People

Dr Alice Payne is a Professor and Dean of the School of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT. Her research focuses on environmental and social sustainability issues throughout the life cycle of clothing. Recent work has examined labour issues in the cotton value chain, as well as technologies to address the problem of textile waste. Alice was part of the Australian Fashion Council-led consortium designing the National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme. She is author of the book Designing Fashion's Future, co-editor of Global Perspectives on Sustainable Fashion, and is an award-winning designer and educator. 

DR TASSIA JOANNIDES is an interdisciplinary artist and academic, working across the fields of art and fashion. Tassia holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Art from RMIT and is currently the Associate Dean Design in the School of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT. Their research explores representations and experiences of gendered and sexualised bodies that sit within social and cultural contexts. Tassia's work aims to contribute to wider discourse on diversity, inclusion and equity through practices of sculpture, performance, and wearable objects, and to provide opportunities for sharing, connection, empathy and understanding. They have exhibited broadly both locally and internationally, and are a founding member of Triple F+ Collective, a group of culturally diverse artists working across countries and disciplines exploring female(+) identity through expressions of feminism, femininity and female sexuality. She lives and works in Naarm/Melbourne on the unceded land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Associate Professor Tarun Panwar is Associate Dean, Fashion Enterprise & Technology, in the School of Fashion & Textiles at RMIT University. He is multiple award‑winning academic leader, honoured with national and international recognition for outstanding contributions to teaching and academic excellence. With over 30 years’ experience in fashion and textiles, he is renowned for pioneering sustainable innovation in global fashion education and for advancing Fashion Enterprise through impactful research, curriculum development and deep industry partnerships. Tarun leads RMIT’s enterprise‑ and sustainability‑focused fashion portfolio, including the Bachelor of Fashion Enterprise, the Bachelor of Fashion Sustainability and the Master of Fashion (Entrepreneurship). He has conceived, designed and delivered globally recognised, innovative and award‑winning programs that shape the future of fashion enterprise education in Australia and internationally. Internationally acknowledged for new program designs and his research into sustainable fashion value chains, business models and pedagogy, A/Prof. Panwar’s thought leadership has influenced best practice across the sector, particularly through his focus on sustainability, circularity and transformative pedagogy in fashion supply chains, fashion marketing and industry‑partnered learning. Tarun has received multiple prestigious teaching and engagement awards recognising his leadership and sustained commitment to student learning and industry‑partnered education. His research and scholarly work have been widely disseminated through peer‑reviewed and invited international forums, including 12 invited presentations at the global leading annual conferences of the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI), helping to shape contemporary thinking in fashion enterprise, sustainability and circular fashion value chains.   Awards 2025 – Winner – RMIT University: Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence 2025 – 4th Place – Global Triple E Awards: SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Impact Award 2023 – Winner -Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT): National Teaching Award – Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning 2022 – Winner – RMIT University: Teaching Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning – Industry Partnered Learning 2022 – Finalist – Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards: Teaching & Learning Excellence Award 2020- Winner -RMIT School of Fashion & Textiles Award for Learning & Teaching – Contemporary Industry Practices – Integrating Industry in Teaching & Learning Practice 

Dr Jenny Underwood is the Associate Dean Research and Innovation in the School of Fashion and Textiles. Her research is interdisciplinary, and practice-based to develop material-led design strategies and systems-based approaches for responsible design innovation in the context of fashion and architecture. She is recognised internationally as a leading expert in advanced knit design and 3d seamless knitting technology.    She is also an experienced senior supervisor, having supervised some of the first practice-based research PhDs, within the field of fashion and textile design internationally.   Dr Jenny Underwood and Dr Leanne Zilka are leaders of the Floppy Lab - a collaborative research lab that sits across architecture, fashion and textile design. Situated between Brunswick and City campuses in Melbourne, Australia. For more information contact Leanne or Jenny.  

Assoc/Porf. Kamyar Shirvani Moghaddam is an educational and research lead with focus on sustainability, circular economy, advanced materials and smart textiles. His research revolves around utilizing advanced materials to engineer smart structures, intelligent and smart textiles and promote a more sustainable future. One of his key areas of interest lies in incorporating nanomaterials into fabrics to create smart textiles with superior properties. These next-generation textiles boast enhanced strength, flexibility, and even built-in functionalities, such as health monitoring or temperature regulation. This focus on smart textiles aligns perfectly with the growing field of wearable technology. His vision extends beyond functionality. A significant portion of his research explores repurposing waste materials and incorporating them into his advanced material development. This focus on waste reduction and reintegration aligns with the principles of a circular economy, where materials are kept in use for as long as possible, minimizing environmental impact. Kamyar's commitment to sharing his knowledge is evident in his extensive publication record within high-impact scientific journals. He actively participates in prestigious international conferences, fostering collaboration and establishing himself as a thought leader in sustainable material development. Beyond academia, Dr. Shirvani Moghaddam bridges the gap between theoretical research and real-world applications through collaborations with industry partners. These partnerships drive innovation towards commercially viable products that promote a more sustainable future. His research on waste repurposing and the circular economy reflects his dedication to creating a positive impact on both society and the environment.