Professor Jane Fernandez, Provost, Excelsia
Professor Jane Fernandez holds the position of Provost at Excelsia. Jane was until recently also Vice-President, Quality & Strategy at Avondale University College (2011–April 2020). In her role at Avondale, Jane successfully led Avondale’s University College and Self-Accrediting projects. She led in the set-up and management of Avondale’s Joint-Conferral Scheme with Charles Sturt University. Jane also founded and continues to lead the national-based Higher Education Private Provider Quality Network (HEPP-QN). Jane is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is also a member of the TEQSA Register of Experts. She is committed, through collaborative practice, to contributing to the national reputation of higher education in Australia.
Dr Daniel Johnston, Vice-Provost (Academic)
Associate Professor Daniel Johnston received his PhD from The University of Sydney and holds a Masters degree in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. In addition, he has earned relevant education qualifications in Learning and Teaching from UNSW. For 15 years, Daniel fulfilled teaching and leadership roles across various prestigious Australian higher education institutions. He also served as Principal Lecturer and Quality Lead at Sheffield Hallam University. Daniel has a strong background in learning and teaching with a focus on facilitating quality and student-engaging experiences. Daniel’s expertise, leadership and professional experience are a strong foundation to transition into the role of Director of Learning and Teaching.
Associate Professor Harold Culala, Director of Learning and Teaching
Associate Professor Harold John Culala is the Director of Learning and Teaching at ExcelsiaUniversity College, with over 20 years of higher education leadership across Australia and Asia. His previous roles include Vice President for Academic Services, Dean of Teacher Education, and Senior Lecturer in Academic Development, with expertise in academic development, teaching and learning, assessment, and governance. He holds a PhD in Education (Curriculum Studies) from Taylor’s University and an MA in Education (Curriculum and Instruction). He has published in the areas of curriculum reform, academic identity, and higher education practice, and has supervised and examined PhD and Master’stheses. He is a Senior Fellow of UK Advance HE (SFHEA), Associate Editor of the Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, and Board Secretary of the Open Access Publishing Association.
Dr Jack Jia, Academic Operations Manager
Dr Jack Jia holds a PhD in Management (Business Management & Accounting) from University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy. During his PhD’s study, he also held visiting research appointments at The University of Adelaide and Western Sydney University. In the profession’s domain, he is an active member of CA, CPA, IPA, CMA, MAICD and IEAA.
Jack’s most recent role was the Course Coordinator (Business & Accounting) at Charles Sturt University Sydney Campus where he provided academic leadership to the Business and Accounting courses. Additionally, he has held several courses coordination and lecturing roles both at universities and private higher education institutes including WSU, La Trobe Sydney, and Sydney Institute of Higher Education. In his teaching career, Jack was a recipient of Teaching Excellence Award for Postgraduate Programs at La Trobe Sydney.
Jack is experienced in a wide range of academic course management, teaching & learning activities as well as professional engagement both academically and administratively. He is passionate about the continuous improvement of the academic operations to support academic courses and student success. He looks forward to contributing to the Christian higher education community.
School of Business
Dr Sarah Eyaa, Head of School of Business and Director of Research
Dr. Sarah Eyaa has been an academic in the field of business management for over 20 years in higher education institutions in Uganda and Australia. Over the course of her career, Sarah has served at different levels of higher education academic administration in addition to lecturing. In research, Sarah has published on a range of topics in her areas of research interest, supervised several postgraduate research theses and reviewed journal articles as well as book chapters.
Dr Andrew Levula, IT Program Director
PhD, MICT, PGD, GCTE, BA | MACS (Snr), MACS (CP), MAICD
Associate Professor Andrew Levula has been an ICT professional, research and academic. He is the IT Program Director at Excelsia and was instrumental in the development and accreditation of the Bachelor of Information Technology at Excelsia. He is MACS (SNR) member certified by ACS, he brings over 15 years’ experience in IT Project Management, Academic Leadership and IT Curriculum and Course Development. Associate Professor Levula is committed to enhancing students learning experience and his teaching philosophy is that education should be an enjoyable and exciting journey. He is an advocate for education as a catalyst for change in people which is Goal 4: Quality Education of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr Fu Dai, Business Lecturer
Dr Fu Dai, Lecturer, School of Business
Fu Dai Joined the School of Business, Excelsia University College as a casual high-degree research co-supervisor in 2020 and is now a lecturer in Management in the School of Business, Excelsia University College.
Dr Isaac Akomea-Frimpong, Senior Lecturer
Dr Isaac Akomea‑Frimpong is a senior lecturer in accounting, finance and project management (engineering) with vast experience in teaching and research in higher education institutions. He is an editor and reviewer for reputable academic journals and supervises both master’s and PhD students. Isaac’s commitment to education extends to community engagement, including serving as a translator and facilitator for a research forum on the impacts of COVID‑19 on older African immigrants in Australia. He also contributes to scholarship in green finance, infrastructure development and artificial intelligence by supporting emerging scholars and industry practitioners.
Dr Safoora Pitsi, Lecturer and Program/Course Coordinator (MBR), Academic Lead, Postgraduate Writing Centre
PhD (Leadership Cognition), MBA Executive, MSc (Information Technology management), BSc (Computer Engineering-Software), (Cognitive Psychology, Behavioural & Cognitive Neuroscience,Brain & Behaviour, University of Tasmania)
Dr. Safoora Pitsi is a Lecturer and the Program and Course Coordinator for the Master of Business Research program at the School of Business. She completed her PhD in 2024 on Perceptions of Leadership Intelligence, where she investigated how individuals mentally perceive, conceptualise, and categorise leadership using cognitive frameworks. In her research, she has worked deeply on leadership and cognitive theories, particularly implicit leadership theories (ILTs), leadership categorisation theory (LCT), and intelligence theories.
