Our experienced staff are dedicated to providing a high quality learning experience
Many staff in the School of Education and Professional Studies are recognised nationally and internationally as leaders in their fields with a range of teaching awards and research grants reflecting their strengths.
The academic staff bring a rich range of experiences from diverse locations and contexts in schools, industry, business and community organisations, providing a kaleidoscope of experiences for students to engage with. Many have worked in universities outside of Australia and the school has active links with leading universities nationally and internationally, helping to provide students a genuine sense of global connectedness.
Executive Staff
Professor Debbie Heck
Dean and Head of School
Professor Debbie Heck is the Dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University, leading transformative change through research excellence, high-quality teaching, and inclusive leadership. With more than 30 years' experience in higher education, her work focuses on future-oriented learning environment that support student success, strengthen research culture, and respond to community, national, and international priorities. A collaborative and value-driven leader, Professor Heck has a strong record in sustainable growth, industry and government partnerships, and education policy reform. She serves as Policy Chair for the Queensland Council of Deans of Education and contributes to state and national reform through engagement with QCAA and AITSL, while championing equity, Indigenous engagement, and research-informed practice across education.
Associate Professor Glenda McGregor
Deputy Head (Learning & Teaching)
Associate Professor Glenda McGregor oversees accreditation for initial teacher education programs and the design of postgraduate programs. She brings extensive industry and tertiary experience of learning and teaching. Her research interests include sociology of youth, alternative, democratic and flexible schools, pedagogy and curriculum and, social justice and education.
Associate Professor Jennifer Alford
Deputy Head (Research)
Associate Professor Jennifer Alford is Deputy Head of School (Research), and Deputy Director of Griffith Institute of Education Research at Griffith University.
She is an ARC DECRA Fellow exploring how diverse migrant and refugee-background youth engage with critical literacies in and out of school; and how their teachers interpret curriculum and enact pedagogies that maximise diverse learner engagement. Her research work explores teacher knowledge and practice in classrooms with English as an Additional Language learners, using qualitative, ethnographically-informed case study approaches and discourse analysis. She also conducts policy and curriculum analysis.
Associate Professor Sue Whatman
Coordinator, Higher Degree Research
Associate Professor Sue Whatman is known internationally for her research in decolonising health and physical education curriculum and sport pedagogy, in initial teacher education and teacher and coach professional learning. Recognised as a Senior Fellow in Higher Education (SFHEA), Sue's practitioner-focused research informs her award-winning teaching, fuelled and characterised by a sustained commitment to social justice, equity, decolonising and anti-racist praxis. As the HDR Coordinator, Sue provides strategic advice for the AEL research plan, chairs Examination panels, Milestone seminars and Independent Assessments of candidature. Sue is also the Program Advisor for the Health and Physical Education (HPE) major, convening, teaching and leading the HPE teaching team in three HPE core courses.
Associate Professor Loraine McKay
Initial Teacher Education Director
Associate Professor Loraine McKay has extensive experience teaching into Initial Teacher Education courses and has held large service roles within the school as the first year coordinator for the Bachelor of Education, and more recently as the Program Director for the Master of Primary Teaching. Loraine is an accomplished researcher of the pre-service teacher experience, teacher education and teachers' work in schools and has a special focus on resilience and well-being.
Dr Christa van Aswegen
Coordinator, Internationalisation
Dr Christa van Aswegen is the coordinator of internationalisation at EPS as well as the convenor of 3000EDN International Experience. She is the project manager of “Three Continents COIL”. Her research around Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) has been recognised in Australia and internationally. Christa received the 2025 Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award - Highly commended for Outstanding contribution to Overall Internationalisation. Christa is a registered psychologist and award-winning lecturer who convenes Educational Psychology and Positive Psychology courses. Her research interests also include curiosity and interest development, student engagement, and parental involvement in the early years.
Academic Staff
- Associate Professor Jennifer Alford
- Dr Sakinah Alhadad
- Associate Professor Jeanne Allen
- Mr Ben Barlow
- Professor Stephen Billett
- Ms Leontine Bolam
- Mr Paul Brown
- Professor Sarojni Choy
- Dr Nicole Dargue
- Dr Nandini Dutta
- Professor Christine Edwards-Groves
- Professor Beryl Exley
- Dr Kym Fry
- Dr Kathy Gibbs
- Professor Peter Grootenboer
- Dr Stephen Hay
- Dr Danielle Heinrichs
- Associate Professor Steven Hodge
- Dr Frances Hoyte
- Dr Harry Kanasa
- Dr Marta Kawka
- Dr Eun-Ji Amy Kim
- Dr Candace Kruger
- Professor Kevin Larkin
- Dr Natalie Lazaroo
- Dr Shelley MacDonald
- Associate Professor Katherine Main
- Dr Stephanie Malone
- Associate Professor Tim Mavin
- Dr Brittany McCormack
- Professor Christine McDonald
- Associate Professor Glenda McGregor
- Associate Professor Loraine McKay
- Dr Robert Milne
- Ms Hayley Mitchelson
- Dr Sonal Nakar
- Ms Tracee Nix
- Dr Eunjae Park
- Professor Donna Pendergast
- Dr Sorrel Penn-Edwards
- Dr Simon Petty
- Professor Sarah Prestridge
- Dr Tammy Somerwil
- Dr Tasha Riley
- Dr Michelle Ronksley-Pavia
- Associate Professor Kate Simpson
- Professor Parlo Singh
- Ms Natalie Thackwell
- Dr Wayne Usher
- Dr Christa van Aswegen
- Ms Carolyn Wade
- Ms Lisa Watson
- Associate Professor Susan Whatman
- Dr Jason Zagami
Professional Staff
School Manager
Administrative Support
- Ms Amanda Stewart - Executive Support Officer (Data and Reporting)
- Ms Catherine Dennett - Executive Support Officer (Accreditation)
- Ms Chez Bryant - Administrative Support to Dean Head of School
- Ms Mya Stone - Administrative Support Officer (Gold Coast)
- Ms Ha Nguyen - Administrative Support Officer (Brisbane South (Nathan))
Contact our administrative support team.
Program and Academic Support
Professional Experience Office
- Ms Catherine Wang – Acting Professional Experience Office Coordinator
- Mr Azhar Khan- Placement Officer (Primary)
- Ms Liz O’Brien – Placements Officer (Primary)
- Ms Dijana Medic - Placement Officer (Secondary)
- Ms Kristina Madden – Placements Officer (Secondary)
Contact our Professional Experience Office.
Technical Officers
- Mrs Kamaljeet Kaur Assan - Brisbane South (Nathan)
- Mr Michael Nieddu - Brisbane South (Nathan)
- Ms Elida Alvarado – Gold Coast