Staff
Kay Saunders AM – Executive Director
Trained in political science and Anthropology, Kay Saunders AM was professor of History and Senator of the University of Queensland from 2002-6. Serving on the Council of the Australian War Memorial, she was Chairman of the Official History to Australia at War Committee. Professor Saunders was appointed to the Council of the National Maritime Museum of Australia and was director of the National Australia Day Council. She served as Chair of the Queensland government's Cultural Advisory Council and was a member of the Premier's Advisory Council on Women's Policy. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, the Royal Historical Society (London) and the Royal Anthropological Institute. In 2001 she received the Medal of the National Museum of Australia and in 2006 was the recipient of the John Kerr Medal from the Royal Historical Society of Queensland. Her most recent books include A Crowning Achievement: A Study of Australian Beauty, Business and Charitable Enterprise (2005) and Between the Covers: Revealing the State Library of Queensland's Collection (2006).
Dr Julie Ustinoff - Snr Research Officer/ Event Coordinator
Julie Ustinoff has extensive career experience in both government administration and private business enterprise. She holds a PhD in History from the University of Queensland and currently lectures there in a number of history subjects. Julie is the co-author of A Crowning Achievement: A Study of Australian Beauty, Business and Charitable Enterprise (2005) and served as a consultant to the Museum of Australia on the national touring exhibition, Miss Australia, A Nation’s Quest.
Ms Helen McIver
Helen McIver holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Queensland and comes to her position at the Brisbane Institute with a range of skills and experience. She has many years working in government administration in addition to extensive time spent successfully managing her own business in the travel industry.
Dr Martin Leet - Editor of The Brisbane Line
Dr Martin Leet is Senior Research Officer with the Brisbane Institute. He studied political science at the University of Queensland and was awarded a BA (Hons) and PhD. Over the last ten years, he has taught and researched in the fields of political economy, public policy and political theory. Martin has published two books, as well as numerous journal articles and book reviews. His most recent book, After effects of Knowledge in Modernity (State University of New York Press), examines the ambivalent cultural consequences of the search for knowledge in the modern western world.
Dr Shirleene Robinson - Research Fellow
Dr Shirleene Robinson is a History graduate from The University of Queensland who has lectured at various universities in Europe, including the University of Wales (Lampeter). Her research interests range across various areas of Australian history, including indigenous studies, popular culture and studies of sexuality. She is the author of Something Like Slavery: Queensland's Aboriginal child workers 1842 - 1945 and Homophobia; An Australian History.
Dr Murray Johnson - Research Fellow