School of Counselling
Dr Lauren Poole
PhD in Psychology, Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice, BSc (Honours) Psychology
Dr Lauren Poole (née Kita) is a Lecturer within the School of Counselling at Excelsia. Lauren has been teaching Psychology and Counselling within the higher education sector for over ten years both within Australia and the UK.
Linda Higgins-Reid, Counsellor
M.Couns; M Child&Adol Welf: B Soc Sc Soc Welf
Clinical Registrant PACFA
Linda has been a Mental Health Professional for over 20 years in both a voluntary and a professional capacity. Her vast professional experience has been gained working across many areas including grief counselling, young parenting, family, and individual counselling and supporting children and adolescents experiencing significant behavioural and emotional difficulties. Her extensive therapeutic work with adults encompasses working with complex trauma from an attachment model. She works from a psychodynamic base, incorporating person-centred, somatic and expressive therapies in her daily work.
Linda has worked at Excelsia (previously Wesley Institute) for many years as both a casual lecturer and student counsellor, involving both face to face and online counselling. She also sees clients in her private practice, which includes working with her much loved therapy dog Bella Bee.
Trish Yeung Petchell, Counsellor
Trish is a registered clinical counsellor of PACFA. She is trained for Emotion Focused Counselling and Emotion Focused Psychotherapy. Trish provides trauma-informed and culturally sensitive practice to adult individuals in all walks of life and with any religious beliefs. She is passionate and skilled in guiding and collaborating with her clients in the therapeutic setting in finding support, clarity, freedom, and strength.
Justin Vincent, Associate Lecturer in Counselling
Justin has clinical counselling experience in the fields of drug and alcohol addiction, aged care, and schizophrenia. These rich clinical experiences provide him with a strong foundation for bridging theory and practice in the classroom. Drawing on real-world insights, he encourages students to develop their counselling skills, critical thinking, and professional confidence. Justin is committed to creating a supportive learning environment that empowers students to achieve their academic and professional goals while developing into ethical, reflective, and compassionate practitioners.
School of Creative and Performing Arts
Drama
Associate Professor Lotte Latukefu, Head School of Creative and Performing Arts
Associate Professor Lotte Latukefu is Head of the School of Creative and Performing Arts at Excelsia University College, Sydney, Australia. Prior to that she lectured in the Faculty of Creative Arts at the University of Wollongong for 18 years. She studied at the Canberra School of Music, Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Manhattan School of Music and University of Wollongong where she completed her PhD. In 2015 she undertook a Research Fellowship at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). Recent and current research includes portfolio career training for creative arts students, collaborative learning, practice-led research in music, and socio-cultural approaches to teaching and learning singing at tertiary level.
Dr Mark Seton, Lecturer
Dr Mark Seton is an Honorary Research Associate (Department of Theatre and Performance Studies) at The University of Sydney. He is a lecturer in Theatre History, Film Project, Screen Histories, Screen Genres, Introduction to Screen Storytelling, and Formation 4: Designing my Creative Career at Excelsia, and lecturing in career sustainability for actors at the Academy of Film, Theatre and Television (AFTT). He was recipient of the 2009 Gilbert Spottiswood Churchill Fellowship to conduct a study tour of actor training healthcare practices in the UK. Arising from this study, the Equity Foundation, in collaboration with Dr Seton, Assoc Prof Ian Maxwell (Department of Theatre and Performance Studies) and Dr Marianna Szabo (School of Psychology) at the University of Sydney, initiated a ground-breaking Actors’ Wellbeing Study (AWS) in collaboration with the Equity Foundation in 2013.
Hailey McQueen, Associate Lecturer in Producing and Performance Practice, Director
Hailey has been a part of the School of Drama at Excelsia for 14 years. Graduating from Excelsia as Valedictorian in 2002, Hailey went on to receive a Diploma of Education in Drama and History from the University of New England and completed studies with Bell Shakespeare. Hailey has appeared in many productions across Sydney as an actor including, When the Rain Stops Falling for The New Theatre, King Lear and Measure For Measure for The Sydney Shakespeare Festival, The Way of All Fish for Sydney Fringe Festival and for The Genesian Theatre; Richard III. For Twisted Tree Theatre; The God of Carnage, Entertaining Angels, The Importance of Being Earnest, Hamlet and Picnic on the Battlefield. For Sydney’s Big Laugh Comedy Festival and Newtown Theatre; The Popular Mechanicals. For Cufflink Productions; Talking With and The Cardboard Box. During her studies Hailey had roles in Morning Sacrifice, Only Words, Charlotte, J.B, Fear and Misery in the Third Reich, Easter and The Hot Mikado.
She also appeared as Sonia McMahon on Channel 9’s Power Games and in a web series Town Centre and in Mr. Foot, for Bondi Feast, Metamorphosis at Chippen Street Theatre and Wit at Seymour Centre. As a Producer and Director, Hailey has produced many independent shows across Sydney and is co-founder and Artistic Director of Clock and Spiel Productions, where her adaptation and direction of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis had a sold-out national tour. More recently the company’s productions of Freud’s Last Session, Metamorphosis, Wit and Molly Sweeney were all received with critical acclaim.
Fiona Gentle, Associate Lecturer, Academic Support Advisor
Excelsia Excellence in Teaching Award (2020) recipient.
Fiona teaches Movement, Story and Academic Skills. She has worked professionally for over 20 years as a performer/puppeteer, movement director, director and writer. She has performed with renowned theatre, film and television companies, such as Sydney Theatre Company, Theatre of Image, Opera Australia, ABC and BBC, Sesame Street, Jim Henson Company, Nickelodeon and Kennedy Miller Productions. Fiona has performed many loved characters including ‘Ferdinand’ (the duck) from the BABE films, and for the last eight years, has assisted David Rudman in performing the Cookie Monster, on his Australian tours. She has directed a number of theatre productions, written for theatre and children’s television, and is ongoing puppetry consultant for television shows and commercials.
