
I am passionate about the field of immunology and gain most
satisfaction in enabling students to act as informed citizens in topics
such as vaccination, new immune cancer therapies and treatments for
autoimmune disease. I am also excited about motivating others to
pursue new knowledge through research.
you?
I would like to acknowledge Dr Kirsty Townsend for her continuing
efforts to develop and provide excellent practical teaching activities
for students in immunology. I would also like to thank A/Prof Wayne
Greene and Prof David Hampson for their support and mentorship.
I would like to see some bold actions and spending by Murdoch to
enliven teaching and research spaces and buildings on campus, and
realisation of the opportunity that the Fiona Stanley Hospital and
Eastern Precinct represent for the university.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Doug Fletcher
Dr Doug Fletcher
Associate Lecturer Mathematics and Statistics
I came to Murdoch in 1996 as a BD student prior to commencing a
PhD in theology in 1997. I began casual tutoring in statistics in 1997,
and have been coordinating introductory statistics units since 2005.
Introductory statistics poses an interesting teaching challenge, as
most students take it under compulsion, don’t initially see its
relevance, expect to dislike it, and/or lack the desirable mathematical
background. Transforming my unit into a transformative experience
for students has been a very satisfying journey, and I am glad for the
opportunities to share my experience with colleagues in my discipline
and school.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Doug Fletcher
Enhancing Learning
Many students lack confidence and background skills in mathematics,
or didn’t enjoy their earlier mathematics learning. I enjoy the
challenge of building their skills and confidence, helping them to feel
empowered, and getting them to enjoy learning about statistics and
appreciating its value in scientific inquiry. I treasure emails I receive
from students who indicate that their experience in introductory
statistics was one of empowerment and even enjoyment, in direct
contradiction to their initial expectations. Also, in a large unit there
are always some students facing particular life and/or learning
challenges, and it is a privilege to contribute to their personal
development and their success at university.
you?
Dr Brenton Clarke provided the introduction that led to my first casual
tutoring work in statistics. I then found out how much I enjoyed
teaching, and I have thrived on its challenges. As ‘elder statesman’ of
statistics at Murdoch, Brenton has continued to take an interest in what I
am doing and to chat about how I am developing the content and
pedagogy in introductory statistics. This has been invaluable. The late Dr
Marian Kemp was an unfailing source of encouragement. By employing
me to teach STAT preparation and OnTrack classes she helped to kindle
my interest in learning support for mathematics and statistics.
I like to think that Murdoch will remain a dynamic place of scholarship
across both teaching and research. As a teaching scholar I am keen to
see reflective practice in teaching and learning become embedded in
Murdoch’s culture, perhaps with greater involvement from tertiary
education specialists as mentors to unit coordinators and teachers in
large first-year units, since these are a strategically important “front
door” for the university. I look forward to the outworking of the learning
and teaching renewal that is now well under way.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Susan Ledger
Dr Susan Ledger
Lecturer
School of Education
I have worked at Murdoch twice over the last 15 years. The first was
when I returned from England to coordinate English in the Primary
years, tutor in Language Methodology and help initiate the new ECE
program. I gained tenure and won a teaching award during this time
but left to live and work in West Papua with my family. I began my
PhD whilst working in international schools. On my return I lectured
in English, Indonesian, Assessment and Research across three
Universities and finished my PhD. I am currently Director of
Professional Experience, Primary English and International Education.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Susan Ledger
Enhancing Learning
As a life-long learner and educator I am charged with connecting
people, places and projects. I like to initiate, support and scaffold
projects that enhance student learning . My aim is to provide
opportunities for students to develop an intrinsic love of learning,
curiosity and desire to improve. There is nothing better than listening
to students who have realised what it means to be an educator and
who are exploring ways of connecting, extending and challenging
others.
you?
The School Deans of Education, three over the last three years have
always provided me support and autonomy to try new initiatives and
explore opportunities. I attribute my success to the trust and support of
these empowering leaders and fellow colleagues. I am also grateful to
our school manager and professional experience team who have to
continually action a wide range of initiatives as well as implementing
procedural changes inherent in the ever-changing and demanding
educational landscape within which the Teaching Profession is
positioned.
