Research and innovation team

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation)
Professor Jennifer L Martin AC

E: jennifer_martin@

Senior Executive Assistant
Tracy Panton

T: (02) 4221 3915
E: tpanton@

Director, Research Services Office
Sharon Martin
Manages research grants, ethics and data information. Strategic research planning, promotion and reporting. Executive support to University Research Committee.

T: (02) 4221 3928
E: sharonma@

Assistant to the Director Sharon Martin
Julie Evans
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

T: (02) 4221 3386
E: research-services@

Assistant to the Director
Karla House
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

T: (02) 4221 3386
E: research-services@

Dean of Research
Professor Tim Marchant

E: tim_marchant@

Assistant to Acting Dean
Toni Bloor

T: (02) 4221 4833
E: toni_bloor@

(Acting) Senior Manager, Innovation & Commercial Research
George Tomka

E: gtomka@

Assistant to Senior Manager
Lisa King

T: (02) 4221 5086
E: lisa_king@

Chief Executive Officer, iAccelerate
Omar Khalifa

E: omark@

Assistant to Director
Moira Buckley

T:  (02) 4221 5352
E: moira_buckly@

Executive Director, Global Challenges Program
Senior Professor Sharon Robinson

T: (02) 4221 5753
E: sharonr@

Assistant to Director
Liz Ragen

T:  (02) 4221 4261
E: elizabeth_ragen@

Executive Director, American Institute of Innovative Materials (AIIM)
Professor Will Price

T: (02) 4239 2150
E: will_price@

Assistant to Director
Narelle Badger

T: (02) 4221 5352
E: narelle_badger@

Director, Science Space
Mr Stuart Creal

T: (02) 4286 5036
E: stuart_creal@

Assistant to Director
Kim Noble

T: (02) 4286 5000
E: kim_noble@

CEO and Executive Director, Illawarra Health & Medical Reserach Institute (IHMRI)
Distinguished Professor David Adams

E: David_adams@

Assistant to Director
Joanna Harrison

T: (02) 4221 3871
E: joanna_harrison@

George Tomka- Acting senior manager

George taps into over 25 years of international experience achieving successful outcomes across business, government and research, to ensure that RSU’s innovative capabilities have lasting value and are accessible to companies. George leads ICRU, engaging with researchers and our networks to maximise the opportunities and build mutually beneficial relationships.

LinkedIn profile

Lisa King- Administrative Assistant

Lisa in the Innovation and Commercial Research Unit’s first point of contact.  Lisa looks after all the administrative tasks for the ICRU and Technology Transfer Office (TTO). When you want to engage with the ICRU contact Lisa on  02 4221 5086 or  icr-enquiry@

Zahra Shahbazian- Industry Research Manager

As an Industry Research Manager, Zahra leverages her extensive experience with local and NSW industry to identify areas of common strategic research between Industry Partners and RSU staff focussed on translations research and commercialisation. Zahra is specialised in all NSW and Federal funding scheme and is particularly focused on engaging agile SME partners.

Jef Pennings- Industry Research Manager

As an Industry Research Manager, Jef provides strategic advice on industry research engagement, commercial research, and commercialisation to stakeholders in the University. Jef has a particular interest in med-tech and biological science innovation.

Stuart Parker- Commercial Research Manager

As Commercial Research Manager, Stuart is responsible for management of commercial research activities at RSU. Providing advice and guidance across University policies and procedures, Stuart facilitates contractual negotiations between RSU and Industry Partners for Contract Research, Collaborative Research and Consultancy activities.

Julia Frith- Marketing and Reporting Manager

Julia is a marketing and stakeholder engagement expert. As Marketing and Reporting Manager, Julia empowers businesses to harness the power of innovation by marketing the University’s research capabilities to industry primarily through events and digital marketing.   

Deborah Loveday- Industry Research Officer

As Industry Research Officer, Deborah support the commercialisation activities and commercial research at RSU. Deb always provides efficient and accurate advice across University policies and procedures to help guide relationships between RSU Researchers and Industry in contract negotiations and intellectual property considerations.

