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Academic Team

A solid higher education background along with extensive hospitality experience
Jack Iveson's Story as Head of Academic Operations in 糖心Vlog Sydney
A solid higher education background along with extensive hospitality experience
Academic Team

Brisbane Staff

Dr Matthew Brenner
Brisbane Program Coordinator and Lecturer
I have held industry positions in hotels, resorts, restaurants, and private clubs throughout Australia, Canada and the United State of America. I have held academic positions in Australia and the United States.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Ph.D. in Business, The University of Queensland
  • Master of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, The Pennsylvania State University
  • Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, Saint Anselm College
  • Associate in Occupational Studies of Culinary Arts, New England Culinary Institute
Dr Donna E Little
Lecturer
I have more than 25 years experience as an academic and industry lead in Australia and New Zealand. My relevant work to 糖心Vlog includes extensive teaching experience in Events, Tourism, Business and Resource Management; as well as direct industry employment and consultancy work with a diverse range of organisations developing and delivering local, state and national meetings and conferences; enabling informed organisational decision making; conducting environmental analyses and strategic planning processes /outputs, and developing individual and industry leadership skills.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD – Griffith University
  • Master in Outdoor Education – Griffith University
  • PG Certification in Higher Education – Griffith University
  • BA (English Literature, History, Government) – University of Queensland
  • PG Diploma in Teaching – University of Queensland
Dr Morag Kobez
Lecturer
Prior to entering academia, Morag worked as a food and travel journalist and restaurant critic for more than a decade. Her doctoral thesis explored the history of restaurants and food criticism and how social and digital media disrupted cultural criticism in the field of gastronomy.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD in Journalism 2018 - Queensland University of Technology
  • Honours (First Class) in Journalism 2013 - Queensland University of Technology
  • Bachelor of Business (Communication), Bachelor of Journalism 2004 - Queensland University of Technology
  • Bachelor of Arts (Drama) 1991 - Queensland University of Technology
Dr Suman Sen
Lecturer
After owning and managing businesses overseas for more than a decade, Suman moved to Australia in 2007 and worked in various positions within the hospitality industry while pursuing higher studies. He has been involved in various government and industry-funded research projects and currently teaches units related to research, economics, statistics, business analytics, strategic management, and international business.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Doctor of Business Administration
  • Doctor of Philosophy
  • Master of Economics

Hayman Island Staff

Rachel Vare
Hayman Island Campus Manager and Lecturer
Current role as Learning and Development Manager with InterContinental Hayman Island (IHG) Over ten years teaching in the Vocational Education sector (VET) combined with casual teaching at 糖心Vlog, Hayman Island Campus. Diverse role over the past 25 years- Front Office Manager, Chief Concierge, Events and Marketing Manager, Sales Manager, Guest Services Manager across Hotels, Marine Tourism and Hospitality and three countries.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Business in Global Hotel Leadership
  • Diploma's- Hospitality Management, Events Management, Human Resources Management, Management and Leadership
  • Mental Health First Aider

Melbourne Staff

Rick Boulton
Academic Support Coordinator and Lecturer
Rick is a professional educator with postgraduate qualifications in Tertiary & Vocational Adult Education / Curriculum Design and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sustainable Development & International Relations. He has a decade of overseas experience as an English Teacher (TESOL), most recently as an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) University Lecturer. Currently, Rick teaches the Business Communications unit (HOTL1006) and is the Melbourne campus Academic Support Coordinator.