I would like Murdoch to continually be future focused and position itself
as a hub for Learning, Teaching and Research in niche areas. This can be
achieved by continually promoting, celebrating and supporting the
wonderful people, events, programs, learning, teaching and research
that takes place here on a daily basis. I would like to see a
transdisciplinary approach that connects the multigenerational nature of
the local, national and international community (Birth to Death – ECE to
Adult Ed--cross faculty- cross sector).

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Associate Professor
Tanya McGill
Associate Professor Tanya McGill
Associate Professor Information Technology
I first joined Murdoch University in 1990. I have taught a wide range
of units at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The main
units that I currently teach relate to either developing information
systems or to conducting research. I also supervise research students
and have undertaken a range of administrative roles at both School
and University levels.
After 25 years teaching, I still really enjoy helping students to learn.
My teaching style is learner-centred. I aim to be a facilitator or guide
assisting students in their learning, rather than the source of all
knowledge. I find this style of teaching very rewarding. I am
constantly learning new things, and find the interaction with my
students very satisfying. I particularly enjoy meeting up with past
students who are now making great contributions to the ICT industry.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Associate Professor Tanya McGill
Enhancing Learning
you?
The Information Technology staff from the School of Engineering and
Information Technology have developed a strong set of related
majors that allow students to gain the core knowledge and skills
needed to obtain a wide range of jobs, but also to specialise in their
areas of interest. I value being part of that team.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Deborah Pino-Pasternak
Lecturer
School of Education
Please tell us when you first joined the Murdoch community and
how would you describe your role? What contribution does your
role make to the university as a whole?
I was appointed as a Lecturer at the School of Education in January
2011. Since then I have coordinated units that explore the creation of
effective learning environments and the development of productive
partnerships between schools, families, and communities while
supervising graduates at Master and Doctoral levels. I have been an
active member of the Learning and Teaching Committee (2011-2013)
and the Research Committee (2013-) and have served as the
Academic Chair of the Master of Education Coursework (2014). I
currently hold an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discover Early
Career Research Award (DECRA) for the period 2015-2017. My
research interests concern young children’s learning and the
contribution of home and school contexts to early cognitive
development.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Enhancing Learning
Grounded in my research on Self-Regulated Learning my teaching
philosophy aims at developing students’ ownership of the
environments in which they learn while carefully scaffolding a balance
of emotional/academic support and cognitive challenge. I enjoy
sharing with the students the responsibility of creating an effective
and stimulating learning environment. I enjoy interacting with them
and linking their experiences to current theories of learning. I enjoy
seeing them develop as professionals in the field of education as they
are scaffolded through meaningful learning activities.
you?
In receiving this award I would like to acknowledge and thank the
support of the whole School of Education at Murdoch University. My
gratitude goes to all my colleagues who have supported consistently my
career progression since my arrival at this institution. The School of
Education is exceptional in terms of its shared expertise and collegial
support and has constituted a very fertile ground in which to thrive.
In the next few years I would like to see the Murdoch community being
recognised for fully embracing the diversity of our student cohorts and
for providing all the necessary scaffolds to help them succeed. I would
also like to see Murdoch University being recognised for an exceptional
support to Early Career Academics by encouraging their teaching and
research efforts and providing sound support structures to boost their
career progression.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Karin Strehlow and the
Team at Kulbardi Aboriginal
Centre
Dr Karin Strehlow and Team
Lecturer
Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre
would you describe your team’s role at Murdoch? What
contribution does your team make to the university as a whole?
Jordin Godula: June 2014
Merl McGill: February 2011
Roseanne (Rosey) Feehon: July 2014
Braden Hill: January 2004
Karin Strehlow: July 2007
The Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre provides academic, cultural,
emotional and social support to Murdoch University’s Indigenous
cohort. The Centre seeks to provide a positive learning environment
that fosters academic success and life-long learning. Kulbardi also
acts as the bridge between Indigenous communities and the
university. Internally, the Kulbardi Centre provides leadership to the
University on important Indigenous issues.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Karin Strehlow and Team
Enhancing Learning
Your team has received a 2015 Vice Chancellor’s Citation for
Excellence in Enhancing Learning. Please tell us what inspires you to
go beyond the call of duty in your role at Murdoch.