Fiona holds a Masters in Writing, Diploma in Fine Arts (The National Arts School), and completed the 12-month ‘Physical Theatre Program’ at the Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre (US). Her training includes Philippe Gaulier, Monika Pagneux, Trestle Theatre, Diablo Mundo (Argentina) & Kevin Clash (puppetry), The Guildhall (UK), Kate Champion (writing).
Rebecca Kellahan, Production Manager
Rebecca is a theatre and film actor, stage manager and producer. She has worked in the stage management team for numerous theatre productions including Evie May (The Hayes Theatre), A Doll’s House (Bard on the Beach Productions), Jack Data (Road Train Productions), Hell Hole (Clock and Spiel Productions), Alison’s House (The Depot Theatre) and The Crucible (Bard on the Beach Productions). In 2021, Rebecca joined Clock and Spiel Productions as a Producer and Project Manager, contributing toward the development of the Eternity Project. As an actor, Rebecca specialises in devised and movement-based storytelling. In 2021, she performed in the world-premiere of The City, a physical theatre production featuring voice over and soundscape, which was staged at the Sydney Opera House. Her other performance credits include theatre productions Wit (Joining the Dots Productions) and Windy Gully (Merrigong Theatre Company), short film The Whole Package (Dorothy Creatives) and video series Before it Starts (Hustle Media). Having graduated as Valedictorian from Excelsia with a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Theatre Practice) in 2017, Rebecca is advancing her academic skills through pursuing a Master of Business (Research). Integrating leadership, research and business management skills with her performing arts background, Rebecca seeks to effectively support creative teams and projects to achieve artistic excellence, desired impact, and sustainability.
As Production Manager at Excelsia, Rebecca works to ensure theatre productions are a positive learning experience in which students can explore, develop, and showcase their creative and technical skills on the Excelsia stage.
Jason Perini, Acting Lecturer
Jason lectures in the graduate acting and directing courses for both theatre and screen.
As an actor, writer and director Jason co-wrote and acted in the short film ‘A LITTLE BIT BEHIND’. Jason was awarded ‘Best Actor’ at the international 48hour Short Film Awards in the USA. The film screened at the Cannes Film Festival shorts corner (2012)
In 2016 Jason wrote and directed his short film ‘THE NEW EMPRESS’. The film starred Maggie Gyllenhaal and was produced by Dana Brunetti. The film had its premiere at Paramount Studios (LA) as part of the Jameson First Shot project.
In 2018, Jason acted in and co-wrote the online Wallabies campaign for ASICS ‘THE TRAVELLING SALESMAN ’ which was co-produced with LADbible.
The campaign has had over 3 million views online and was the winner of the Mumbrella Sports Marketing Awards Social Campaign of the year
Jason’s directorial debut feature film ‘CHASING COMETS’ had its national cinema release in August 2018. The film played in over 90 cinemas across Australia. Jason was nominated for an ADG award for ‘Best Director in a Feature film’ (Under $1mil) in 2019. The film is currently streaming on Stan.
In 2019 Jason directed a series of commercials for global brand HP. The campaign included the original voice of Siri, Susan Bennett.
In 2021 Jason’s short film ‘CARAMEL’ won the ‘Second Batch Film Festival’ competition run by Pedestrian TV.
Linda Nicholls-Gidley, Lecturer
Linda holds a Master of Creative Arts – University of Wollongong, Graduate Diploma – NIDA, and a Bachelor of Arts – Acting for the Stage and Screen Charles Sturt University. Linda Certified in Knight Thompson Speechwork in 2019 and is one of only 2 teachers of the method in Australia.
Kylie Bonaccorso, Movement Lecturer
Dip Arts (Acting), BA (Theatre Studies), Grad Dip Education (Drama & English)
Movement Lecturer
Kylie Bonaccorso has completed a Degree and a Graduate Diploma of Education in Theatre Studies and English at UNE. In 2005 she completed further study at the International School of Commedia dell’ Arte and Comic Acting in Italy with world-renowned maestro Antonio Fava.
She currently works as the movement lecturer at Excelsia where she devises shows regularly with her movement classes. Kylie has directed The Government Inspector in 2012, the graduation show of 2016 Hearts Like Fists and Love and Information in 2018. Kylie often supports major productions and student created work at Excelsia, as a movement director.
Kylie has been a regular tutor for NIDA Open for over twenty-five years, teaching all ages; classes such as mask work, scene preparation, movement for stage and screen studios, devising, improvisation, teaching teachers, youth with a disability and touring programmes. She has directed Stories in the Dark, Bush Tales (After Grimm), A Comedy of Errors, The Pied Piper, The Time Machine, Tales from the Arabian Nights and Antigone for Nida Open. She was a Movement Director on Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood and The Wizard of Oz (all directed by Mary-Anne Gifford). She is also a facilitator with Nida Corporate Performance (over 15 years).
Kylie has also directed two shows for Redline Productions at The Old Fitz Theatre; Smashed by Lally Katz in 2016 for the Late Night Performances, and The Way of All Fish by Elaine May for the Sydney Fringe Festival in 2013.
Kylie has worked at The McDonald College of Performing Arts for six years specialising in teaching play building, storytelling, mask work such as Commedia dell’ Arte, Neutral and Basel. During her time at the college Kylie directed Ghost Sonata, Summer of the Aliens, Lord of the Flies, The House of Bernarda Alba and A Servant of Two Masters.
Donna Abela, Script Writing Lecturer and Mentor
Donna is an award-winning playwright. Jump For Jordan won the 2015 AWGIE Award for Stage and the 2013 Griffin Playwriting Award, and is on the 2019-2022 HSC Drama Syllabus. Her body of work includes plays which have won AWGIE awards for radio (Spirit, Aurora’s Lament, Mrs Macquarie’s Cello), the Human Rights Award for Drama (Highest Mountain Fastest River), and were nominated for NSW Premiers Literary Awards (Tales From the Arabian Night, Jump For Jordan). For Kim Carpenter’s Theatre of Image, she wrote two large scale adaptations: Monkey … Journey to the West (2014 Brisbane Festival, 2015 Melbourne Festival, 2015 Sydney Opera House program) and Tales from the Arabian Nights, a widely produced play on refugee themes which was published by Currency Press in 2019.
