The Lifelong Learning Network promotes collaboration between researchers from many disciplines and research backgrounds. The Network's Research Associates are recognized for their expertise in producing high quality research that is relevant to education and training policy.

Beverley Axford 

Dr Beverley Axford is Director of the Schools and Community Centre at the University of Canberra. She is particularly interested in literacy development and the changing relationship between education and work.

Contact: beverley.axford@canberra.edu.au

Bruce Chapman

Professor Bruce Chapman is Director of the Centre for Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University. He has published extensively on the issue of financing education and training and has considerable experience in public policy analysis, research and debate in the areas of higher education financing, student income support, the economics of education and economic policy issues.

Contact: Bruce.Chapman@anu.edu.au

Catherine Down

Dr Cathy Down is a curriculum specialist with extensive experience in the four sectors of schools, vocational education and training (VET), Higher Education and Adult and Community Education (ACE). An expert on teaching and learning, Cathy has produced groundbreaking work in curriculum development to support the transition of learners from Adult and Community Education into TAFE or Higher Education. Cathy has undertaken many research projects funded by ANTA and NCVER, including three national strategic evaluations of Training Packages in the areas of Key Competencies, Underpinning Knowledge and the Qualitative Impact of Training Packages on VET clients. Her current research interests include learning in the workplace, and her recent PhD investigated how people use what they already know and do when they transfer to a new workplace or when their work changes.

Contact: cathy.down@bigpond.com

Stephen Lamb

Dr Stephen Lamb is a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of Melbourne. He undertakes education and training research for a range of government agencies on issues such as education financing and student participation.

Contact: lamb@unimelb.edu.au

Kathryn Moyle

John Polesel

Dr John Polesel is a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of Melbourne. He manages a range of research projects focussing on post-compulsory education and pathways. He is particularly interested in the relationship between school and vocational training and in international post-compulsory education and training systems. 

Contact: jpolesel@unimelb.edu.au

Chris Ryan

Dr Chris Ryan is a research fellow at the Social Policy Evaluation and Research Centre in the Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University. He is experienced in labour market research and is particularly interested in the impact of education and training on labour market issues.

Contact: Chris.Ryan@anu.edu.au
Web-link: http://econrsss.anu.edu.au/Staff/ryan/contact_cr.htm

Richard Teese

Professor Richard Teese is Director of the Centre for Post-compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of Melbourne. He has published widely on education and training issues and was research director for the Kirby review of Post-compulsory education and training pathways in Victoria.

Contact: rvteese@unimelb.edu.au

Leesa Wheelahan

Leesa Wheelahan is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Vocational Technology and Arts Education, Griffith University Gold Coast Campus. She has extensive experience in researching cross-sectoral collaboration between the VET and higher education sectors in Australia, with an emphasis on strategic policy in educational administration. She is a regular contributor to Campus Review on cross–sectoral issues.

Contact: l.wheelahan@griffith.edu.au