Director
Dr Phil Connors’ work is focused on the education and research aspects of the Centre. Phil works across all the Centre’s educational programmes—including the Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership and Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Health—and is Course Director for the Master of Humanitarian Assistance.
Director
Stephen draws on over 10 years’ experience in leading humanitarian responses. As Head of Humanitarian Programmes with Save the Children, Stephen was responsible for developing global tools and systems to improve humanitarian response efforts. He has lectured on humanitarian issues around the world.
Director
Alfred Deakin Professor Matthew Clarke is Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and leader within the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership. While Matthew has taught and researched in Australian Universities for the last 15 years, he began his career working for World Vision in the mid 1990s.
Senior Lecturer, Course Director Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership Francophone
Sophie is one of the founding members of the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership. Prior to joining Deakin University, Sophie lectured at Aix-Marseille University in Humanitarian Protection and Displacement Camp Management, and worked for Save the Children US as Deputy Director Emergency Response, and with Doctors without Borders, the German Cooperation and Norwegian Refugee Council.
Senior Business Development Manager
Laurette joined the Centre after volunteering for six months with Save the Children in supporter engagement. Laurette’s recent transition into aid and development follows 15 years in the private sector, and her passion to support the humanitarian sector is bolstered by her comprehensive background in marketing and relationship management.
Course Director Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Health
A dietitian by background, Sonia started her career in clinical settings in Australia and the UK. She lectured at Deakin University in nutrition and dietetics for five years and has also completed missions as a nutritionist to South Darfur and East Timor.
Lecturer
Daniel lectures in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin and teaches a range of core and elective units within the Masters of Humanitarian Assistance. Daniel brings over 20 years’ experience working and researching in humanitarian aid and international development, and joined Deakin after 6 years lecturing at the School of International Development at the University of East Anglia in the UK.
Lecturer in Humanitarian Studies
Nazanin teaches in the Master’s of Humanitarian Assistance. Nazanin received her PhD from the City University of Hong Kong in 2018. Nazanin’s research interests include disaster management, humanitarian aid, humanitarian access, human rights, civil society, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Associate Project Lead of the Lancet-AUB Commission on Syria
Marian Abouzeid is the Associate Project Lead of the Lancet-AUB Commission on Syria. With extensive experience across a diverse range of organisational settings and contexts in Australia and internationally, she now works in global health and development research and advocacy, with a particular focus on the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Associate Lecturer in Humanitarian Studies
Rebecca has masters degrees in international law and international development. She has published on a wide range of issues across humanitarian assistance and international humanitarian and human rights law, including the protection of civilians in armed conflict, humanitarian access, human rights in disasters, legal preparedness for disasters, the responsibility to protect, and the role of the UN Security Council and General Assembly in responding to humanitarian crises.
Humanitarian Strategic Foresight Research Analyst
Melanie joined the humanitarian sector in 2010, responding to emergencies throughout Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Most recently, she has played leadership roles in Save the Children’s responses to the Rohingya crisis, the Syrian crisis and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
Communications Adviser
Nicole Muir is the Centre’s Communications Adviser. Nicole has over ten years’ experience in communications, media, and publishing, and has a speciality interest in managing social media channels, generating digital and print content and managing organisation brand identity.
Learning Liaison Officer
Lois Meier is the Learning Liaison Officer for the Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership Francophone course. Lois is also the main point of contact for GCHL and GCHLF alumni in the Centre and is involved in creating and supervising an alumni engagement and mentoring strategy for GCHL/GCHLF graduates.
Administration Officer
Holding a bachelor degree in Social Work, Wouter gained invaluable experience through his participation in several international humanitarian projects in Suriname, Haiti, Indonesia and India. His role provides high-level administrative support to the Centre, with a strong focus on documentation, engagement and communication.
Finance Manager
Jamie, a Chartered Accountant, provides strategic finance support to the finance and leadership teams. Prior to joining the Centre of Humanitarian Leadership, Jamie had been a Senior Auditor at PwC, then entered the humanitarian space as Senior Accountant at World Vision Australia.
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