Donna also has extensive experience in script and writer development, and has worked with organisations such as Q Theatre, Arts Out West, Hothouse Theatre, PYT Fairfield, Australian Theatre for Young People, Playwriting Australia, National Theatre of Parramatta, Westwords, UoW and Excelsia to teach, mentor or provide dramaturgy to over a hundred students, emerging and professional writers for screen and stage. Donna is a graduate from the University of Technology, the University of New South Wales, the University of Wollongong, and the National Institute for Dramatic Arts. She is a member of Milk Crate Theatre’s Artistic Advisory Council, and a founding member of PYT Fairfield and 7ON Playwrights.
Malcolm Frawley, Acting Lecturer
Malcolm is a writer/director/teacher and actor with over 35 years of professional experience. His plays and productions have been performed in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Byron Bay and Darwin. He has taught at NIDA, Sydney Theatre School, Screenwise, Actors College of Theatre & Television (ACTT), Theatre Nepean (University of Western Sydney), Screen Actors Workshop, ADASA, Ed5, Kick and Gala Studios. Malcolm has been a member of the Excelsia team since 2014.
Kate Gaul, Lecturer, Director
Kate is a Freelance Theatre Director/Designer. She graduated from NIDA in 1996, completing the Directing Course and the Anne Bogart SITI Company In New York City in 2005. Associate Director Ensemble Theatre 2004/5. Festival Director World Interplay 2009/11. Festival Director Short Play Festival Canberra 2013 – 2015, Cabaret Sydney 2014, Mardi Gras Parade Creative Director 2015/16. Curator Playlist 2018 – 2020. Kate’s directing credits include plays, opera, physical theatre, devised works and classics for theatre companies and schools in Australia. Kate has won numerous awards across the fields of directing and design. She is Artistic Director of Siren Theatre Co where her passion is for text-based drama challenges artists and audiences to have bold imaginative experiences. Kate’s play – Fatboy has been produced twice and she has written and directed two short films – Embrace and Cake.
In 2019 Kate produced and directed The Moors (by Jen Silverman) and curated PLAYLIST both in conjunction with Seymour Centre and Mardi Gras; directed a stage version of Janne Teller’s YA novel Nothing for Blue Cow (Tasmania); By the Light of the Moon (Opera Australia), and Hansel & Gretel (Pacific Opera). Kate’s gender bending HMS Pinafore for Hayes Theatre opened in November 2019 and tours NSW in 2020.
Mary Benn, Stage Management Lecturer and Mentor
Mary has been a stage manager in the entertainment industry for 30 years and has travelled extensively in Australia and Asia taking theatre to the people. She has been teaching her craft in Australian institutions now for 10 years and enjoys passing on her knowledge to the new stage managers of the world.
Music
Associate Professor Lotte Latukefu, Head School of Creative and Performing Arts
Associate Professor Lotte Latukefu is Head of the School of Creative and Performing Arts at Excelsia University College, Sydney, Australia. Prior to that she lectured in the Faculty of Creative Arts at the University of Wollongong for 18 years. She studied at the Canberra School of Music, Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Manhattan School of Music and University of Wollongong where she completed her PhD. In 2015 she undertook a Research Fellowship at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). Recent and current research includes portfolio career training for creative arts students, collaborative learning, practice-led research in music, and socio-cultural approaches to teaching and learning singing at tertiary level.
Ludmila Beliavskaia, Tutor, Classical Piano
DipMus, MMus(Hons)
A graduate of Rachmaninov Conservatorium of Music in Russia, Ludmila has more than 30 years experience of teaching classical piano. She started working at Rachmaninov Conservatorium of Music as a teacher in solo piano and chamber ensemble performance. She also worked as an accompanist. Having worked in Australia for 15 years, Ludmila currently teaches at the University of New South Wales, Excelsia and International Grammar School. Some of her recent performances include concerts with the German Chamber Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House and the Greek Choir at Sydney Town Hall. Ludmila’s students have received awards at piano competitions both in Russia and Australia.
Dr Sadaharu Muramatsu, Lecturer and Tutor, Conductor
BA(Hons), MMus, MMus, Hon.DMus
Sada completed a Masters of Music in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, UK. Subsequently, he was granted a fellowship to study conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney under the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists.
Sada completed a Masters of Music in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, UK. Subsequently, he was granted a fellowship to study conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney under the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program for Artists.
Sada studied conducting under Imre Pallo, Kurt Masur, Sir Mark Elder CBE, Hirofumi Misawa and Kazuki Sawa.
Dr Peter McNamara, Tutor, Composition and Harmony
Dr. Peter McNamara is an award-winning Sydney-based freelance composer and academic. He is currently the instructor of composition (Masters) and harmony units at Excelsia and has worked for a variety of other tertiary institutions including the University of Sydney and University of New England. He is also a co-artistic director of the Sideband composer collective.
David Pudney, Lecturer and Tutor, Jazz Piano, Bass Guitar, Double Bass
AssDipJazzStud, Industry Professional
David completed his Associate Diploma in Jazz Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium in 1984 and has been a sought after bass player in the Australian jazz scene since that time, with a wide repertoire of mixed styles. He spent 16 years as bassist in the Don Burrows Quartet and has worked with many distinguished Australian and overseas jazz artists. David is also a pianist and teaches piano, electric and double bass, and improvisation at the Sydney Conservatorium Open Academy, Avondale Conservatorium in the Newcastle area, and here at Excelsia. As a working musician, recording artist and teacher, he brings a wealth of musical experience to Excelsia.
