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MCD University of Divinity Kew Staff

The Dean, Prof Paul Beirne

The Dean

Prof Paul Beirne MA MDiv DMin PhD

Prof Paul Beirne has been Dean of the Melbourne College of Divinity since April 2001. Previously, from January 2000, Prof Beirne was Associate Dean and Director of the MCD's Advanced Ministry Studies Program. As Dean of the MCD University of Divinity, Prof Beirne is the Chief Executive Officer of the Institution and is responsible for educational and administrative affairs, including management of central administration; working in close coordination with the Council and its Boards and Committees, as well as with the ten Recognised Teaching Institutions of the MCD University of Divinity; liaising with Federal and State Governments in matters relating to the Institution; and generally promoting the MCD University of Divinity to a wide variety of individuals and institutions. Prof Beirne holds an MA in East Asian Studies from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, a Masters in Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary, and a PhD from the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics at the University of Queensland. Prof Beirne's book entitled Su-un and His World of Symbols: Korea's First Indigenous Religion, was distributed by Ashgate Publishers in Great Britain in September 2009. Prof Beirne's academic interests relate to East Asian religions and New Religious Movements in East Asia, and in particular, the symbols immanent in these religious traditions.

Director of Finance & Administration (Registrar) Jeff Reaney

Director of Finance & Administration (Registrar)

Jeff Reaney MBA, MProfEd&Trng, GradDipHRM

Jeff is responsible for the administrative services, finances, property, records and publications of MCD University of Divinity. His tasks include ensuring the effective operation of the MCD University of Divinity central administration, overseeing preparation of the budget and the financial audit. He ensures that policies and procedures are administered correctly and currency on the MCD University of Divinity website is maintained. Upkeep of the central administration’s buildings and grounds, purchase and maintenance of equipment and furniture, and monitoring the working environment in regard to occupational health and safety are included in his portfolio. He takes responsibility for the Institution archives and also acts as Secretary to the MCD University of Divinity Council. Jeff has extensive management experience in both public and private enterprises in the telecommunications industry and following a transition to an academic career, stepped into senior management roles in the tertiary education sector. He is a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute and the Australian Institute of Management.

Director of Research, Dr Mark Lindsay

Director of Research

Dr Mark Lindsay BA(Hons) PhD FRHistS GradDipTheol

As Director of Research, Dr Lindsay has overall responsibility for initiating the development and implementation of the MCD University of Divinity's research agenda, including the promotion of research and research training by staff and HDR (Higher Degree by Research) students, and the embedding of the MCD University of Divinity within the research funding and policy settings of the Federal Government. An historical theologian by background, Mark has published in excess of 20 book chapters and journal articles in the fields of systematic and post-Holocaust theology, and inter-faith relations. He has a particular interest in Karl Barth, and has just received a contract for his third monograph on Barthian theology. He has previously worked at the University of Western Australia and Trinity College, and in 2005 was the Sternberg Visiting Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations, in Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Research Associate with the Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics at the University of St. Andrews, and a Fellow of the School of Historical Studies at the University of Melbourne.

Director of Coursework, John Bartholomeusz

Director of Coursework

John Bartholomeusz BA DipEd GradDipComp

John is responsible for the coursework administrative functions of MCD University of Divinity. He works with the Academic Board and its Coursework Studies Committee, and liaises with the teaching colleges, their Deans and Coursework Coordinators, on course and unit administration. He also manages enquiries for admission to graduate coursework programs. John has wide experience in administration and information technology in the tertiary sector, and holds university qualifications in Education, IT and Arts.

Finance Manager, Tricia Lewis

Finance Manager

Tricia Lewis BCom(Hons)

Tricia is involved with all the financial operations of the MCD University of Divinity , and is Secretary of its Finance & Development Committee. The preparation of the Annual Report is one of Tricia's major responsibilities. Fees for all postgraduate degrees are issued annually or by semester; Tricia appreciates advice from students in regard to unit changes and any difficulties in meeting payments. Tricia is also the person to approach with questions about FEE-HELP. Tricia has sought to develop close links with RTI staff, especially the Registrars, and is seeking to ensure speedy payments to RTIs for their teaching and research. She also handles payments to supervisors and examiners, day to day bills, BAS and financial statements.

Quality and Compliance Manager

Jit Li Au BSc PDM

Jit is responsible for managing the systems necessary to ensure MCD University of Divinity meets the compliance requirements of state and federal government agencies which include the Tertiary Education Quality and Standard Agency (TEQSA), Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), Victoria Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) and Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). 


