Adubi Plange is a Research Project Officer at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health at the University of Sydney, where she supports the coordination and delivery of research initiatives focused on social and emotional wellbeing in chronic care. She also works as a Research Assistant on a UNFPA-funded project within the Faculty of Medicine and Health, examining postpartum contraception across the Pacific. Raised in Fiji, and now living on Bidjigal land, she brings a people-centred and outcomes-driven approach to her work and research. Bringing her experience in project management from the ANU Institute of Climate, Energy and Disaster, and the National Centre for Cultural Competence, she is committed to advancing equitable, inclusive and culturally responsive research practices.

Dr Anna Wallace is Researcher Training Coordinator in the Division of Research and Enterprise at UNSW Sydney. She has a PhD in English from the University of Sydney and over ten years’ experience in higher education with expertise in learning design and research training. She is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a co-convenor of the ARMS Research Development SIG.

Carolyn Ramsey is Senior Hub Manager, Factory of the Future, and brings extensive experience in research management, partnerships and project delivery. She has worked across health, medical devices, advanced technologies, defence, not-for-profit and international development, helping researchers and partners turn ideas into funded projects and real outcomes. Carolyn is skilled at bringing people together, making complex work easier to navigate, and supporting teams to stay focused and aligned. She is especially strong in the “third space” of research management, where success comes from asking the right questions, building trust and helping great research happen.

Catherine McElhone is the Research Impact Manager at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where she supports researchers to plan, communicate and evaluate the societal impact of their work in systematic ways. She works across research impact strategy, assessment, communication and capability development, helping to strengthen the conditions for diverse pathways to impact. Catherine is also the co-convenor of the ARMS Research Impact Special Interest Group and is actively involved in initiatives focused on responsible research assessment.

Christine Anderson is a seasoned research management professional with extensive expertise in research development, governance, and strategic planning. Christine holds an MBA from the Australian Institute of Management and a Graduate Certificate in Research Management and Policy from the University of Melbourne. Her career spans 20 years in research management with significant roles at the University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, and Black Dog Institute. Currently serving as the Operations Manager of the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, she in instrumental in developing and implementing impactful research strategies and programs.

Chi Dam is the Research & External Engagement Coordinator at the School of Science, Engineering & Technology (SSET), RMIT Vietnam. She leads the School’s flagship biweekly Research Seminar series and a range of research engagement initiatives that support academic collaboration and research visibility. Working closely with colleagues across RMIT Vietnam and RMIT Australia, Chi develops programs that strengthen global research connections and foster cross-campus collaboration. She is passionate about creating opportunities for researchers to build international partnerships, expand engagement networks, and enhance the impact and reach of research on a global scale.

Dhani Coe is a proud Wiradjuri woman from Cowra, NSW, who has grown up on Gadigal Country and is the Research Coordinator and Centre Manager at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. She is a core contributor to a large‑scale collaborative research project between the Poche Centre and the NSW Ministry of Health, providing administrative, coordination, and culturally responsive engagement support. Dhani brings experience from roles at the Gadigal Centre, University of Sydney, and Walanga Muru, Macquarie University, and is deeply committed to advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation and success in higher education, health, and research.

Dr Andrea Christie is Manager, Researcher Capability Development at RMIT University, with demonstrated experience in delivering capability building, networking and engagement initiatives for research managers sector wide. She is responsible for the development, rollout and oversight of College-wide initiatives, spanning researcher capability development programs, centre policy frameworks, project overhead allocation and reporting systems, communication mechanisms for grant deadlines, and performance analytics. She has advanced the profession through her leadership in ARMS, serving as current Treasurer of the Victorian Chapter and member of the 2026 Major Conference Committee, 2025 Melbourne Conference Sub-Committee, and the Marketing and Communications Advisory Committee (MARCOMS).

Category 2–4 funding schemes. She works closely with researchers and institutional stakeholders, including Advancement offices, to identify strategic funding opportunities and strengthen applications. Sandeep has experience supporting major national competitive funding programs, including the Australian Research Council (ARC), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), and Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), and is committed to enabling high-impact research through effective grant development and Management.

Elsa Wang is a Research Management Officer at The Australian National University
(ANU), supporting research funding operations and the delivery of research
management services across the University. Her work spans funding administration,
research systems, operational reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives,
including contributions to ANU’s research management system transformation.

With experience in both college-based and central research support environments, Elsa
has developed a strong interest in process improvement and stakeholder engagement.
She brings together expertise in research management, data analysis, and reporting to
support evidence-based decision-making and identify opportunities for operational
improvement across the research funding lifecycle

Elsa Wang is a Research Management Officer at The Australian National University (ANU), supporting research funding operations and the delivery of research management services across the University. Her work spans funding administration, research systems, operational reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives, including contributions to ANU’s research management system transformation.