Na Ri Kim, Tutor, Piano Accompanist
BA(Mus), BCA(MusPerf), MMus
Na Ri is an experienced piano teacher, organist and music theory teacher. Na Ri Kim was born in South Korea and interested in music from a young age. She started learning the organ when she went to university. While studying, she performed in numerous concerts as a soloist and accompanist. She migrated to Australia after she got married in 1998. She studied and completed a Bachelor of Music at Wesley Institute and a Master of Music at Newcastle Conservatorium. She is currently teaching at Excelsia, Message Musical School in the Korean Community and as a private piano teacher.
Jae Woo Kim, Tenor
Born in Korea, Jaewoo Kim is a graduate of the Canberra School of Music and a winner of several prestigious scholarships including Opera Foundation’s Metropolitan Opera Awards and the McDonald’s aria. He was a Principal Artist with Opera Australia from 1999 – 2006
He was a visiting lecturer at Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University.
From 2007-2012 Jaewoo was based in the UK. the Italian Singer: Der Rosenkavalier, Edgardo: Lucia di Lammermoor (English National Opera); Lensky: Eugene Onegin (English Touring Opera); Duke: Rigoletto (Opera Holland Park); Harlequin: Tarik O’Regan’s The Heart of Darkness (Linbury Theatre Covent Garden); Tamino: The Magic Flute (Lyric Opera Productions, Dublin); Alfredo: La Traviata (Longborough Opera, Societa Filarmonia in Croatia and Italy); Tamino, Ferrando: Così fan tutte, Orphée: Orphée aux enfers (Diva Opera: UK, Europe). Concerts included The Dream of Gerontius (London Mozart Players and Oriana Choir at the Barbican), a Gala Concert with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London and Verdi’s Requiem (Nottingham Harmonic Choir).
In concert in Australia, Jaewoo has appeared as soloist with the Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Sydney Philharmonia, Queensland Music Festival.
Tim Geldens, Tutor of Drums
Tim Geldens is a musician/drummer based in Sydney Australia. Tim has a performed alongside some of Australia’s finest musicians; James Morrison, Emma Pask, Monica Trapaga , Lionel Cole , Uncle Jed (Australias got talent), Dale Barlow, Brendan Clarke, David Panichi, Brett Hurst, Errol Buddle, Matt McMahon, Johnathan Zwartz, John Harkins to name a few.
Tim is a graduate of The Sydney Conservatorium of Music. At the Conservatorium, he was under the tuition of great Australian drummers Andrew Dickeson and Simon Barker as well renowned musicians.
In 2014 Tim was selected to be part of the World JM Jazz Orchestra led by Pianist/Composer Erlend Skomsvoll, consisting of some of the finest young jazz musicians around the world.
Over the years Tim has spent some time in New York learning from some of his favourite drummers; Kenny Washington, Pete Van Nosetrand, Kendrick Scott, Michael Carvin, Rodney Green, Greg Hutchinson and Bob Moses.
Tim Continues to perform in Sydney and abroad with local musicians. He has also been fortunate to perform numerous occasions at the Opera House and Melbourne recital centre, as well as various international Jazz festivals including; Konsberg Jazz Festival in Norway, Sydney and Melbourne Jazz Festivals, Tauranga Jazz Festival and Waiheke island Jazz festival (New Zealand) and Wangaratta Jazz festival. Tim is proud endorser of Canopus Drums.
Liam Webb, Tutor
Aural Perception
Victoria Parsons, Lecturer and Tutor
B. Mus, BA (Hons), GradDip Mus
Victoria Parsons is a PhD Candidate in Ethnomusicology at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney. Her research is primarily concerned with how communities experience and express themselves through community music-making practices. Victoria holds a Bachelor of Music (Classical) and a Graduate Diploma of Music from the Australian Institute of Music majoring in flute. She also holds Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology and Music Studies) with first class honours from the University of Sydney.
Screen Production
Dr Mark Seton, Lecturer
Dr Mark Seton is an Honorary Research Associate (Department of Theatre and Performance Studies) at The University of Sydney. He is a lecturer in Theatre History, Film Project, Screen Histories, Screen Genres, Introduction to Screen Storytelling, and Formation 4: Designing my Creative Career at Excelsia, and lecturing in career sustainability for actors at the Academy of Film, Theatre and Television (AFTT). He was recipient of the 2009 Gilbert Spottiswood Churchill Fellowship to conduct a study tour of actor training healthcare practices in the UK. Arising from this study, the Equity Foundation, in collaboration with Dr Seton, Assoc Prof Ian Maxwell (Department of Theatre and Performance Studies) and Dr Marianna Szabo (School of Psychology) at the University of Sydney, initiated a ground-breaking Actors’ Wellbeing Study (AWS) in collaboration with the Equity Foundation in 2013.
Sasha Zastavniković, Post Production Sound Lecturer
Sasha Zastavniković is a Sydney-based sound designer, composer, and educator with over two decades of experience in film and television post-production. Since 2001, Sasha has worked as a sound designer and re-recording mixer at Red Dot World, earning multiple international awards for Best Sound Design and Best Sound Editing. Sasha teaches music, audio, and sound design at TAFE and Excelsia College, with past lecturing roles at SAE Institute and the Australian Institute of Music (AIM), and holds a Master of Arts in Sound Design from AFTRS.
Steve Arnold, Cinematography Lecturer
Steve Arnold is one of Australia’s most experienced Directors of Photography, with an extensive list of accolades across feature film, documentary, and television. His credits include Last Cab to Darwin (dir. Jeremy Sims, 2015), which earned him both AACTA and FCCA Award nominations for Cinematography; Disgrace (dir. Steve Jacobs, 2008) starring John Malkovich, for which he received an ACS Bronze Award; and La Spagnola (dir. Steve Jacobs, 2001), which earned him an AFI nomination for Best Cinematography. Further awards include an ACS Silver Award for Separation City (2009) and an Emmy nomination for Cinematography for the documentary The Natural History of the Chicken (2000). His US credits include ManThing, Highlander: The Source, and Feed, all directed by Brett Leonard. Recent credits include Rams (2019), Sissy (2021), which earned an AACTA nomination for Best Film, and Ruby’s Choice (2022).