QUALIFICATIONS
Bali Singh
Lecturer
I am an enthusiastic and passionate individual with high qualifications, holistic long-term views, and diverse experience of 17 years in working with clients, staff, management, contractors, and various stakeholders. Currently in my full-time role I work closely with various teams, across Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, to establish and delivery Forbes 5 start service to our guests as well as various strategies for boarder goals. I had been lecturing to the Higher education students since 2019 for various subject as Hospitality management, revenue management and F&B operations. As an acting F&B Manager I have previously managed large teams consists of 4 bars, 5 restaurants, 9 banquet halls, room service and a conference and banquet department. I have also had the opportunity to lead and be a part of various F&B and gaming projects at various levels and delivered record results. I always believe in doing my best in whatever I choose to do in life and my approach has always been to make a difference to someone else’s life through coaching and mentoring practices. I have had the opportunity to open two of my own restaurants as a side business, both are successful in their respective areas and currently scoring great results and respect.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • TDA Advanced Diploma of Management (BSB60407, Mini MBA, HBDI)
  • Bachelor Of Business (Hospitality and Tourism) (Carrick Institute of Education Melbourne Victoria 2011)
  • Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management (Carrick Institute of Education Melbourne Victoria 2009)
  • Certificate 3 in Commercial Cookery (Carrick Institute of Education Melbourne Victoria 2008)
  • Certificate 2 and 3 in Marketing (Business) (Carrick Institute of Education Melbourne Victoria 2007)
  • Certificate 2 in Food Handling
  • Australian Food Safety (AFS)
  • Basic Management Training (BMT)
Brian S. Pirie
Lecturer
With over 40 years’ experience in the hospitality industry on five continents, Brian is a multi-cultural international hospitality professional experienced in engaging with and adapting to new projects and challenges in all of the hospitality industries frameworks and structures. In the first phase of his career, Brian worked for international luxury hotel groups for over 22 years, developing and operating hospitality products, services and brands under management from ownership. This included over 12 years as a General Manager, Regional General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. In the second phase he led and represented ownership of hospitality asset portfolios in operation for over 16 years. He also led the planning and development of residential and visitor economies, that would support over 1 million residents and 5 million visitors, including more than 300 hotel assets. This included the roles of Head of Hospitality, Vice President of Asset Management and Director of Real Estate and Operations. In the third and current phase, over the last 5 years, he provides advisory services and consultancy for hospitality assets held by private enterprise, corporate entities and sovereign wealth funds. Brian has also been a Lecturer, Unit Assessor and Unit Writer during this phase. Brian is enthusiastic to provide positive impact on the preparation and knowledge of the next generation of hospitality leaders.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Business Administration - University of Nottingham
  • Graduate Diploma - Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Diploma in Hotel Management - Hotel Management School “Les Roches”, Switzerland
Dr Minh Nguyet Nguyen
Lecturer
Minh Nguyen started teaching when she was 18 and fell in love with it! She has been teaching higher education subjects in teacher education and language teaching. Besides teaching, she has been doing research into active learning, curriculum development, and higher education policies. Minh has won several scholarships including the 2013 Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Endeavour Award for PhD. Minh has always enjoyed working with SCU students!

QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD in Education
  • MA in Applied Linguistics
  • Grad Dip in TESOL
  • BA in English
Dr Thu Dang
Lecturer
Thu is a dedicated educator with over 30 years of teaching experience in both Australia and overseas. His passion lies in empowering students to realise their full potential. His main areas of expertise include research methods, communication, academic writing, study skills, and cross-cultural communication. He is currently teaching subjects related to advanced communication, applied research in hospitality, and language skills. Thu is enthusiastic about integrating technology into teaching, constantly exploring innovative ways to enhance student engagement.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Doctor of Education (Using technology in teaching and learning, La Trobe University)
  • Master of Education (TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, University of Sydney)
Iral Scholten-Castillo
Lecturer
Iral, a seasoned professional, embarked on his journey with the Melbourne Hotel School in 2019. With a rich background of over eight years in Tertiary Teaching across various universities in Melbourne, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. His 17-year stint in Australia's vibrant travel and tourism industry, coupled with three years each in the hospitality and logistics sectors, further enriches his professional repertoire. He has a Master’s Degree in Business, specialising in supply chain management, from Victoria University, Melbourne. Iral has honed his business acumen and strategic thinking skills, making him a well-rounded professional. Iral's passion for education is evident in his ability to seamlessly blend his academic and industry expertise into his teaching roles.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Professional Doctoral Candidate in Tourism Management Discipline (Victoria University, Melbourne – for completion in April 2024)
  • Master of Business in Supply Chain Management from Victoria University
  • Post-graduate certificate – Logistics Management (Swinburne University, Melbourne)
  • Bachelor of Tourism Management (Victoria University Melbourne)
Merlin Nguyen
Lecturer
Merlin Nguyen is an Academic Teacher at 糖心Vlog Melbourne. He had been teaching overseas undergraduate courses for over a decade before moving to Australia - an open and exciting country to continue his learning journey. Regarding teaching, he focuses on coaching to nurture curiosity of learners. Currently, he is teaching accounting and finance related units and doing research in corporate governance (PhD thesis), students' motivation, and graduates' employability.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Financial Analysis (Research methods)
Naveen Kumar Kokkula
Lecturer
I am Naveen Kokkula. I am a devoted lecturer and passionate hospitality professional, with more than twenty years of experience in leading hotels of the world in the Middle-East and Australia. I have worked for Hilton Hotels in Middle East and with Langahm Hotel and Crown Resorts, in Melbourne. In Crown Resorts, I have worked in various designations- Food and Beverage Trainer, RTO Trainer, Gaming-VIP Service Executive, Acting/Assistant Restaurant Manager. I also worked as a lecturer teaching Bachelor of Hospitality, Tourism, and Events degree for the past five years.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master’s in Business (Hospitality Management) Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
  • Graduate Diploma in Events Management from Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
  • Diploma of Leadership and Management BSB51915
  • Level 2 Intermediate Sommelier course from Wine and Spirit Trust, Australia
Steffan Dawson
Lecturer
I'm Seasoned Hospitality Professional, with over 28 years of Experience in Food and beverage, donning roles of Executive chef and Food and Beverage Director with Starwood Hotels and the Marriotts for properties with large room Inventories, I have good knowledge and strong skills at Marketing, Budgeting, Sustainability, preopening of hotel properties setting up SOP's. Execution of Strategic plans and Monitoring and helping these plans to its successful outcomes.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Masters In tourism in Hotel Management (糖心Vlog, SCU )
  • Advance Diploma In Hospitality
Gregor Blair-Smith
Lecturer
Gregor’s educational background began in biochemistry. He left this vocation to join the family business in construction and worked on industrial and high rise projects for many years as a project manager before turning to Hotel Management. After 20 years in hotels as a Hotel General Manager, he turned to teaching in vocational hospitality and tourism, and then higher education for the past 11 years. He currently teaches hospitality and tourism operational subjects for 糖心Vlog Melbourne and management subjects for the RMIT College of Business.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Business Administration, University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry)

Sydney Staff

John Laing
Academic Support Team Leader and Lecturer
John has been with 糖心Vlog since 2021 and has a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). He has been helping students improve their English language and academic literacy skills for 25 years. John is the Academic Support Team Leader at 糖心Vlog and also teaches the postgraduate Advanced Communications unit on the Sydney campus. Originally from Sydney, Australia, his experience includes 8 years with the Foreign Language Centre at Tokai University, Tokyo, Japan, and 7 years both teaching and coordinating on the Academic Bridge Programme at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, UAE. John has travelled to 70 countries (and counting!) and loves travel, new cultures and cuisine.

