La Trobe University > Academic Board > Elections

Elections

Academic Board 

Academic Board is the primary body for academic governance and decision-making at the University.

The Board is established under legislation and provides advice to the Vice-Chancellor and University Council on issues that affect academic excellence. It provides a forum for information and debate within the University and is responsible for policy on matters such as admissions, assessment, teaching, student conduct, research and academic appointments and promotion.

Membership

Academic Board membership includes the ex officio members - membership is tied to specific roles. Ex officio members include the senior executive, Deans, heads of regional campuses and the Presidents of the student organisations.

Membership of the Board also includes elected academic and professional staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and one graduate research candidate.

The Academic Board Regulations 2019 set out the requirements for election of staff and student members of Academic Board.

Student Positions

There are 6 elected student members of  Academic Board – these positions are voluntary (unpaid).

The term of office for current student and graduate research candidate members will end on 31 December 2025.

The term of office is one year - commencing on 1 January 2026 and concluding on 31 December 2026.

The nomination and election period commenced on 17 September and closed on 13 November 2025.

Undergraduate Students

The composition of the Academic Board allows for three (3) positions for undergraduate students, elected by and from enrolled students who are not postgraduate students, at least one from a regional campus and at least one from a metropolitan campus.

The following students were declared elected:

  • Kain Neale
  • Senith Waduge
  • Alicia Wong

Postgraduate Students

The composition of the Academic Board allows for two (2) positions for postgraduate students, elected by and from enrolled postgraduate students, one must be from a metropolitan campus and the other from a regional campus.

The following students were declared elected:

  • Rebecca Barrow
  • Stephanie Wong

Graduate Research Candidate

The composition of Academic Board provides for one (1) graduate research candidate position elected by the graduate research candidates of the University.

The following student was declared elected:

  • Camille Schloeffel

Nominations

You must read the eligibility and nomination criteria for students before submitting a nomination.

Nominations must include:

  • evidence of support from two students (nominators) in the same category as the nominee (e.g. undergraduate student nominations must be supported by two undergraduate student nominators).
  • a photograph
  • a  supporting statement.

Before nominating you are also encouraged to complete the following

Staff Positions

There are 60 elected staff members of Academic Board

  • 20 Level E academic staff
  • 15 Level A/B academic staff
  • 15 Level C/D academic staff
  • 5 Level HEO1-8 professional staff
  • 5 level HEO9 or above professional staff

The term of office for current elected academic and professional staff members will end on 31 December 2025.

A call for nominations was sent to all eligible academic and professional staff on Wednesday 17 September 2025. The nomination period closed at 5.00pm on Thursday 2 October 2025.

The term of office is two years - commencing on 1 January 2026 and concluding on 31 December 2027.

Nominations

At the close of the nomination and election period, the following staff were declared elected:

Level E Academic Staff

Seven (7) nominations were received.  In accordance with the Academic Board Regulations 2019, as the number of nominations were less than the number of available positions, the following Level E Academic Staff were declared elected for a term of office from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027:

  • Professor Leah Brennan
  • Professor Ashley Franks
  • Professor Marcel Jackson
  • Professor Anne-Marie Laslett
  • Professor Jodi Oakman
  • Professor Luke Prendergast
  • Professor Arthur Stukas

A further call was made on 14 October 2025 for the remaining thirteen (13) positions.  At the close of the nomination period five (5) nominations were received.  In accordance with the Academic Board Regulations 2019, as the number of nominations were less than the number of available positions, the following Level E Academic Staff were declared elected:

  • Professor Louis De Koker
  • Professor Elly Djouma
  • Professor Sarah MacLean
  • Professor Vida Siahtiri
  • Professor Raelene Wilding

A further call for nominations for the remaining eight positions for level E academic staff will be made in early 2026.

Level C/D Academic Staff

At the close of the nomination period, twenty-four (24) nominations were received. Accordingly, a ballot was conducted to elect 15 Level C/D Academic staff. The ballot closed on 13 November 2025.  In accordance with the Academic Board Regulations 2019, the following staff were declared elected for a term of office from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027:

  • Dr Kate Ashman
  • Associate Professor Deborah Gleeson
  • Dr Lisa Hanson
  • Associate Professor Christine Hawkins
  • Dr Magda Karagiannakis
  • Dr Matthew King
  • Dr Kate Lafferty
  • Dr Lauren Lawson
  • Dr Fung Lay
  • Dr Helena Menih
  • Dr Hien Nguyen
  • Associate Professor Ross O'Shea
  • Dr Keir Strickland
  • Associate Professor Rwth Stuckey
  • Dr Laura Whitburn

Level A/B Academic Staff

Eleven (11) nominations were received.

