Academic Board
The Academic Board advises on the teaching and learning at Curtin Singapore, ensuring students receive a high-quality and relevant education.
Board members
Professor Alex Stojcevski is an educational leader and executive with experience across three diverse continents, including Australia, Europe, and Asia.
Professor Alex Stojcevski is currently the Pro Vice-Chancellor & President of Curtin Singapore.
Prior to Curtin Singapore, Professor Stojcevski was the Dean of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne Australia. In addition, Professor Stojcevski has held senior leadership positions at RMIT University based in Vietnam, and Deakin University in Australia. Professor Stojcevski also held an invited Professor role at Aalborg University Denmark, and currently holds a Distinguished Professor position with Sanjay Ghodawat University, India. He is also an invited Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia.
Professor Stojcevski holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Engineering, Masters by research degree in Artificial Intelligence and Fuzzy Logic, and a Bachelor degree in Engineering. He also holds a Master degree in Educational Leadership and a Master degree in Project Based Learning (PBL) from Aalborg University in Denmark.
He holds an internationally recognised profile in Renewable Energy, Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, and STEM Education. Professor Stojcevski is in the world’s 2% top-cited scientists in the categories of “Energy”, and “Electrical and Electronics Engineering”. He has published over 450 articles and has supervised more than 30 PhD student completions.
He has very strong collaboration with a number of industries and Universities worldwide, resulting in income-generating partnerships of over AUD$90m.
Professor Xiaotian Zhang is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global, a member of the senior leadership team at Curtin University in Australia. He is an expert in the internationalisation of higher education and has held several senior executive positions at the world’s leading universities in Asia, Europe, and Oceania, including Deputy Vice President (International) of Shanghai University among others. In the past decade, he has successfully chaired and led large-scale multinational education and research initiatives across the globe.
As an academic, Professor Zhang is the SHU Distinguished Professor of International Business and he held academic positions at the University of Southern Denmark, Stockholm University, University of Oulu, and the University of Tartu. He is also a former Rajawali Fellow of John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and a Visiting Fellow of Said Business School, University of Oxford. Professor Zhang is passionate about the strategic development of global entrepreneurial universities.
Professor Paul Brunton joined Curtin University as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic in 2022, having previously been the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Health Sciences at the University of Otago in New Zealand for four years. He is responsible for the learning and teaching portfolio, specifically achieving the University’s strategic goals in learning and teaching and ensuring an outstanding experience for students.
After graduating from the University of Leeds, School of Dentistry in 1984, he obtained his Master of Science in Restorative Dentistry in 1992 and his PhD in 1996 from the University of Manchester. Professor Brunton graduated with a Doctor of Dental Science from the University of Otago in 2021. He was granted his Fellowship in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1995 and in 2022 he was awarded a Fellowship by election from the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Professor Brunton is well published, and his research interests include the development of new technologies to improve patient care, clinical and translational research, operative dentistry, specifically tooth preparation and the early diagnosis and treatment of tooth wear.
Professor Daniel Southam is the Dean Learning and Teaching for the faculty of Science and Engineering. As a dedicated educator and academic leader, Professor Daniel Southam is a passionate advocate for teaching excellence in higher education. With a profound commitment to fostering an environment that empowers both educators and students, Daniel draws on his nuanced understanding of the intricate dynamics within educational settings, and champions evidence-based instructional practices that place students at the centre of the learning experience. With a focus on cultivating a collaborative and adaptive learning environment, Daniel believes in equipping university teachers with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of education, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Through Daniel’s leadership, the pursuit of teaching excellence becomes a transformative journey, where educators are inspired to embrace evolving pedagogical methods, ultimately enriching the educational experience for both teachers and learners alike.
Associate Professor Anna Bunn is the Dean Learning and Teaching for the Faculty of Business and Law. Anna holds an undergraduate degree in Law and a Master’s degree from the University of Oxford, and completed the Law Society’s Final Examination at York University. She was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, and practised in a major commercial law firm with a focus on franchising and intellectual property. In the late 1990s, she transitioned from legal practice to establish and manage a not-for-profit organisation in Indonesia, supporting street-involved youth through skills training and educational opportunities. During her ten years in Indonesia, she became increasingly involved in education management and university-level teaching. In 2008, she joined Curtin University as a lecturer in what is now the Curtin Law School.
Her PhD, awarded by the University of Notre Dame, explores whether children should have greater control over their online image.