QUALIFICATIONS
Paul Weeks
Lecturer
Paul joined SCU School of Business and Tourism in 1991 after 20 years managerial experience in hotel, motel and food service organisations, moving to 糖心Vlog Sydney (THSS) in 2000, and returning to SCU after 15 years in Sydney. His previous and current experience includes instructional design for subjects offered through the School’s distance education programs, development of curricula across a range of discipline areas, lecturing in management, services management and information technology. Paul has co-authored two Australian ‘hospitality’ industry texts: Club Management, and Managing Convention Businesses. Research interests include teaching and learning, IT in hospitality; history of hotels; convention services, and club management. Received an inaugural Vice Chancellor’s award for Teaching Excellence, and two subsequent VC’s Teaching Awards as a member of two teaching teams. With a colleague from SCU, Paul won a 2017 SCU Engagement Award for Engaged Learning. Paul is a member of the Emeritus Faculty at Southern Cross University.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD candidate (SCU)
  • Master of Education (SCU)
  • Graduate Diploma in Education (Training and Development) (UNE-NR)
  • Higher National Diploma in Hotel and Catering Administration (Oxford Polytechnic)
  • Graduate of the Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management Association (UK)
Andrea Moro
Lecturer
As an expert in Sales, Marketing and Hotel Management with extensive experience in Europe, China and Australia working with international hotel chains, Andrea can effectively build and manage diverse teams from small to large and he has a proven track record in improving financial performance by developing new and innovative business opportunities. Andrea has been able to apply the above commercial skills in the Education sector in Australia and Singapore in various roles from Lecturer to most recently Program Manager for Transnational Education programs. During this time, He has been able to implement many initiatives aimed at improving students’ overall experience and academic results.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Management (Tourism Major),University of Technology Sydney,? May 2015
Cary Budd
Lecturer
Cary's career starting in the Advertising industry (agency side) making strategic recommendations then jumping into the client side to make the decisions. He spent seven years in Interpreneurial roles in a government agency before being seconded to the OCA to head up a project (the GamesInfo website) for the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games. It became the NSW Government site with the highest hits in history. This career foundation provided insights into the difference between small entrepreneurial start-ups, private companies and public organisations. He then supported a number of NSW Government Agencies with their online strategies before an ongoing mix of project management, CRM roles, marketing consulting and education consulting as he continued his training delivery roles. Cary has been a teacher/trainer/lecturer since 2003. Involved in VET and HE program management and faculty management roles. Cary still consults to industry. Cary is passionate about guiding students through the process of changing the way you think, how organisations tick, and by sharing his stories and other examples of why 'it is all about being well informed and making good decisions'.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Business in Marketing (UTS)
Dr Jack Qin
Lecturer
Dr. Yu (Jack) Qin brings over 25 years of dedication to the field of hospitality management education, with a focus on bridging the gap between academic theories and industry practices. Specializing in Strategic Management, Industry Dynamics, Service Management, and Research Methodology, he has enriched the learning experience for both students and professionals. His extensive teaching experience and significant publication record highlight his commitment to advancing the field through pedagogical research and practical application, ensuring that learners are well-equipped for the dynamic challenges of the hospitality industry.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Doctor of Economics
  • Master of Economics
  • Bachelor of Economics
Dr Mo Kader
Lecturer
Mo Kader is an education, business and commerce professional with over 20 years of experience in medium and large businesses. Dr Kader has worked in private enterprise and in research, development and in education and has established several businesses since 1998. Mo is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute, Australian Institute of Training and Development and the Institute of Leaders and Managers. Mo is a Certified Practicing Marketer (CPM), Certified Practicing Human Resources Professional (CAHRI) and a Chartered Manager (CMrg). He is Managing Director of a management consulting firm specialising in educational business and strategy consulting. In his spare time, he admires cars and enjoys cooking.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • PhD, MBA, MSc, BSc, GD, GC
Francis Cochrane
Lecturer
Francis is originally from Kitzbuehel, Austria. He arrived in Sydney Australia in 1991 and became an Australian citizen in 1996.
Francis has been teaching at the THSS for five years in both under and post graduate subjects. Prior to that he has been teaching Higher Education at Le Cordon Bleu for four years.
Francis has over 25 years’ experience in Hotel Management holding senior positions in IHG and Marriott hotels, and over 15 years’ experience in the Health Care Industry.
Career highlights in Australia include GM of the Sydney Marriott, GM of Crown Plaza Coogee Bay, GM Ramada North Ryde, Hotel Services Director for Cabrini and St. Vincent’s Hospitals.
Francis has worked in several countries including Europe, USA, Asia, and Australia.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Science Hotel Administration - University of Nevada, USA
