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.

A call for nominations for the following positions was sent to all eligible students and graduate research candidates on Wednesday 17 September 2025 and the nomination closed at 5.00pm on Thursday 2 October 2025.

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

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.

At the close of the nomination period, two (2) nominations were received from metropolitan students and no nominations were received from students on a regional campus.  Accordingly, a further call for nominations  from students on a regional campus will be made on 14 October 2025.

Please see the information below for information on how to nominate.

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.

At the close of the nomination period, three (3) nominations were received from metropolitan students and one (1) nomination was received from a student on a regional campus.

In accordance with the Academic Board Regulations 2019, as the number of nominations equaled the number of available positions, Rebecca Barrow was declared elected as the postgraduate student from a regional campus for a term of office from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026.

A ballot will be conducted to elect one (1) postgraduate student from a metropolitan campus. The ballot will open on 6 November 2025.

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.

At the close of the nomination period, two (2) nominations were received.  Accordingly, a ballot will be conducted to elect one (1) graduate research candidate.  The ballot will open on 6 November 2025.

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.

Following the further call for nominations from undergraduate students on a regional campus,  nominations from eligible students must be submitted via the online form.

Nominations must be fully complete by 5.00pm on Tuesday 28 October 2025.  Late or incomplete nominations cannot be accepted.

Advice regarding the outcome of the further call for nominations from undergraduate students on a regional campus will be provided to all nominees on Wednesday 29 October 2025. If more nominations are received than positions in each category an election will be held from Thursday 6 November 2025.

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

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

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 for nominations for the remaining thirteen (13) positions for level E academic staff will be made on 14 October 2025.

Please see the information below for information on how to nominate.

Level C/D Academic Staff

At the close of the nomination period, twenty-four (24) nominations were received. Accordingly, a ballot will be conducted to elect 15 Level C/D Academic staff. The ballot will open on 6 November 2025.

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 will be made on 14 October 2025.

Please see the information below for information on how to nominate.

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 will open on 6 November 2025.

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.

Following the further call for nominations from Level A/B and Level E  academic staff,  nominations from eligible staff must be submitted via the online form.

Nominations must be fully complete by 5.00pm on Tuesday 28 October 2025. Late or incomplete nominations cannot be accepted.

Advice regarding the outcome of the further call for nominations from Level A/B and Level E academic staff will be provided to all nominees on Wednesday 29 October 2025. If more nominations are received than positions in each category an election will be held from Thursday 6 November 2025.

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 will be conducted to elect one (1) Deputy Chair of the Academic Board. The ballot will open on 6 November 2025.

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.

Nominations must be fully complete by 5.00pm on Thursday 2 October 2025.  Late or incomplete nominations cannot be accepted.

Advice regarding the outcome of the call for nominations will be provided to all nominees on Friday 3 October 2025. If more nominations are received than positions in each category an election will be held from Tuesday 14 October 2025.

Before nominating you are also encouraged to complete the following

For further information email the Academic Board elections team.