Our people

Associate Director - Nina is the Associate Director of the Mitchell Institute. Her current work focuses broadly on young people, the intersection between education and health, and equity.

Director, Peter Noonan Policy Impact Program - With her deep knowledge of education and skills policy, Sarah leads the Mitchell Institute's impact program, translating research and evidence into meaningful policy development.

Senior Research Fellow - Beatriz's research focuses on the study of disadvantage, how to measure and model it to acknowledge that this is a problem with multiple dimensions and levels.

Project and Communications Coordinator - Madeline assists all arms of the Institute in communications, administration, and project coordination.

Senior Research Fellow - Esther has played key roles in research projects across all stages of learning, and is adept at employing a wide range of research methodologies.

Education Policy Fellow - Dr Melinda Hildebrandt has a particular interest in access and equity in education, and disability advocacy.

Research Fellow - Sam has a particular research interest in tertiary and vocational education. His PhD focused on academic professional development in higher education.

Research Officer – Bryce is a casual research officer with the Mitchell Institute who has extensive professional experience in the community services sector.

Senior Research Fellow - Andres has worked for more than 20 years in the design, analysis, evaluation, and implementation of educational projects and programs in several countries.

Research Fellow at Pathways in Place - Amy is an early career researcher with an interest in social theory and digital media.

Education Policy Fellow - Ha is a Policy Fellow at the Mitchell Institute with over 10 years of experience in tertiary education.

Senior Research Fellow - Bo is passionate about reducing health and education inequities and achieving better outcomes for disadvantaged communities through policy change.

Institute Manager - With expertise in leading high performing administrative teams, Niky maintains the daily operations of the Institute and ensures strategic objectives are met.

Research Fellow - Melissa is a Research Fellow at the Mitchell Institute and has worked on research projects across the school system.

Research Fellow - Binh is a Research Fellow at the Mitchell Institute and has a particular interest in advocating international students and doctoral students

Administration Assistant - Freya’s work includes project organisation and planning, meeting schedules, and staff leave coordination.

Senior Research Fellow - Anne has undertaken qualitative and quantitative research projects on a state and national basis and across all sectors of education.

Emeritus Professor - Professor Peter Dawkins was Vice-Chancellor and President of Victoria University from 2011 to December 2020.

Emeritus Professor - Stephen has a distinguished record of contribution to education research and policy over the last 30 years, achieved through an extensive research program and a strong publication record. His research is concerned with how well schools and education systems work, for whom and why.

Emeritus Professor - David was previously Head of the Humanities and Social Sciences discipline group at Victoria University

Emeritus Professor of Tertiary Education Policy - Professor Noonan has played a major role in shaping policy in Australia’s education and training system.

Adjunct Professor - Adjunct Professor Leung has a background in international research into early childhood education and care.

Adjunct Associate Professor - Chandra has many years' experience researching issues relating to the labour market and economics of education.

Adjunct Fellow - Dr Reshmi's research aims to advance global understanding of how auto/ethnographical experiences of education shape the creation of academic identities among marginalised groups within Higher Education in diverse contexts.

Honorary Fellow - A key area of interest for Lizzie is equity of access to and in tertiary education, the provision of institutional information and support for transition into post-school education.

Honorary Fellow - Quentin has a wide-ranging knowledge of Australian and international education and training systems.

Honorary Fellow - Previous Co-Director of the Centre for International Research on Education Systems (CIRES), Shuyan has worked extensively in social and economic research and analysis over the past decade.

Honorary Fellow - Previous Co-Director of the Centre for International Research on Education Systems (CIRES), Andrew's expertise covers a range of education-related issues including funding model development, performance measurement and system design.