With experience in both college-based and central research support environments, Elsa has developed a strong interest in process improvement and stakeholder engagement. She brings together expertise in research management, data analysis, and reporting to support evidence-based decision-making and identify opportunities for operational improvement across the research funding lifecycle.

Federico Marcon is the Associate Director Development and Global Markets Lead at Deakin University, where he manages the portfolio of the largest philanthropic institutions, both in Australia and overseas, that fund Deakin’s research and education programs. Prior to Deakin he worked as Director Global Markets and Partnerships for the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, Deputy Director Foundation Relations at Monash University and has previously covered leadership positions with the Global EverGreening Alliance, World Vision, Plan International, the Australian Red Cross and WaterAid.
Prior to moving to Australia, Federico worked for the European Commission and the United Nations in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, managing multi-country programs on public welfare policies.

I am an experienced research development professional specialising in building university–industry partnerships and securing major competitive research funding. I provide strategic support to large-scale grant development (e.g. ARC CoE, ITRP, CRC and CRC-P), including industry engagement, proposal development, governance design, complex budgeting and project management. I have contributed to securing more than $20 million in competitive grants across multiple sectors.
My career has spanned the interface between research and industry, including research development roles at UWA and Griffith University, a decade as an energy researcher at CSIRO, and experience as an R&D Program Manager at the startup Hazer Group. I hold a PhD in Chemistry and an MBA in Innovation Management.

The Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation (AusHSI) sits within the Centre for Healthcare Transformation (CHT) in the Faculty of Health at QUT. As Centre Manager for AusHSI, Jo provides leadership to staff and HDR students through coordinating and streamlining operational processes and managing finance, HR, and research contracting matters. Jo is a member, and secretary, of the CHT Consumer Engagement in Research Working Group, driving the administration and organisation of the group. Working with consumers, academics and HDR students, the working group positions consumer partnerships as a core component of research practice to build organisational capability. By embedding research administrators in the working group, we aim to reduce administrative burden on CHT researchers.

Joanna Das is a Senior Research Adviser (Pre-Award) at the University of Western Australia with over a decade of experience in research management across Australia, the UK, and France. She specialises in external funding, supporting academics to secure competitive grants including Horizon Europe, ARC, and UKRI. Previously, she was Research Funding Manager at Teesside University, leading multi-partner submissions, training researchers, and contributing to strategy. She has also supported the full funding lifecycle in EU and national funding at Audencia Business School, France, and worked on complex international projects at Newcastle University, UK, coordinating global stakeholders and managing multimillion-pound budgets, with a strong focus on collaboration and impact.

Joanne Witheridge is Manager of Research Quality and Performance in the Faculty of Arts at Monash University, bringing over 20 years of experience supporting impactful, high-quality research. She is passionate about the humanities, social sciences and performing arts, and committed to amplifying their contributions to knowledge, creativity and social change. Joanne leads initiatives that deliver strategic insights to support evidence-based decision-making, working closely with researchers and faculty leadership to enhance research quality, performance and impact across the faculty.

Johanna Rewa is a Program Manager in the Human Development and Community Wellbeing (HDCW) team. She oversees administrative research operations and supports funding strategy across the portfolio, with direct responsibility for grants, contracts and tenders. Johanna focuses on aligning operations with strategic goals, optimising resource use, and ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. She is committed to continuous improvement and enhancing team effectiveness. She has experience in research administration, community development, evaluation, and qualitative and quantitative research, including published work on food insecurity in Australia. Johanna holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) and a Graduate Certificate in Commerce

Dr Justin Tan is a senior research development officer at the Monash Research Office, specialising in the strategic development of Medical Research Future Fund grant applications led by Monash University. During his 3-year tenure at the Monash Research Officer, he has successfully supported Monash researchers at all stages of career trajectories to enable them to excel in their MRFF grant applications. Key to this role is the significant experience he brings to the team in grantsmanship, biomedical expertise, a deep understanding of the MRFF grant assessment process and experience reviewing grant applications for the NHMRC and the ARC.

Justin Manzano is a contract research and post award research management specialist with 15 years experience in the sector. His current role is Manager, Research Consulting & Contracts within the Research Office at La Trobe University, leading a small team handling a large volume of research agreements, tender submissions and commercial contracts.

Kailey Tonini works at the intersection of research, communication and community, focusing on how ideas move beyond the page and into everyday life. Her work centres on research impact - helping researchers plan, capture and communicate the difference their work makes, while building systems that support this. At the University of Canberra, she has helped embed a whole-of-university approach to impact, integrating it into planning, systems and training, and leading the development of case studies and content that connect research with communities. She has also delivered major engagement initiatives, including Research Festival 2024. Her background spans marketing, communications and digital delivery across higher education and agency environments.