It is great to be able to see the transformative impact that education
has on the students we work with. We are fortunate enough to
support our students throughout their entire student life-cycle. We
are able to see success from its very beginning. That is what motivates
us every day. We know that the work we do fosters social and
economic independence for our students which enables them to be in
a position where they can make choices about their future. For us, we
believe that education is freedom and it gives you the wings to fly.
you?
The Centre for University Teaching and Learning for their collaboration in
developing our K-Track program.
The Scholarships team who work hard to ensure that our financial
support was well directed and well utilised.
Enrolments and Fees who are very understanding and patient when it
comes to enrolling our students.
School of Psychology and Exercise Science (particularly Brad Wall and
Mark Hecimovich) for being so supportive of our current K-Track cohort.
It would be good to see a greater commitment from the University to
Indigenous engagement with higher education. The transformative
impact that it has on our students and their communities is particularly
rewarding. An integrated, whole-of-university approach to Indigenous
support and academic enrichment is something the Kulbardi Centre is
working towards. The engagement with the Schools thus far has been
encouraging and we’re hoping that it will see more Indigenous students
undertake postgraduate studies and support them in achieving their
educational goals.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Associate Professor
Michael Calver
2014 AUSTRALIAN AWARDS FOR UNIVERSITY
TEACHING
Award for Teaching Excellence in Biological Sciences,
Health and Related Studies in the discipline of
Biological Sciences
Associate Professor Michael Calver
Associate Professor Environmental and Conservation Sciences
With the exception of some time off to play research scientist and
schoolteacher in the 1980s, I have been at Murdoch as a student or
staff member since 1975. In my current position I run the biology
building Happy Hour, serve as a research assistant for Honours and
graduate students and give undergraduates critical commentary on
the quality of their explanations for skipping class. Or, in more
conventional language, I see myself as an all-round academic,
contributing to university administration, research and teaching at all
levels of the curriculum.
You received the Award for Teaching Excellence in Biological
Sciences, Health and Related Studies in the discipline of Biological
Sciences at the 2014 Australian Awards for University Teaching.
Please tell us what inspires you to go beyond the call of duty in your
role at Murdoch.
The pleasure of teaching comes from meeting challenges. The two
biggest challenges are (i) presenting material that I've taught before
with the freshness and vibrancy that characterised the first
presentation (after all, it is the first time for the students - well, most
of them) and (ii) surviving - teaching is open-ended, so I must draw a
line in what I give or the demands of teaching will engulf my whole
working life.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Associate Professor Michael Calver
Award for Teaching Excellence in Biological Sciences,
Health and Related Studies in the discipline of
Biological Sciences
you?
My academic colleagues are the most inspirational bunch of talented,
patient, good-humoured eccentrics ever collected in one place in
Australia since 1788. Without them, I would surely quit. I must also
thank the dedicated technicians, especially Claudia Mueller, Scott
Munro and Michael Taylor, whose planning and attention to detail
underpin every successful laboratory class and field trip.
We have no sense of priority and do everything at once and too quickly,
to the detriment of each endeavour. To quote Shakespeare:
Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say “It lightens.”
Let's set priorities and strive to achieve them one by one, instead of
chasing everything at once and achieving nothing. Which, returning to
teaching, is drawing boundaries so tasks do not swallow everything and
then ask for more.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
The Student Advisor
Network led by Dr Janine Rix
TEACHING
Award for Programs the Enhance Learning for the
First Year Experience
Please tell us about the conception of the Student Advisor Network
and what contribution the team makes to the university as a
whole?
The First Year Advisor Network (now Student Advisor Network) is a
school-based, University-wide program designed to support all
undergraduate students in their academic and social transition to
University. The Network was instigated in 2011 under federal HEPPP
funding, following on from the core recommendations from an
internal review of retention at Murdoch. Student Advisors (SAs)
provide tiered levels of support to students, including coordination of
multiple initiatives that enhance learning and engagement (e.g.,
Orientation, Peer Mentoring and the UniEdge Transition Program),
specific and targeted outreach campaigns, and a strict open door
policy. SAs operate within their own Schools to assist students in
overcoming any challenges they face, but also as the SAN to inform
best practice and enhance the student experience across the
University.

