Our Team

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  • Dr Tom EdwardsChair
    Qualifications:

    BSc(Hons), MCounselling, PhD (Behavioural Neurosci.), Grad Cert Higher Ed

    Memberships:

    Australian Counselling Association (Level 4) and College of Supervisors; ISCAST.

    Senior member:

    Eastern College Australia which is in community with the Melbourne School of Theology (MST)

    Biography:

    As an academic in the Psychological Sciences I have served in the capacity of Senior Lecturer and Director of Research (Eastern College Australia). As such, I have been a member of Academic Board as well as serving on the Steering Committee of both MST Press and MST’s Centre for Theology and Psychology. I have also held board-level positions within the community. My leadership style is to promote the giftings of others in the service of a clearly articulated organisational strategy.

  • Rev Prof. Philip HughesTreasurer
    Qualifications:

    BA(Hons), MA, Dip Ed, MEd, BD (Hons in Systematic Theology), D. Theol

    Senior member:

    Co-opted to the Board as the CRA’s founding Director

    Biography:

    I was the founding Director of the Christian Research Association. As such, I am an active researcher in the area of the sociology of religion with an extensive publication track record. I also have extensive board-level experience including Chair of the Lausanne Researchers’ International Network (2005 to 2011) and Chair of the Kingswood College School Council (2007 to 2018).

    Currently I have a number of honorary research fellowships as well as holding a professorial position at Alphacrucis College.

    Finally, I am also the Executive Officer of the CRA’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).

     

  • Dr Brendan PrattSecretary
    Qualifications:

    BA (Theol), MA (Theol), PhD

    Senior member:

    Australian Union Conference – Seventh-day Adventist Church

    Biography:

    Originally a Pastor (i.e. Papatoetoe SDA Church in South Auckland), I then worked in the Greater Sydney Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as church health coordinator.  In addition, I also directed the Institute of Church Leadership Development.  I am now the Ministerial Association Secretary for the Australian Union Conference, Seventh-day Adventist Church.  As such, I understand the workings of ‘Head Office’ and have a brief that extends all across Australia.  That brief being to resource leaders and create healthy church cultures.

    I addition, I have recently completed my PhD on Advanced Consumer Culture and its Impact on Church Life and Faith Development in Australia.

  • Rev Dr Chris PorterBoard Member
    Qualifications:

    BPsych, BIT, Grad Cert Theol, Grad Cert Min, Grad Dip Div, MDiv, MA(Th), PhD

    Senior member:

    Anglican Diocese of Melbourne

    Biography:

    My governance work has been within the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne as a member of the Provincial Council (Victoria) and the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia (2014, 2017).  I am also active in the Social Responsibilities Committee of the Diocese.

    My academic interests are varied from work on the Fourth Gospel, social identity, memory, to computational linguistics.

  • Sheridan Institute of Higher Education – Board member to be advisedBoard Member

     

    Senior member:

    Sheridan Institute of Higher Education

     

  • Dr Trudy DantisBoard Member
    Qualifications:

    MPhil, PhD, MBA

    Senior member:

    Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (National Centre for Pastoral Research)

    Biography:

    Currently I act as the Director of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference National Centre of Pastoral Research. My organisational strengths are in programme and project management, with a speciality in qualitative reseacrh studies.

    I have a background in Pastoral Studies, Social Work and Community Resource Management.  My PhD investigated the vitality of Australian Catholic parishes.  I have also acted as a research consultant (Snehalaya Family Services Centre, India) and as an Honorary Fellow (Australian Catholic University).  I am currently an Honorary Research Associate of the University of Divinity.

     

  • Uniting Church in Australia (Synod of Victoria & Tasmania) – Board member to be advisedBoard Member

     

    Senior member:

    Uniting Church in Australia, Vic/Tas

     

  • Dr Michelle EastwoodBoard Member
    Qualifications:

    BA (Hist, Psych), GDE, MEd, MA (Theol), PhD

    Senior member:


    Lutheran Church of Australia  

    Biography:

    I am the current Director of Research at Australian Lutheran College (ALC), the education provider for the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ). My responsibilities at ALC include supporting higher degrees by research students and working with LCANZ agencies to develop and carry out specific research projects. My research interests include Gender and Sexuality, Psalms, Shame and Feminist Theologies.

  • Associate Professor Johannes LuetzBoard Member
    Qualifications:

    BA, MBA, PhD

    Senior member:

     

    Biography:

    I am currently the Director of Research Development at Alphacrucis University College and Adjunct Professor in the School of Law and Society at the University of the Sunshine Coast. I have also consulted for World Vision on research projects raising awareness of the growing effects of demographic, environmental and climate change on vulnerable communities in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

    I was raised in Sierra Leone and Switzerland, care about poverty reduction, holistic education, justice and equity, and have researched and published conceptually and empirically in these areas. I am also the Deputy Editor for the international peer reviewed journal IJCCSM and Editorial Board Member for Discover Sustainability.