People

Michele Ruyters is the Associate Dean, Criminology and Justice Studies in RMIT's School of Global, Urban and Social Studies and the founder and director of the Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative and the Criminal Case Review Project at RMIT University. Michele's practice and research interests are in wrongful convictions and lived experiences of miscarriages of justice.

Julian CH Lee is the Associate Dean, Global and Language Studies, in RMIT's School of Global, Urban and Social Studies.   In 2024, RMIT’s College of Design and Social Context awarded him a citation for Learning and Teaching Leadership for his contributions and achievements within and beyond RMIT. Among his achievements are that of Best Paper at the 2022 conference of the Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN; now WIL Australia), and in 2019 he received a Ralph Macintosh Commendation “for outstanding commitment to delivering engaging student experiences through new ways of learning”.   Julian is a supporter and advocate for open access publishing and scholarship. In addition to serving on the editorial boards of the open access International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning (IJWIL) and the open access academic publisher Kismet Press, he has also been part of RMIT’s Open Access Working Group. In 2024, he collaborated with RMIT Library’s Open Access team to publish the co-edited volume A Skilled Hand and a Cultivated Mind, which followed his 2019 co-authored open access monograph Monsters of Modernity.   In addition to his academic work, Julian shares his insights on leadership practice with higher degree by research students through the Frontiers program of the Australian Technology Network (ATN). His module, The Future of Leadership, introduces PhD and Masters students to several of the most useful practices, paradigms and authors that have informed his approach to leadership.

Professor Rachael Hains-Wesson is the Associate Dean Learning and Teaching in the School of Global, Urban, and Social Studies at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). Rachael is passionate about innovative educational practices, enhancing student learning experiences, and leading transformative teaching strategies. Dedicated to fostering academic excellence, she integrates Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) into higher education to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application.   Rachael began her career working in the not-for-profit sector for three years, focusing on social employability initiatives for disadvantaged travellers across Europe and Israel. Following this, she served in the Navy, where she developed a strong sense of discipline, leadership, and resilience. These experiences broadened her understanding of global challenges and fuelled her commitment to creating inclusive educational pathways. With a strong background in entrepreneurship, the creative industries, and international education, she has worked as an editor, publisher, and practitioner in diverse local, national, and global enterprises. She has also held visiting scholar and research expert positions at prominent institutions such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Southern California, Elon University, and the University of Waterloo (Canada), further contributing to her expertise in higher education research and practice.    Rachael holds two PhDs: one in Creative Writing from the University of Western Australia and another in Higher Education Teaching and Learning from Deakin University. She also holds a Diploma in Health Sciences from Charles Sturt University and a Diploma in Theatre Studies from Swinburne University, as well as a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Graduate Diploma in Higher Education from Murdoch University.   Rachael is an active member of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA), serving as a fellowship mentor, past branch co-secretary, and committee member. She is also part of the Academy of Reviewers for its high-impact journal, HERD. Rachael has received numerous awards, including a National Citation for Teaching and Learning, a QS Re-imagined (Gold) award, and is a Senior and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK). She has published extensively in education research, contributing significantly to the field.   Connect with Rachael via LinkedIn or view her creative and academic works via the following social media sites: Google Scholar Research Gate Academia.edu Youtube.    

Robyn Martin commenced Social Work practice in 1990. Since that time, she has practised, taught and researched in trauma, violence, abuse, homelessness and critical mental health. Robyn is particularly interested in creating the conditions for the meaningful involvement of service users and their supporters in service delivery, research and teaching. She has co-led university-based projects which bring lived experience educators into the academy and shape future social work and human service graduates to privilege lived experience. Robyn is the Associate Dean for Social Work and Human Services and Professor of Social Work.

Andrew is a Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies (GUSS) and the Centre for Urban Research (CUR) at RMIT. Andrew is a planning educator and researcher with a focus on rural and regional planning issues. He has a background in planning practice and his current research and supervision is in the area of land use change and planning policy associated with regional Australia, food systems and peri-urban development. Andrew has worked for over 30 years in planning practice, research and teaching in Australia and elsewhere. He has undertaken several industry-funded research projects with government agencies in the areas of rural planning, regional development and demographic analysis.  He has been involved in curriculum design, development and review at several universities internationally.

Joe Hurley is a Professor with the Sustainability and Urban Planning program; and a member of the Centre for Urban Research. His research focuses on the intersection between urban planning and urban sustainability, and on the role of urban governance and policy in producing sustainable outcomes. He is a chief investigator on several research projects funded by the Australian Research Council; Victorian Department of Planning; and the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN). Joe takes a particular interest in the relationship between research and practice worlds and is actively involved in work to reduce the barriers to exchange and enhance collaboration. Key Activities Professor, Sustainability and Urban Planning. Member, Centre for Urban Research Associate Member, Post Carbon Research Centre Teaching areas: Urban Planning Research; Strategic Urban Planning; Planning History; Global Study Tours (Myanmar) Industry Experience Past Committee Member, Planning Institute of Australia (Vic Division) Collaborative research and teaching with government and industry partners including: EPA Victoria; Melbourne City Council; Resilient Melbourne; City West Water; the Victorian Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning; the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage; Commonwealth Department of Environment; Planning Institute of Australia; Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities; Municipal Association of Victoria; Council Alliance for Sustainable Built Environment; 202020 Vision.