Selection Panel 2020
The selection panel for the UC Book of the Year 2019 comprised of eminent academics, authors, scholars and critics charged with the challenge of choosing the most appropriate novel from a short-list of great books.
The University of Canberra appreciates the work of all the panel members:
Professor Geoff Crisp, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), University of Canberra
Geoff completed his PhD in Chemistry at the Australian National University and was an academic in chemistry for twenty years. He developed his passion for learning and teaching as well as continuing his work in chemistry during this time, being Associate Dean, Director of Online Education and Director of Professional Development at the University of Adelaide. Geoff was Dean, Learning and Teaching at RMIT University and Pro Vice Chancellor (Education) at the University of New South Wales. He has received numerous teaching awards and Australian Learning and Teaching Council Fellowships in 2006 and 2009. Geoff is a HERDSA Fellow and a Principal Fellow of the HEA and is now DVC Academic at the University of Canberra.
Professor Jen Webb, Professor of Creative Practice, University of Canberra
Jen Webb studied in South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and Australia. She holds a PhD in cultural theory (art and society) and a DCA in writing (creativity and embodiment). She is Professor of Creative Practice in the Faculty of Arts and Design, where she leads research in creative writing. Her academic interests focus on the relationship between artistic practice and society, including how representations are made of human rights issues, conflict and crisis, and how individuals perceive themselves and their lived experience. She also investigates the links between creativity and knowledge, and particularly about how research training can best be conducted in art disciplines.
Jen's research has resulted in a variety of outputs, both creative and critical. Her books include titles on the works of Michel Foucault and Pierre Bourdieu, and on the topics of globalization, visual culture and representation, as well as the collection of poems, Proverbs from Sierra Leone (Five Islands Press, 2004) and the short story collection Ways of Getting By (Ginninderra Press, 2006). Her academic essays, articles and reviews, and her poems and short stories, have been widely published in Australia and overseas, and her artist books exhibited in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. Jen is currently writing a book titled Understanding the body (with Dr Jordan Williams; for Sage Publications, London), and a volume on creative research (for P&H Publications, Cambridge).
Mr Christian West, Deputy Manager Library, University of Canberra
Christian West is a passionate reader who is also the acting Manager, Library Services at the University of Canberra. He has been involved in libraries for over 20 years including working as Manager of Chifley Library at the Australian National University and leading technical services at various Victorian public libraries. In his free time Christian reads young adult novels, eats a lot of chocolate and watches too much TV.
Mr Ian McHugh, PhD Student, University of Canberra
Ian McHugh’s first success as a fiction writer was winning the short story contest at a science-fiction convention. Since then he has sold stories to magazines, webzines and anthologies in Australia and internationally. His stories have won grand prize in the Writers of the Future contest, been shortlisted six times at Australia’s Aurealis Awards (winning Best Fantasy Short Story in 2010), been reprinted in national and international year’s best anthologies and appeared in the Locus and Tangent Online annual Recommended Reading Lists. He graduated from the Clarion West writers’ workshop in 2006. His collection of short stories, Angel Dust, was shortlisted for an Aurealis Award in 2015.
Ms Grace Lucas-Pennington, Editor for Indigenous Writing and Editing Project
Grace is a Bundjalung fiction and poetry editor with experience working with First Nations Australian authors including Dr Paul Collis, Claire G Coleman and Alison Whittaker. Grace has worked as a consultant, peer assessor, guest lecturer, and publishing industry advisor. She grew up mostly between northern NSW and the greater Logan/Brisbane area. Grace is interested in First Nations publishing, politics, media, social justice, and the arts. She is passionate about First Nations writing and promoting our stories. Grace currently works as Editor with the black&write! Indigenous Writing and Editing Project based at State Library of Queensland. Grace was a finalist in the 2017 Oodgeroo Noonuccal Indigenous Poetry Prize.