Geoff Bennett, Directing Lecturer
Geoff Bennett has been directing film and television since 1980. His three feature films include Hating Alison Ashley (nominated for four AFI awards), Turning April and Boys in the Island. His documentaries include Wayne Gardner World Champion, Smart’s Labyrinth (a film about Jeffrey Smart), The Edge of the World (a film about Tim Winton) and Lighting Fires (a film about Tim Storrier).
His work on the ABC series Winners – On Loan won an Atom Award and a United Nations Peace Citation, as well as achieving a runner-up place in the 1985 Prix Jeunesse. His television credits include Farscape, Heartbreak High, Wildside, Water Rats, Home and Away, All Saints, McLeod’s Daughters, Fireflies, Young Lions, Sea Patrol, Rush, Love My Way, Underbelly, House Husbands, Love Child, The Secret Daughter, Doctor Doctor, Bad Mothers, Wentworth, Harrow, Wolf Creek, MaveriX and BUMP.
His telemovie credits include The Great Mint Swindle; Power Games: The Packer Murdoch Story (winner of three AACTA awards including Best Director); Brock, about racing car champion Peter Brock; Informer 3838, about lawyer Nicola Gobbo; Vanishing Act, a two-part telemovie about fraudster Melissa Caddick; and Warnie, a two-part telemovie about cricket legend Shane Warne.
Joshua Belinfante, Production/Post-Production Lecturer
Joshua Belinfante is a Polish-Australian filmmaker with an eye for the eccentric and the surreal. Broadcast credits include ABC’s Hawke: The Larrikin & The Leader, Foxtel’s Debi Marshall Investigates: Frozen Lies, SBS’ The Mosque Next Door and Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian (ABC). He has crewed on productions for Discovery, Nat Geo, SBS, Channel 9 and ABC, and his freelance clients include Adobe, Sonos, Genesys and Camus Cognac.
Joshua’s short and documentary films have screened at over 30 international festivals, earning awards including Best International Documentary at Marina Del Rey Film Festival, Best Short Documentary at Hong Kong Arthouse FF and ARFF Berlin, and an Honorary Lonely Wolf Award for outstanding contributions to independent filmmaking. His film The World’s Best Film was broadcast on SBS between 2020 and 2023. In 2020 and 2024, Joshua participated in Werner Herzog’s filmmaking accelerator, creating work that includes the sci-fi documentary Lilith Goes Galactic.
Joshua has taught filmmaking since 2011 across NIDA, USYD, UTS, UON, NYFA and JMC, among others. He holds a BA (Media Arts Production)/LLB from UTS, is an admitted solicitor to the Supreme Court of NSW, and completed a PhD in Media Arts and Communication in 2024.”
Eve Waugh, Production Lecturer
Eve is a production designer and art director with wide-ranging experience in film, television, commercials, and live events having designed TV shows for Nickelodeon, Walt Disney Australia, and Beyond Productions, as well as live televised events for SBS. Eve holds a Masters in Animation (UTS), Post Graduate Diploma in Production Design (AFTRS), Graduate Certificate in Writing, Editing and Publishing (UTS), and a bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication (Monash University.)
Kate Barratt, Production/Screenwriting Lecturer
Kate holds a BA in Communication Studies from Newcastle University and a BA Honours in Film Production and MA in Screenwriting. She began her career in the Art Department on Looking for Alibrandi and Dog Watch, before moving into production as a Production Assistant and Production Coordinator on Out There (ABC), Water Rats, All Saints, Red Planet (Warner Bros), Mission Impossible (Additional AD) and Chains of Love (Southern Star). She subsequently moved into casting, working for several years with Mullinars, Faith Martin and Christine King, as well as coordinating extras on numerous films and TVCs, before taking up a role as Departmental Coordinator at AFTRS.
Kate is currently a lecturer in the Bachelor of Film and is undertaking a PhD in screenwriting. As a filmmaker, she has produced and directed several documentaries, including Stiletto Girls, which won the Audience Choice Award at the WOW Film Festival. She is currently developing and pitching original ideas to production companies across film and television. Kate has received scholarships and residencies in support of her practice, and has served as a judge on Living Stories for WestWords.
Joshua Kouts, Production Manager
Joshua Kouts is a multidisciplinary filmmaker who specialises in writing and cinematography, with over thirty credits across short films, documentaries and commercial projects. His Graduate short film won several university awards including Best Picture, People’s Choice, Best Editing and Sound Design. He was also awarded Best Cinematography by the university for his work on ‘What are you running from?’ dir. Ethan Tulenheimo.
Luke Mears, Facilities/Equipment
Luke Mears is a Filmmaker and Technical Assistant who has worked on a multitude of short films, music videos, social media content, documentaries and boxing promotional videos. He has a wide range of experience in many different filmmaking roles including directing, writing, cinematography, production designing, editing and acting.
School of Education
Dr Natalie Brand, Head of School of Education
Dr Natalie Brand is Head of School of Education at Excelsia University College and an active researcher with committee membership in the Centre for Research in Early Childhood Education (CRECE) at Macquarie University. She is an expert in very young children’s social interactions and learning in early childhood centres, with a focus on infant-toddler play-based pedagogies and toddlers’ use of learning-oriented language. Natalie is also an experienced Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) with strong professional connections to the sector. Her latest project, MQ Toddler TaLK, investigated toddlers’ learning-oriented talk and aimed to develop freely accessible professional resources for educators, currently available at toddlertalk.org.au.
Associate Professor Shanti Clements, Associate Professor in Education
Associate Professor Shanti Clements holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Leadership), and a Master of Education (Management and Leadership) from University of Sydney. With over 30 years’ experience as an Educational Leader, Shanti has driven educational reforms both nationally and internationally. Shanti has previously held roles such as Head of Leadership Academy (TELLAL Institute, UAE), Academic Coordinator and Head Lecturer (Liverpool Hope University), lecturer (University of Sydney) and A/Director, Leadership and Teacher Quality (NSW Department of Education). Shanti also served as Principal of two NSW schools.