Brett Weeden- Tender Manager

As Tender Manager Brett assists RSU Academics to respond to calls for tenders for contract research and consulting activities (commercial research). He manages an effective administration and promotional process for Commercial Research tender processes to ensure that RSU manages this process efficiently, prepares high quality and competitive tender responses, and ultimately increases its engagement with external clients and RSU’s commercial research income.

Associate Dean - Graduate Research
Associate Professor Honglin Chen

View profile

T: (02) 4221 3305
E: honglin@

Sue Flint

Manager- Graduate Research School

T: (02) 4221 3479
E: susan_flint@
 

Erin Smith

HDR Project & Compliance Officer (Mon - Thur)

T: (02) 4221 4323
E: erin_smith@

Michelle Kendall 

HDR Project & Compliance Officer (Fri)

HDR Student Management Officer - Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health; Faculty of Business and Law (Mon - Thur)

T: (02) 4221 5453
E: michelle_kendall@

Alicia Allen

HDR Student Management Officer - American Institute for Innovative Materials; Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - SMAS, SECTE, SCIT (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)

T: (02) 4221 5454
E: alicia_allen@

Enia Caires 

HDR Student Management Officer - Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - CME, Physics, MMMB (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri)

T: (02) 4221 3241
E: enia_caires@

Francine Cox 

HDR Student Management Officer - Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities  (Mon – Fri)

T: (02) 4221 5558
E: fcox@

Kylie Dawson 

HDR Student Management Officer (Currently on maternity leave)

T: (02) 4221 5874
E: kylie_dawson@

Ryah Perkiss 

HDR Student Management Officer – Faculty of Business and Law (SAEF and ANCORS); HDR Student Administration Officer (Tues - Fri)

T: (02) 4221 5452
E: ryahp@

Erin Sharp

HDR Student Administration Officer (Currently on maternity leave)

T: (02) 4221 5452
E: emcginn@

Tara Edworthy
HDR Student Administration Officer (Mon, Tues)
T: (02) 4221 5452
E: edworthy@ 

Omar Khalifa - Chief Executive Officer, iAccelerate

Omar Khalifa is the CEO of iAccelerate, and is driven by fuelling new ideas through innovation and collaboration. Omar has a passion for entrepreneurship particularly in the in the social enterprise and sustainability space and is driven by the possibilities that the interception of creativity and technology can deliver to innovation. 

T: (02) 4239 2150
E: omark@

Genevieve Gatt -Marketing Communications and Events Manager

Phone: (02) 4252 8878
Email: gatt@

Chris Petersilge - Ecosystem Evangelist

Chris manages iAccelerate’s strategic projects, operations, and business development. He has led the development of the Bega Valley Innovation Hub, iAccelerate’s blended learning program to bring entrepreneurship education to regional America, and iAccelerate’s Innovation Network of international partners.

E: cpetersi@

John Kerr - Program Manager

As program manager John is responsible for the relationship management and execution of startup engagement at iAccelerate from pre-program entry (recruiting & pipeline management), their journey through the program, and post-program support.

Phone: (02) 4239 2150
Email: johnk@

Aroha Cockburn- Project Manager

The project manager role is to drive the implementation and embedding processes for tools that will help our start-ups and entrepreneurs succeed in their business. This could range from software and applications to providing standardised and accessible education programs for our entire innovation network.

T: (02) 4221 3410
E: aroha@

Moira Buckley - Office Manager and Executive Assistant

As Executive Assistant to the CEO, Moira manages diary, travel and visitors, and executive administrative support. Her duties as Office Manager includes managing visitors and contractors to the building,  accounts payable and receivable, IMTS and records management, reception supervision and support, administrative and project support to the staff at iAccelerate. 

T: (02) 4239 2150
E: mbuckley@

Jonathan Chicharo - Administrative Assistant

Jonathan assists in the execution of administrative, operational and office management roles.

T: (02) 4221 2150
E: jchichar@

Director, Research Services Office
Sharon Martin

Manages research grants, ethics and data information. Strategic research planning, promotion and reporting. Executive support to University Research Committee.