Associate Professor Nicole Slatter is the Dean of Learning and Teaching for the Faculty of Humanities at Curtin University. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Education, a Bachelor of Arts with first class Honours, research Masters from Curtin University and a PhD in Painting from RMIT. Nicole has works in several public collections, including Artbank, City of Perth, Joondalup City Council, RMIT University, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital and Curtin University.
Nicole Slatter’s current research projects include project and practice-based learning in tertiary education that brings together students, researchers and industry/community partners. Nicole has had a consistent creative research practice contributing to the field of Australian representational landscape painting and experiences of suburbia.
Marina Ciccarelli is an Associate Professor in the School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, with a background in occupational therapy. Marina returned to academia at Curtin in 2000 after 10 years of clinical work in the United States where she worked in the fields of ergonomics, occupational safety and health, injury management, adult physical rehabilitation and pediatrics. She is presently the Discipline Lead for Occupational Therapy at Curtin University.
Marina coordinates the capstone unit in the final year of the occupational therapy program and supervises honours, masters, and doctoral students in their research studies. When not involved in T&L activities, Marina researches in the area of children’s ergonomics, with a focus on promoting healthy use of technologies among children and adolescents, and evaluating the outcomes of technology to improve participation among people living with a disability.
Mr. Malcolm Baigent took on the position of CEO at University Partnerships Australasia within Navitas in 2023. Malcolm has a rich history with Navitas, spanning almost a decade. He initially joined as the Campus Director of Edith Cowan College and, since 2019, has held an influential role in Executive General Management. His extensive portfolio encompassed the oversight of two royalty colleges, Curtin College and SAIBT, one joint venture college, ECC, two independent colleges, Eynesbury and ACBT Sri Lanka, as well as the management of two offshore campuses, Curtin Singapore and Murdoch Dubai.
Quentin is the College Director and Principal at Curtin College in Perth, drawing on a wealth of experience from his accomplished career across Australia, Vietnam, and China. His expertise spans academic leadership, program management, and business development, which he now leverages to drive excellence at Curtin College.
He also spearheaded a major Australian Government-funded initiative focused on leadership development in Vietnam. Committed to enhancing student and staff experiences, Quentin continues to foster innovation and growth within Curtin College.
Dr. Ronnie Soh has been a Senior Lecturer at Curtin Singapore since 2010, bringing over a decade of academic expertise and professional experience to the institution. He is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a recognition awarded by Advance HE, demonstrating his commitment to high standards of teaching and learning in higher education. At Curtin Singapore, Dr. Soh has delivered a wide range of finance-related units, including Principles of Finance, Business Analysis for Investment, Introductory Business Financial Modelling, Corporate Finance, Introduction to Financial Instruments and Markets, International Finance, and Portfolio Management. His extensive knowledge and teaching experience across these modules have contributed significantly to enhancing the learning outcomes of his students.
Before joining Curtin Singapore, Dr. Soh gained valuable industry experience in the financial sector, equipping him with practical insights that he effectively integrates into his teaching. His professional background complements his academic expertise, allowing him to offer students a well-rounded perspective that bridges theory and practice. Dr. Soh is a highly respected lecturer within Curtin Singapore, known for his ability to deliver complex financial concepts in a clear and engaging manner.
James Chen is the current President of the Curtin University Alumni Singapore Chapter (since May 2023) and actively contributes to various organizations, including serving as a Board Member at Institut Teknologi Batam and a Member of the Jurongville Secondary School Advisory Committee. His longstanding roles include Chairman of the Social Welfare Committee under the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru Citizen Consultative Committee since 2016, membership in the Singapore Teochew Federation and the American Board of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and participation in the Singapore e75, SG75 Committee since 2018. His diverse leadership roles reflect his commitment to education, social welfare, and professional excellence.
James was awarded the Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat – PBM) by the Singapore Government in 2019 for his significant contributions to the community. As the Founder & Managing Director of the Every Little Helps Foundation since 2019, he has provided essential resources, financial assistance, and mentorship programs to over 800 low-income families, earning a National Award from the President of Singapore for his dedication to community service. Professionally, James is the Chief Executive Officer of Athena Best Financial (Singapore), where he leads the company’s growth and operations across Southeast Asia. He also serves as Chairman of the Board at JV Capital Management, Advisor on the Board of Filmplace, and author of “I Want That Pencil” published in 2020.