Dr Yu Han, Lecturer in Education
Dr Yu holds a PhD in Education from Western Sydney University and a Master of Arts in Foreign Language Education from Jilin University, China. With more than 15 years of lecturing experience, Dr Yu has served as Associate Professor and Dean of the English Department at Zhejiang Wanli University, as well as Associate Professor and Head of the College English Education Research Centre at Guangzhou Nanfang College in China.
Dr Alfred Mupenzi, Lecturer, Early Childhood Education
Dr Alfred Mupenzi has over seven years’ experience lecturing Sociology within the Master of Teaching (Primary) program at Western Sydney University. Alfred also has one year of experience teaching different early childhood education units at Excelsia. Alfred’s teaching in early childhood education spans from multiculturalism and multilingualism, child, family and partnerships, growth and development, through to special needs education.
Dr Edmund Sosu, Master of Teaching Course Coordinator
Dr. Edmund Sosu is an experienced teaching and research academic with over a decade of expertise in the tertiary education sector. His career began as a secondary school teacher in Ghana, where he developed a strong foundation in pedagogy and student engagement. He later transitioned to higher education, serving as a research and teaching assistant at the University of Cape Coast. Dr. Sosu’s dedication to education extends beyond the classroom, reflected in his active involvement in community initiatives and his role as a ‘good news teacher,’ fostering positive learning experiences among children and young adults.
Professor Patrick Danaher, Professor in Education
PhD in Education, MLitt in Australian History, GradDipTertiary Ed, BA(Hons) in Anthropology, BA in Anthropology, BEd
Patrick has worked continuously as an education academic since early 1991 – most recently in the School of Education at Excelsia University College since July 2023, and previously at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, and before that at Central Queensland University in Rockhampton – prior to which he taught for nine years in secondary schools in Queensland and Victoria. He has been privileged to co-supervise several doctoral and research masters Australian and international students to completion. Patrick’s research interests include the education of occupationally mobile communities such as fairground or show and circus families; education research ethics, methods, politics and theories; and academics’, educators’ and researchers’ work and identities.
Dr Nguyen Thi Le Nguyen, Lecturer, Education
Dr Nguyen Thi Le Nguyen completed her PhD in Education from the University of Newcastle, and a Master of Arts in International Education from Birmingham City University, UK. She has over 15 years of experience working as a Lecturer of English Education at Hanoi Pedagogical University.
Her research interests include language education, teacher development, sociology of education, international education, and international perspectives on educational improvement policies and planning.
Dr Murni Sianturi, Lecturer in Education, Master of Educational Research/STEM
With over six years of professional academic experience, Dr Murni Sianturi has built a strong track record in leading high-impact research and securing competitive grants. Her academic career spans the University of New South Wales, Australia; National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan; and Musamus University, Indonesia. Currently, she leads a competitively funded Australia–Indonesia international research project with Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), funded by the Indonesian Government and co-funded by Excelsia University College.
She completed her PhD at the University of New South Wales under the prestigious Scientia PhD Scholarship, with a thesis by publication. Expertise in Indigenous education and educational technology has been shared through invited talks, keynotes, plenary sessions, and international conference presentations. Her publications include two books and 21 peer-reviewed articles, seven of which appear in top-tier journals such as Pedagogy, Culture & Society and Education and Information Technologies, contributing to scholarship that influences both research and practice.
Dr Thomas Philip, Lecturer in Education
Thomas Philip is a Lecturer in Integrative Studies in the School of Education at Excelsia, drawing on nearly three decades of experience in higher education, pastoral leadership, academic administration, and cross‑cultural ministry. He holds a PhD in Arts and Education (Theology and Hermeneutics) from Charles Sturt University, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in both Sociology and Theology. Thomas has taught in multiple institutions, contributing to education, curriculum development, mission, pastoral formation, and community development. His scholarly interests encompass Christology, mission, hermeneutics, and transformative learning, with ongoing work situated at the intersection of theology, culture, and educational practice. He is the author of the Routledge monograph M.M. Thomas’s Secular Commentaries on Scripture: Exegeting the World, which reflects his ongoing work in public theology and the intersection of faith and contemporary culture.
Dr Natalie Somhom, Lecturer in Education
Dr Natalie Somhom integrates research and practical experience to prepare future educators for meaningful work in early childhood settings. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Education) from Macquarie University, where her research focused on self‑regulation in Australian ECEC settings, as well as a Master of Research (Education) from Macquarie University with a focus on autobiographical memory, and a Master of Education (Educational Management) from Mahidol University. Her research journey began with investigating how primary school children in Thailand learn English, which sparked a deeper interest in the early experiences that shape learning across the lifespan and led to cross‑cultural studies on autobiographical memory in emerging adults in Thailand and Australia. Drawing on both academic insight and practical experience gained while working in childcare during her doctoral studies, she brings a grounded and holistic perspective to her teaching. As the Course Coordinator for Placement across the BECE and GDECT programs, she supports students as they connect theory with practice and grow into confident early childhood professionals.
Dr Xuemei Shao, Lecturer in Education
Dr. Xuemei Shao is a Lecturer and Fourth-Year Course Coordinator in Early Childhood at Excelsia University College. She completed her PhD at Western Sydney University, with research focusing on children’s language development and cognition. With nearly ten years of higher education teaching experience across China and Australia, she brings strong expertise in teaching, research, and curriculum leadership.