Jit collaborates with the responsible staff at each of the MCD University of Divinity Recognised Teaching Institutes (RTIs) and staff at the MCD University of Divinity Central Administration, to obtain and extract data which is accurate and timely complies with the guidelines of Government Agencies. Jit also administers the collection and analysis of the Australian Graduate Survey data and maintains MCD University of Divinity website.


 

Administrative Assistant - Coursework, Rose Allinson

Administrative Officer (Admissions and Enrolments)

Rose Allinson BA GradDipMS GradDipEC

Rose provides administrative support to the Director of Coursework, keeping student records up-to-date, assisting with minutes for the Coursework Studies Committee, correspondence, and enrolments.

Administrative Assistant - Finance, Hazel Hughes

Administrative Officer (Finance)

Hazel Hughes BSci Dip Ed GDME

Hazel works with the Finance Manager, and has responsibilities with the Finance and Investment Committee, the Risk Management and Audit Committee, and the Grants and Scholarship Working Group of the Research Committee. She maintains the records of FEE-HELP students and distributes the Commonwealth Assistance Notices (CANs), and invoices students. Hazel brings experience in adult education, finance, and administration to this position.

Quality and Compliance Officer, Sandya Bruce

Quality and Compliance Officer

Sandya Bruce LLM (Monash) Barrister & Solicitor (TAS, NSW, VIC)

Sandya has significant legal practitioner, entrepreneurial and administrative experience in both private and public sector organisations overseas. In addition she has extensive research experience at both Masters and Doctoral levels in Australia and made a transition to an academic career as a law lecturer. Sandya is a Member of the Law Institute of Victoria and the Law Society London.


Sandya assists the Quality and Compliance Manager in maintaining the Institution's quality assurance systems and ensuring relevant external compliance requirements are met.  She is also responsible for the admission and enrolment of international students.


 

Administration Officer (Reception) and Research Repository Officer, Cate Headey

Administration Officer (Reception) and Research Repository Officer

Cate Headey CertIVBusAdmin

Cate performs two roles at the MCD University of Divinity. As Administration Officer (Reception) Cate answers general enquiries, takes staff meeting minutes, and assists staff from various departments with tasks as the need arises.


In her other role as Research Repository Officer, Cate operates the Repository under the direction of the Director of Research. She is responsible for uploading HDR student theses, and providing IT support to academic staff using the Repository for ERA reporting purposes and general dissemination, and creating entries for the institutional journal, Pacifica.

Maria Matulewicz, Executive Assistant to the Dean

Executive Assistant to the Dean

Maria Matulewicz

Maria provides administrative support to the Dean and the Director of Finance and Administration (Registrar) and ensures that the Dean's office runs smoothly.   She also organises the annual conferral ceremony.


As well as having experience in events management, Maria has worked extensively in the publishing world as a writer and editor. She has postgraduate qualifications in acting and her interests include cinema, opera, photography, the arts and world religions. Maria's broad administrative and secretarial skills are applied to her role.

Research Services Officer

Suman Kashyap MSc, MPhil, BEd, PhD

Suman provides assistance to the Director of Research in managing the research and research training programs throughout the institution. She maintains the systems, processes and database for HDR student enrolment and candidature, and research publications on ResearchMaster for the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative, the Higher Education Research Data Collection (HERDC) and the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science and Research (DIISR) reporting.  She also provides administrative services to the Research Committee, the Research Grants and Scholarships Committee, and the Human Research Ethics Committee. 


Suman has extensive experience in research, research support and dealing with research performance data of the higher education sector and her interests are in the fields of bibliometrics, research data collation, abstraction, interpretation, data analysis and database management.

Research Finance Officer

Ruchika Chandrasekera ACIS (UK)

Ruchika supports the Finance Manager by looking after the financial operations of the post graduate research area and she assists the Director of Research in preparing budgets for research funding. Ruchika is a UK qualified Chartered Secretary and a finalist of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK. She has extensive private sector accounting experience in the UK and in a previous role worked as the accountant of The Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Australia.

Administration Assistant (Reception)

Arezoo Masarati

Arezoo regulates the processes and systems which facilitate the smooth running of the Central Administration Office. Her many duties include mail distribution, hospitality requirements, ordering stationery supplies, and receiving visitors. She also assists the Coursework Department in processing student application forms and with other administrative duties.