  • General Manager Certificate of Recognition - Holiday Inn University (IHG)
Jo Davey
Lecturer
Before entering academia, I held several management and senior management positions at leading and award-winning restaurants in Sydney and London. I have worked at 糖心Vlog for 17 years, where I use my extensive teaching experience and strong industry background to develop and mentor students.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor of Education Secondary (Honours) - Trinity College Dubli
  • Master of Arts, Food Studies - University of Adelaide
Ronnie Nadri
Lecturer
I’m a technology professional with 30 years of experience in the Israeli and Australian markets. I have successfully operated my own web services company, WEBABLE, for over a decade. My expertise includes Digital Marketing, technology consulting, and AI in the retail market. I have been lecturing on these topics for the past 5 years.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Management and Organisation
Sandra Clark
Lecturer
Sandra Clark has been involved in the hospitality Industry for over 30 years.
After studying Hotel Management, Sandra worked at the Sydney Hilton Hotel in both Food and Beverage and Front office before travelling to the United Kingdom to work at two country house hotels. On returning to Australia, Sandra began her love affair with food as a chef in one of Sydney’s top restaurants, Berowra Waters Inn before spending two years living in France. Sandra returned to Australia to work as a Catering Manager for a large law firm where she managed their corporate dining, organised corporate events and developed their wine cellar. Her next challenge was opening her own business, Café Centro in Surry Hills and a catering and events business before returning to study, graduating with a Master of Food Studies from the University of Adelaide.
Sandra now focuses on sustainability education and lectures at the Hotel School Sydney in both the undergraduate and Masters programs. She has also developed content for both face-to-face and online delivery. In her spare time, Sandra tries to live a sustainable life.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Masters of Food Studies, University of Adelaide
Teresa Yu
Lecturer
Teresa had joined 糖心Vlog Sydney in 2017 with her rich experience from Events Management. She had organised and managed numerous concerts tours prior to joining the academic sector. She enriches learning experiences by sharing her challenges and portfolio with students. She is currently an applicant for Advanced HE Fellowship in the United Kingdom and striving to achieve more in the academic field.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Management (Event Management), University of Technology, Sydney
  • Graduate Certificate of Learning and Teaching, Torrens University Australia
  • Bachelor of International Communications, Macquarie University
The Yen Cao
Lecturer
The Yen Cao initially joined 糖心Vlog Sydney in 2015 as a student studying her Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management. Shortly after graduating with a Distinction Grade Point Average, she proceeded to pursue her Master of International Tourism and Hotel Management at the very same institution and graduated in 2019 with a High Distinction Grade Point Average and was awarded The Barry Poole Memorial Prize for being the graduating student with the highest post-graduate grade point average across Tourism, Hotel and Hospitality Courses within the School of Business and Tourism.
During her studies, she gained industry experience in multiple positions including All-Rounder Receptionist, Guest Service Agent and Concierge at various motel, service apartment and hotel establishments. Additionally, she volunteered in the Peer Assisted Learning Program offered by 糖心Vlog Sydney as a mentor providing assistance in improving students’ studying technique.
Her passion and inclination to pursue an academic career specialising in Hospitality and Tourism at 糖心Vlog Sydney stemmed from the remarkable support and dedication of her own teachers during her studies.
At the conclusion of her Master degree in 2019, she successfully attained a position at 糖心Vlog Sydney as a Tutorial Teacher assisting the Lecturer in various units including but not limited to Event Management, Sustainability, and Food and Beverage. Within a year, she herself advanced to the Lecturer position in which she independently delivered classes including Competitive Strategy, Facility and Risk Management, and Marketing. From then, she further progressed as a Unit Assessor in which she managed all cohorts in Australia enrolled in units such as Introduction to Professional Practice and Postgraduate Internship Programs. Recently, she also undertook the role of Unit Content Writer for the Introduction to Professional Practice unit which encompasses developing module content, assessment briefs and classroom materials.
Overall, Yen aspires to continue having a positive influence on students’ education and career, making classes valuable, applicable and enjoyable, and always be of support to students.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management
  • Master of International Tourism and Hotel Management
Veronica Espin
Lecturer
My academic background is in Linguistics, Education and Translation and I am passionate about teaching English as a second language. I have also worked in Business and Marketing for over 10 years and provided extensive professional training to multicultural teams.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Philology
  • MA in Advanced Language Studies (English/Spanish)
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
  • Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA)
Julie Luiker
Lecturer
Joining 糖心Vlog in 1990, Julie remains one of the longest serving team members. Julie focuses on communication and tourism across the bachelor program.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master of Arts, Organisational Communication
  • Bachelor of Education, Adult Education

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