T: (02) 4221 3928
E: sharonma@

Assistant to the Director Sharon Martin
Julie Evans
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

T: (02) 4221 3386
E: research-services@

Assistant to the Director
Karla House
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

T: (02) 4221 3386
E: research-services@

Stefan Delfgou - Senior manager, research grants & development
Support for Research Strengths and Centres. Support and development of funding diversification in priority areas (health & medical; international). Strategic advice and support for Fellowship applicants.

T: (02) 4221 5953
E: stefand@

Lucas Hughes - Grants manager
Co-ordination of external and internal research funding initiatives. Strategic advice to clients applying for research funds. Executive support to Resources and Allocation Working Party. Post-award grant management.

T: (02) 4221 4522
E: lucash@

Stewart Wallace- Research grants and development officer

Administer external and internal research funding initiatives. Key grant contact for Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences (EIS). Post-award grant management.

T: (02) 4221 4648
E: swallace@

Karen Lovasz- Research grants and development officer
Administer external and internal research funding initiatives. Key grant contact for Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health (SMAH). Post-award grant management.

T: (02) 4252 8218
E: klovasz@

Rochelle Waren - Grants development officer
Administer external and internal research funding initiatives. Key grant contact for Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts (LHA). Post-award grant management.

T: (02) 4221 4726
E: rwaren@

Sally McNeill - Major research initiatives officer
Support planning, development and submission of funding bids for major research programs, including ARC and NHMRC Centres of Excellence. Initiate and support external and internal activities for major research funding initiatives. Post-award grant management.

T: (02) 4221 4809
E: sallymc@

Louise Vandenberg - Research grants assistant
Assists administration of research activities, in particular grants submissions. Submission of reports to funding agencies, grants database, secretarial support to Resources and Allocation Working Party.

T: (02) 4221 3160
E: louisemc@

Eve Steinke - Manager research ethics & integrity
Oversees and provides executive support to the Ethics Unit, and Ethics Committees.

T: (02) 4221 4457
E: eves@

Penny Potter - Ethics officer
Executive support to Ethics Committees. First contact for: Animal Ethics Committee and Gene Technology Review Committee.

T: (02) 4221 3350
E: pennyp@

Sarah Toole - Animal welfare officer
Animal welfare issues, veterinary support, compliance issues or concerns, animal welfare training, assistance with animal ethics applications.

T: (02) 4221 8096
E: saraht@

Aimee Wall - Senior Integrity & Ethics officer

T: (02) 4221 5014
E: awall@

Sabine Holz - Ethics assistant
General ethics enquiries, provide administrative support to the HREC Committees, maintains ethics database, filing and document tracking systems.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

T: (02) 4221 3773
E: sholz@

Lil Miller - Ethics assistant
General ethics enquiries, provide administrative support to the HREC Committees, maintains ethics database, filing and document tracking systems.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Michael Di Leo - Research ethics officer
Supports human research ethics comittees.

E: mdleo@
 

Dr Richard Cook - Program manager, Research Analytics, Systems and Support

T: (02) 4221 4955
E: cookr@

Claire Carter - Research reporting and analytics manager

T: (02) 4221 4349
E: ccarter@

Monika Oakman - Research systems analyst

T: (02) 4221 4669
E: moakman@

Rachel Nacilla  - Research systems analyst

T: (02) 4221 5751 
E: rachel_nacilla@

Abhilash Vijayan - HDR student systems project officer

T: (02) 4221 3208
E: abhilash@ 

Lia Sherwood - Research development and impact manager

Phone: (02) 4221 4097
Email: sherwood@

Ann Hollifield- Manager, Research Business Applications

Phone: (02) 4221 4901
Email: ahollifi@

Dr Thomas Griffiths - Research Performance Analyst

T: (02) 4221 5091
E: thomasg@

Vicky Wallace - Research promotions manager
Manages Research and Innovation website, content for research publications, and social media. 
Manages key research events, and helps build strategic research partnerships.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

T: (02) 4221 4126
E: vwallace@

Carly Burns - Research promotions officer
Develop, design and produce content for research publications, website and social media. RSO and industry website development and content management, coordinate and execute research events and promotional activity.

T: (02) 4221 5894
E: bcarly@