CONGRATULATIONS!
The Student Advisor Network led
by Dr Janine Rix
Award for Programs that Enhance Learning for the
First Year Experience
The First Year Advisor Network has won the Award for Programs
that Enhance Learning for The First Year Experience at the 2014
Australian Awards for University Teaching. Please tell us what your
team enjoys most about helping people learn.
Students have come to view their SAs as the clear first point of
contact, through which they can obtain advice and referrals to all
other support services. The activities of the SAN enable students to
obtain assistance and guidance well before any issues they are
experiencing become overwhelming. The SAs enjoy building a rapport
with students, helping them to overcome challenges and then seeing
these students progress through their studies.
Is there anyone outside of your team in the Murdoch community you’d
you?
Many people have been involved in the implementation and
development of the SAN, including, but not limited to, Gerri Box, Darren
Munday, Marian Kemp, Madeleine Laming, Pam Martin-Lynch, Marie-
Louise Patchitt and Tim Martin, in addition to many former SAs. The SAN
would like to thank their School Managers, School Deans and Associate
Deans of Teaching and Learning for their ongoing support and
encouragement of the role and the program. The SAN would also like to
thank the many Academic Chairs that also work alongside us to support
students. Importantly, the SAN would like to express their utmost thanks
to all Unit Coordinators and Tutors that take the time to report details of
students that show evidence of disengaging from their studies – without
their support, the SAN’s proactive outreach would not be possible.
We would like to see more emphasis placed on the pre-Orientation
space and in determining how we can best prepare students for
university study. We also look forward to aligning much of our activities
to the upcoming University-wide Retention Plan.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Ravi Tiwari
TEACHING
Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student
Learning
Dr Ravi Tiwari
Senior Lecturer in Molecule Biology
I joined Murdoch University in 1990 as a Post-Doctoral fellow at the
Centre for Rhizobium Studies. Although I was appointed as a
researcher, I expressed my interest in teaching to my then
supervisors Prof Mike Dilworth and Prof Andrew Glen. I am really
thankful to both of them for providing me an opportunity to give
lectures and teach in lab classes. Later in 2000, I joined as a tenured
academic staff.
My aim of teaching has always been to teach in a very simple way. I
have always been developing my teaching methods to achieve my
aims.
As an Academic chair my role keeps me involved with the progress of
students and their journey at Murdoch University. I have worked in
designing courses and developing articulations with overseas
institutions.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Ravi Tiwari
Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student
Learning
You’ve received a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student
Learning at the 2014 Australian Awards for University Teaching.
Please tell us what you enjoy most about helping people learn.
Coming from a developing nation, I have seen inequalities in the
world based on race, religion, gender, wealth and socioeconomic
status. It is my strongest belief that the key to solving these issues lies
first and foremost in education – and it is this which motivates and
drives me to excel as a teacher.
By helping students, I develop their interest in education. Once they
are interested, they start getting more and more involved in the
subject. It gives me a great pleasure seeing students getting
interested in learning.
you?
There have been many staff members from whom I have learnt a
number of teaching strategies. I would like to acknowledge the
motivation and encouragement from A/Prof Robert Mead. Bob as a
head of the department was very supportive and always passed all the
encouraging comments from students to me, regarding my teaching.
These comments assured me that whatever I was doing in teaching was
helping and being recognized by students. Many thanks to my colleague
Dr Wayne Reeve who has been very enthusiastic and supportive in taking
our current research to undergraduate teaching.
I wish for the University to keep recognizing good teaching practices.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Danny Toohey
TEACHING
Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student
Learning
Danny Toohey
Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching
I have been teaching in IT since 2000. During that time I’ve taught a
number of units, including Databases and Business Intelligence. I’ve
had a number of roles including Academic Chair of the Information
Systems programmes. As Academic Chair, I spent a lot of time with
individual students providing course advice. I continue to be involved
with the students in Singapore and Dubai as their primary academic
contact. I am currently the Associate Dean Learning and Teaching in
the School of Engineering and IT; this role has quite a few (perhaps
too many) meetings.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Danny Toohey
Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student
Learning
You’ve received a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student
Learning at the 2014 Australian Awards for University Teaching.