In accordance with the Academic Board Regulations 2019, as the number of nominations were less than the number of available positions, the following Level A/B Academic Staff were declared elected for a term of office from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027:

  • Dr Anurag Adhikari
  • Dr Natalie Araújo
  • Fiona Berry
  • Dr Anthony De Souza-Daw
  • Dr Stephanie Downes
  • Dr Fiona Durand
  • Dr Nicole El-Haber
  • Dr Nishan Mills
  • Dr Ahmad Salehi Shahraki
  • Melanie Tassos
  • Dr Katy Unwin.

A further call for nominations to fill the remaining four (4) positions was made on 14 October 2025. At the close of the nomination period, eighteen (18) nominations were received for the remaining four (4) positions.    Accordingly, a ballot was conducted to elect four (4) Level A/B Academic Staff.  The ballot closed on 13 November.  As two candidates received the same number of votes for the fourth position, Academic Board Executive Committee approved a temporary change to the membership of Academic Board for 2026-2027 to increase the number of Level A/B Academic Staff  member positions to 16.  In accordance with the Academic Board Regulations 2019, the following level A/B Academic Staff were declared elected for a term of office from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027:

  • Dr Tobias Barkley
  • Dr Joshua Grubb
  • Dr Jayden Hunter
  • Dr Jacq Jones
  • Dr Nina Riddell

HEO1-8 Professional Staff

At the close of the nomination period, twelve (12) nominations were received. Accordingly, a ballot will be conducted to elect five (5) HEO1-8 Professional Staff members. The ballot closed on 13 November 2025.  In accordance with the Academic Board Regulations 2019, the following HEO1-8 Professional Staff were declared elected for a term of office from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027:

  • Nick Alaimo
  • Dr Steph Di Palma
  • Portia Dilena
  • Charlotte Usher
  • Jessica Zibung

HEO9+ Professional Staff

Five (5) nominations were received.

In accordance with the Academic Board Regulations 2019, as the number of nominations were equal to the number of available positions, the following HEO 9+ Professional Staff were declared elected for a term of office from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027:

  • Matt Cooke
  • Weiyu Jiang
  • Dr Leah Kivivali
  • Emanouel Mereos
  • Vesna Stefanovski

Nominations

You must read the  eligibility and nomination criteria for staff before submitting a nomination.

Nominations must include:

  • evidence of support from two staff (nominators) in the same category as the nominee (e.g. academic staff nominations must be supported by two academic staff nominators).
  • a photograph
  • a  supporting statement.

Before nominating you are also encouraged to complete the following

Chair and Deputy Chair

The Chair and Deputy Chair of Academic Board are elected for two-year terms commencing on 28 February.  The terms of office for the current Chair and Deputy Chair will conclude on 28 February 2026.

A call for nominations for the positions was sent to all eligible academic staff on Wednesday 17 September 2025.

The term of office is two years - commencing on 28 February 2026 and concluding on 28 February 2028.

Nominations

Nominations have now closed.  Following are the outcomes at the close of the nomination period at 5.00pm on 2 October 2025.

Chair

One (1) nomination was received.

In accordance with the Academic Board Regulations 2019, as the number of nominations equaled the number of available positions, Professor Carol McKinstry was declared elected as the Chair, Academic Board for a term of office from 28 February 2026 to 28 February 2028.

Deputy Chair

Two (2) nominations were received.  Accordingly, a ballot was conducted to elect one (1) Deputy Chair of the Academic Board. The ballot will closed on 13 November 2025.  At the close of the ballot each candidate received the same number of votes.

Accordingly, a second ballot was conducted  from 6 -13 November 2025.  At the close of the ballot, the following academic staff member was declared elected in accordance with the Academic Board Regulations 2019 for a term of office from 28 February 2026 to 28 February 2028:

  • Professor Adam Mechler

You must read the eligibility and nomination criteria for Chair/Deputy Chair before submitting a nomination.

Nominations must include:

  • evidence of support from two professorial staff members
  • a photograph
  • a  supporting statement.

Before nominating you are also encouraged to complete the following

For further information email the Academic Board elections team.