Speakers from our first edition in 2023
Founder and Chairman
i-manager Publications
Ms Renisha Winston is the Founder and Chairman of i-manager Publications, a prominent scientific research publisher based in India. She graduated from TNAU and enhanced her business acumen through the Goldman Sach’s 10000 Women programme from IIM, Bangalore. She has delivered many Keynote addresses on Ethical Academic Publishing in India and prominent institutions in Dubai and Sri Lanka.
i-manager Publications publishes 48 peer-reviewed academic Journals in Scientific, Technology, Education, and Management areas in Print and Online forms. The Journals have a high reputation in India and internationally, among the academic community for their scientific rigor and integrity.
She was the recipient of Chief Minister of Tamilnadu’s Award for MSME – Best Entrepreneur – District level (2017-18). She was nominated for the Young Creative Entrepreneur Publishing Award 2010 (YCE Awards) by the British Council and was adjudged one of the six finalists. She has also received the Best Entrepreneur Award for the year 2013 by the Indian Overseas Bank.
Her vision is to work towards Ethical Academic publishing and contribute to humanity in resonance with the Sustainable Development Goals. She aims to create free academic databases that would allow researchers to have access to science that contributes to the achievement of these goals.
PhD Occupational Therapy, Curtin Academy Fellow, Principal Fellow-Higher Education Academy (PFHEA)
Curtin School of Allied Health | Faculty of Health Sciences
Curtin enAble Institute
Honorary Research Associate -Telethon Kids Institute
Curtin University, Australia
Dr Ben Milbourn is Associate Professor, (teaching and research) in Occupational Therapy at Curtin School of Allied Health-Curtin University. Ben trained as an occupational therapist (OT) in the United Kingdom (UK), working in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK practicing occupational therapy in mental health and disability contexts. Ben undertook a PhD at Curtin University in occupational therapy, focusing on the occupational meaning of everyday activity of people who experience severe mental illness. Ben is Deputy Director of Curtin Autism Research Group (CARG) and is interested in research with a strong community focus, working alongside autistic individuals to promote social inclusion, well-being and positive mental health. Ben is passionate about co-produced research and developing strengths-based programs in the community. The work of CARG is underpinned by a philosophy of “Nothing about you without you” with all projects either being co-lead or informed by autistic individuals themselves (Photovoice study co-produced with autistic adults). CARG is fundamentally committed to impact and translation, frequently holding community and virtual events, informing the community of the latest evidence-based practice. Ben has been successful in public, industry and teaching research grants as well as presenting his research outputs at international and national conferences. Ben was part of the team to develop a strengths-based program for autistic adolescents. This program won a prestigious local (western Australia Premier Science award) national award (Business/Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) and internationally (Entrepreneurship, Engagement & Excellence in Higher Education-Triple E) for harnessing and recognising the special talents and dedication of autistic young people.
PhD. Curtin Academy Fellow, HERSDA Fellow, Principal Fellow-Higher Education Academy (PFHEA)
Chair of Curtin Academy
Professor of Science Education | School of Education
Faculty of Humanities
Curtin University, Australia
Professor Dr. Rachel Sheffield has reviewed multiple awards that recognise her expertise in education. She was commissioned by UNESCO, where she worked under the Director of UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, focusing on global citizenship education (GCED) in the Asia-Pacific region. She led the Curtin Academy International Interdisciplinary Industry Study Program, overseeing projects totaling $792,000, and created the Curtin Extra program to foster leadership development. She serves as a Senior Assessor for the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT), where she evaluates higher education teaching excellence. Additionally, she was an assessor for the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) iSOLT grants and a reviewer of the international ERFP 28th Grant at the National Institute of Education Singapore. In partnership with industry, she explored a new platform to track school students’ STEM skill acquisition and was an invited Plenary Speaker at EdTech 2023 She developed a Curtin Micro Credentials platform, focusing on design thinking and the UN SDGs. Rachel holds a Principal Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy (PHEA), and she is currently the outgoing chair of the Curtin Academy.