Please tell us what inspires you to go beyond the call of duty in your
role at Murdoch.
Teaching in a university, particularly Murdoch, is really interesting
because the students are all so different; some are school leavers,
some have come back to study after time working, some have come
to study because they think it would be interesting to learn more
about IT; in Singapore and Dubai, we have students from a broad set
of backgrounds both academic and cultural. The thing I enjoy the
most is when a graduate I taught years before contacts me and tells
me that the stuff we did in a unit has been really valuable to them in
their work life.
you?
I find inspiration from a large number of colleagues, both professional
and academic, at Murdoch. So many of them take their work very
seriously and will do as much as they possibly can to make Murdoch
work as best as it can. For many of them, personal advancement is not
the primary motivation; their motivation really is to see the students get
the best from their time at Murdoch. These are the people I need to
acknowledge.
The whole tertiary sector in Australia has been changing in the last 5
years and will continue to change over the next 3-5 years. I hope that we
(Murdoch) can continue to review and renew our curricula, being driven
by our desire to do the best we can for our students and the community.
From a broader perspective, Murdoch needs to continue to recognise
achievement from its staff whether it be in learning and teaching, or
research, or professional support; so many people give so much for
Murdoch, without them Murdoch wouldn’t be such a great place to
work.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr James Boyd
2014 School of Management and Governance
Teaching Innovation Award
Dr James Boyd
Lecturer Sustainability
School of Management and Governance
I joined Murdoch in 2002 as a PhD student and have been employed
by the university in one form or another since 2003. I have been a
unit coordinator since 2010 and involved in BBS150 since November
2013. As one of the core units for the BBus, BBS150 prepares
students to meet the challenges that tertiary studies involve.
You’ve received a 2014 School of Management and Governance
Teaching Innovation Awards. Please tell us what inspires you to go
beyond the call of duty in your role at Murdoch.
People say that education is empowerment. To be given the
opportunity to find the spark within a student that triggers their
passion to learn is something that gives me a great deal of
satisfaction. A significant proportion of Murdoch’s students have
overcome enormous challenges just to get here and to be able show
them that not only are they capable, but that they can achieve
anything they set their minds to, makes the job worth doing.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr James Boyd
2014 School of Management and Governance
Teaching Innovation Award
you?
I would like to acknowledge the support I have received from the
three other Management & Governance First Year Unit Core Unit
Coordinators (Anne Clear, Vanessa Grida and Alex Dawson). My
success has been due in part to the high level of academic
collaboration that has occurred across the four Core Units. I would
also like to acknowledge the work that has been done by the school’s
Student Advisors, who have assisted in the important area of first
student retention.
I sincerely hope that there will be greater recognition given to the work
done by the academic and professional staff across the university who
work in the first year programs and the important part that these people
play in student retention. If Murdoch seriously wants to develop its
international research profile it needs to nurture the scholars of the next
generation, who are to be found among our first year cohort.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Charlotte Oskam
Research
(Early Career Development and Achievement)
Dr Charlotte Oskam
Lecturer Anatomy
In 2008 I moved to Perth from New Zealand to begin my doctoral
research at Murdoch University. Graduating in 2013, with a PhD in
Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, I now lecture to over 400
undergraduate students in a number of Veterinary and Biomedical
units within the School of VLS. I am also part of the Vector- and
Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group headed by Professors Peter
Irwin and Una Ryan, and I co-supervise a number of post-graduate
students. From discovering DNA preserved in fossil eggshell to
identifying pathogens harboured within ticks, our research has
contributed to putting Murdoch University on the world stage in
terms of being a leading research university.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Charlotte Oskam
Research
Early Career Development and Achievement
Research. Please tell us what inspires you to go beyond the call of
duty in your role at Murdoch.
I am quite honoured be awarded this prestigious Vice Chancellor’s
award. What do I enjoy most about my research and what excites
me? Discovering the unknown and telling the world about it! Since I
was a kid, I’ve always been passionate about exploring and
discovering new things. The technology we are using here at Murdoch
University is world class and it is giving our research group the leading
edge to delve deeper, explore more and ask the tough questions.
you?