Thomas Tokura, Associate Lecturer in Education
Paula Sofia Ortega, Associate Lecturer in Education
Paula Sofia Ortega is an Associate Lecturer in Education with over eight years of experience in the early childhood education sector. She holds a Master of Education (Early Childhood Education), a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care, and a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care. Paula has held Educational Leadership roles and contributed to leadership and management within early childhood settings. Her experience includes curriculum planning and development, educator mentoring and training, professional learning, assessment and documentation, compliance and quality improvement, pre-service teacher support, and supporting practice aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Framework. Her teaching interests include early childhood curriculum and pedagogy, educational leadership, reflective practice, inclusive education, and children’s learning and wellbeing.
School of ELICOS
Dr Daisy William, ELICOS Program Director
Dr William is the ELICOS Program Director at Excelsia and former academic at the School of Business at the University of New England. Dr William has forty years of extensive industry and higher education leadership experience having been CEO/Director of four organisations including the Language Training Centre at the University of New England. Dr William has a PhD in Financial Management & Corporate Governance (UNE), MEd TESOL (Deakin), BTh (BCM), CELTA (Cambridge), Adv Dip Bus Mgmt (UNEP). Her research interests are in financial management, corporate governance, teaching English to speakers of other languages and developing assessments.
Rosemary Colacino, Lecturer
Rosemary Colacino is a lecturer in the ELICOS program who has seven years’ experience in English language teaching in a number of colleges in Sydney.
She has a BA Hons (Macquarie) and a Cambridge CELTA.
Sudha Kajottu Seetharam, Lecturer
Sudha Kajottu Seetharam is a trained graduate with 5 years of teaching experience overseas. She has a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mysore. Sudha has also completed a Certificate IV in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), and Level 5 in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). At present, she volunteers as an ESL teacher at the Adult Migrant English Programme. Sudha is committed to helping students from diverse linguistic backgrounds achieve their academic and personal goals.
Anggara Jatu Kusumawati, Lecturer
Anggara Jatu Kusumawati has 8 years of experience in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Indonesia. Anggara has completed her PhD and is in the examination of her thesis stage. Her PhD in TESOL focuses on classroom management and technology integration which she undertook at the University of Sydney. Guided by the motto “teaching with heart,” she aims to create inclusive, student-centered learning environments and contribute to compassionate curriculum design.
Zhu Xie, Lecturer
Zhu Xie holds a Master of Research in Linguistics from Macquarie University and is currently pursuing her PhD there. With a background in linguistics, Zhu is passionate about language teaching and academic research. She is fluent in both Mandarin and English.
School of Social Work
David Keegan, Senior Lecturer and Field Education Unit Coordinator
David Keegan is an expert in refugee protection and international human rights and has worked in senior leadership roles in organisations and projects operating across the Asia Pacific region for 13 years. He also has significant practice experience working in statutory child protection and youth homelessness services in Western Sydney and maintains active networks in Sydney and throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Bonny Cotter, Lecturer and Field Education Supervisor
Bonny Cotter is an experienced social worker, educator, and practitioner with a career spanning over three decades across government, community, and academic sectors. She currently serves as a Lecturer and Unit Coordinator in the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) program at Excelsia University College, where she has been recognised with Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards in both 2024 and 2025.
Gino Orticio, Social Science Lecturer
Gino’s academic and research journey spans over 17 years with a profound impact on various sectors. His expertise ranges from: sociotechnical studies, international indigenous studies and multiculturalism, coupled with a keen focus on empowering disadvantaged communities. His career also includes roles as a community development worker and consultant, acting as a resource person for culturally diverse community leaders in Queensland. Through these efforts, Gino was recognised by the Queensland Government as a Digital Community Champion in 2018.
Dr. Michelle Shamoell, Social Work Lecturer
Dr. Michelle Shamoell has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work with Honours and PhD from the University of Sydney. She also has the University of Sydney’s Post Graduate Teaching Fellowship. She has years of experience in teaching various social work, social science and research units at WSU and The University of Sydney.
Andrea Louka, Social Work Lecturer
Andrea is currently a Lecturer and Unit Coordinator in the School of Social Work at Excelsia University College. Alongside her teaching responsibilities, she remains actively involved in field education, providing supervision, mentorship, and liaison support to social work students during their placement learning experiences.
Frank Xu, Social Work Lecturer
Frank is a Registered Social Worker, alongside being formerly trained as a Public Health Physician overseas. Rather than just being a theoretician, he has worked for both public and private organisations to provide practical services improving both mental and physical wellbeing in local communities.
Frank also has extensive work experience in the Healthcare industry, including Pharmaceutical and Biotech sectors, in various roles. It enables him to reflect from different perspectives and to draw on real-world experience for problem analysing and solving in the areas of Healthcare Management and Social Work.
Academically, Frank earned his principal medical degree in Public Health Medicine from China, followed by a Master of Medicine in Immunology and Infectious Diseases from the University of Sydney School of Medicine and a Master of Social Work degree from Flinders University. He has been admitted to conduct Doctoral Research in Public Health, focusing on advanced technologies applicable in healthcare, at La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Research
Dr Sarah Eyaa – Director of Research (Graduate Studies)
Dr. Sarah Eyaa has been an academic in the field of business management for over 20 years in higher education institutions in Uganda and Australia. Over the course of her career, Sarah has served at different levels of higher education academic administration in addition to lecturing. In research, Sarah has published on a range of topics in her areas of research interest, supervised several postgraduate research theses and reviewed journal articles as well as book chapters.
Dr Vidya Sagar Athota – Casual HDR Supervisor Business
PhD
Dr Vidya Sagar Athota is an Associate Professor and Head of Management, HR, and Sports & Recreation Management. He teaches Business Psychology, Human Resources and Executive Education in the School of Business at the University of Notre Dame Australia. Dr Athota holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales, Australia. He has been employed at the Sydney campus since 2007. He presented his research at various universities the USA, Europe, the UK, the Middle East and India. He is also a visiting faculty at Indian Institute of Management, India. He received the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Initiatives that Enhance Student Learning. In 2022 Dr Athota also received the Australian Business Deans Council Award from the Australian Business Deans Council. Most recently, Dr Athota received Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning.
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