I am fortunate to be surrounded by an excellent team of world-renown
researchers and enthusiastic post-graduate students. The mix of
experience and young passion in our research group inspires me daily. I
also have a small number of mentors who provide career advice and
encouragement which keeps me going.
Life as an Early Career Researcher can be hard. ECRs need to be able to
establish themselves within their chosen field and build a competitive
research profile. I would like to see Murdoch University continue their
support for ECRs by building a stronger University-wide ECR support
network and by integrating with the Australian Academy of Science Early
to Mid-Career Researcher Forum.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Emma Thomas
Research
Dr Emma Thomas
Senior Lecturer in Psychology
School of Psychology and Exercise Science
I first joined Murdoch as a teaching and research academic in 2010 in
the (then) School of Psychology. I was awarded a Discovery Early
Career Research Award which allowed me to pursue research on a
full time basis from 2012.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Emma Thomas
Research
Research. Please tell us about what inspires you to go beyond the
call of duty in your role at Murdoch.
My research sits on the nexus of social and political psychology. I
study how people and societies change and I believe that the two
(personal and social change) are inextricably linked. As such, my
research bears on topics of both theoretical and practical importance:
when and how do people respond to injustice? When will people take
up arms (engage in violence) in pursuit of social change? What is the
role of modern forms of communication technologies (facebook etc.)
in initiating social change? Having the opportunity to develop and
empirically test answers to some of these questions allows me to
generate unique insights to pressing social problems.
you?
I’m fortunate to work with, and be surrounded by, some amazing
colleagues. I came to Murdoch in 2010 to work with Prof Craig McGarty,
and his collegiality and mentorship have been instrumental in my
achievements to date. More recently, my collaboration with Assoc. Prof
Winnifred Louis (UQ) has been really energising. The
social/developmental group in the School of Psychology & Exercise
Science have been wonderfully supportive and our weekly writing group
allowed me to maintain research momentum even during busy teaching
periods – Assoc. Prof Ngaire Donaghue, Assoc Prof Anne Pedersen, Prof
Bonnie Barber and Dr Kathy Modecki in particular.
I’d like to see Murdoch cement its reputation as a research-intensive
university. Murdoch has some wonderful academic and teaching
scholars; I would like to see this more widely recognised within the
community but also by the all-important funding agencies.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Dr Jeffrey Wilson
Research
Dr Jeffrey Wilson
Lecturer
School of Management and Governance
I joined Murdoch as a Fellow of the Asia Research Centre in 2012. My
research speciality is in international political economy – a subfield of
political science focussed on global economic governance. My current
research investigates international resource politics in the Asia-Pacific
– how governments and firms negotiate agreements for trade and
investment between resource rich countries (such as Australia) and
resource-poor countries (like China). I am also the Chief Investigator
(with Mark Beeson, UWA) on an ARC Discovery Project on Australia-
China economic relations (DP150100217). My administrative roles
include membership of the Human Research Ethics Committee and
Program Coordinator of the Master of International Affairs degree in
the Sir Walter Murdoch School.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Dr Jeffrey Wilson
Research
Asia is a very resource-insecure region. As many developing countries
successfully industrialise and urbanise, their demand for food,
minerals and energy has soared. And with global supplies limited,
rivalry and internecine competition for access to natural resource has
intensified in our region. My research investigates the political and
economic drivers of these conflicts, and seeks to understand how
intergovernmental resource relationships can be more effectively
managed for the benefit of both producing and consuming states. It is
particularly satisfying to be able to work on pressing policy issues such
as resource security. A highlight was my involvement as a
Commissioner in the 2013 First Murdoch Commission on Western
Australian and the Evolving Regional Order.
you?
I am privileged to be able to work in the Asia Research Centre here at
Murdoch, which for over twenty years has been recognised as one of the
region’s leading research institutes on social, political and economic
issues in Asia. My colleagues are not only world-class researchers, but
have created an exemplary collegial environment in which collaborative
approaches are the norm. I am particularly indebted to senior mentors
who have supported my development as a researcher, especially Dr
Shahar Hameiri, Professor Garry Rodan and the Director of the Asia
Research Centre, Professor Kevin Hewison.
The Australian Universities sector is at a (somewhat unpleasant) cross-
roads. Attracting students is becoming more competitive, government
funding is declining in real terms, and resources will increasingly be
concentrated in fewer programs and institutions. Success in this
environment will depend on being able to demonstrate to policymakers,
students and the wider public that both our research and teaching are
world-class. Research success is a major component not only of
institutional performance, but also – rightly or wrongly! – public
perceptions of University quality. I hope Murdoch can continue to build
on the successes of recent years in developing our profile as a research-
led institution.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Associate Professor
Trish Fleming
2015 Vice Chancellor’s Award for
Excellence in Research
(Outstanding Research Development)
Associate Professor Trish Fleming
Associate Professor Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Time has flown by, and I have already been at Murdoch for a decade.
I have enjoyed my role in teaching and research, and appreciate the
warm and energetic environment at this university. I was attracted
to Murdoch by its longstanding track record in Wildlife Ecology and
Biology. This is an important teaching and research area at Murdoch,
and our graduates are placed in important roles around the country.
My own research is around ecology and behaviour of wildlife. We
often need basic information on the habitat selection, diet, and
behavioural responses to challenges of our wildlife species if we are
to appropriately manage their environment to conserve them.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Associate Professor Trish Fleming
Research
Outstanding Research Development
In my experience, Murdoch students are extremely motivated and
dedicated to achieving their aims. This makes our jobs as teachers
much easier as well as very rewarding.
The structural changes that we have witnessed at Murdoch have been
challenging, but have also developed opportunities for collaborations
and recognition of our common goals.

Rorie Gilligan
Siti Jamali
Dean Laslett
Ibukun Oluwoye
CONGRATULATONS!
Professor David Pethick
Research
(Distinguished and Sustained Achievement)
Professor Biochemistry
I was appointed straight from completing a PhD at Cambridge
University in March 1980 as a lecturer level 1 in Biochemistry &
Nutrition within what was called the School of Veterinary Sciences (I
was the youngest staff member). The job specs were simple =
undertake undergraduate teaching in Biochemistry and Nutrition to
Veterinary Science students and build a research profile of my
choosing including postgraduate supervision. Murdoch also had a
myriad of committees in those days. In time the student load was
dramatically increased with teaching into new degrees of Biomedical,
Chiropractic and Animal Science culminating in the development of a
larger staff base to underpin a world leading research team within
the Centre for Production Animals.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Research
Distinguished and Sustained Achievement
As the son of farming stock I grew up with a research orientated view
of the world and with a fascination for new knowledge underpinned
by logic and experimentation. Little did I know that research
excellence, especially in the area of Agricultural Animal Science and
Nutritional Biochemistry would open opportunities for influencing
global science and commercial outcomes – production animals are big
business and the scope to lead National & International R&D
associated with the red meat supply chains (Farm -> Processing ->
Retailing -> Consumer) has been challenging but both rewarding and
humbling. This combined with the training vibrant undergraduate,
honours and higher degree students represents a privilege afforded
to few.
you?
Murdoch University and its leadership group over a 35 year period has
been second to none for a can do attitude combined with World class
facilities. Numerous people are to be thanked, especially my early career
mentors – Emeritus Profs Jeff Gawthorne and Nick Costa along with 7
Post Doctorial fellows, 29 post graduate students (23 graduated) of
which 5 (Pluske, Gardner, Jacobson, Laurence, McGilchrist) are tenured
staff who now are leading the Centre for Production Animals into even
stronger National and International recognition. International colleagues,
especially Prof Jean-François Hocquette (France), Nigel Scollan (UK),
Yasuhiro Aoki (Japan) and Qingxiang Meng (China) have been crucial to
achieving global outcomes. Of course I owe deep gratitude to my PhD
supervisor Prof Dereck Lindsay (UK).
The recipe for success has never changed since Murdoch’s inception –
appoint high calibre staff strategically into areas of teaching and research
strength who respect student outcomes and have a deep passion for
making societal change via their research. Combine this with a can do
management style with support for areas that have combined student
load and R&D tack records will see us build even further in the years to
come

Murdoch University Staff Awards Winners Gallery 2015

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Murdoch University Staff Awards Winners Gallery 2015