Academic Team

A solid higher education background along with extensive hospitality experience

Jack Iveson's Story as Head of Academic Operations in The Hotel School Sydney

A solid higher education background along with extensive hospitality experience

Melbourne Staff
Sydney Staff

Melbourne Staff

LAURA VAN SCHIJNDEL

Head of Academic Operations, Melbourne

Laura van Schijndel brings to her role at The Hotel School a diverse and extensive Higher Education teaching, management and commercial experience. Laura’s academic leadership roles include Program Manager at the Melbourne School of Fashion, where she had oversight of both the Higher Education and Vocational programs and, prior to that, she led a team of academics in her role as Program Coordinator for the Undergraduate Business & Accounting Programs at Charles Sturt University Study Centre in Melbourne. In addition to over 10 years of lecturing experience across a broad range of Business subjects in a number of Australian universities, Laura has also accrued substantial course and curriculum development expertise, with a track record of teaching innovations that earned her a Learning & Teaching grant at the University of Melbourne and enhanced the students’ learning experience resulting in multiple teaching awards. Together with her academic background, Laura also has an all rounded industry background, with extensive experience in international sales, marketing and business development across diverse business organizations that led her to live and work in five countries and acquire strong cross-cultural communication skills. Laura has conducted postgraduate studies across all areas of Business Management and Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and is currently a PhD Candidate. Her current research interests are focused in international entrepreneurship, international strategy and international marketing and in the areas of Blended Learning and Professional and Practice-Based Education.

QUALIFICATIONS

PhD Candidate, International Entrepreneurship Strategy, RMIT University
Graduate Certificate in Learning & Teaching in Higher Education, Charles Sturt University
MBA Program (Marketing & International Business), University of California at Irvine
Master Degree, Economics & Business Management, University of Bologna
Bachelor Program (International Economics & International Trade), Leeds Polytechnic

Jordi Datzira Masip

Postgraduate Program Co-ordinator

Jordi Datzira Masip is an Early Career Researcher and recent doctoral candidate at La Trobe University (Australia). He is the Postgraduate Program Coordinator at The Hotel School (Melbourne), in partnership with Southern Cross University. His major research interests relate to the management of tourist destinations from a local community perspective. He specialises in policy, planning and development, strategic marketing, destination branding, and socio-cultural impacts as they relate to tourist behaviour.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master in the Management of Urban Tourism, University of Barcelona
M.Sc in Tourism Planning and Development, University of Surrey
Bachelor in Tourism Management, University of Girona

Dr Jillian Adams

Lecturer and Tutor Melbourne

Jillian graduated with honours in Geography and majors in Literature, Journalism and Fine Arts then went off to Paris to pursue a career in hospitality. She is a qualified teacher and a graduate of Cordon Bleu in Paris. She completed a Masters in Oral History and Historical Memory at Monash University in 2011. Jillian completed her PhD at Central Queensland University in the School of Education and Creative Arts in November 2015. In it she argues that narrative non-fiction and domestic material culture from the 1950s in Australia challenges the static and often nostalgic impressions of the housewife. She has co-edited a special edition of online journal MC, published work in numerous academic journals and presented papers at local and international conferences.

QUALIFICATIONS

PhD in Food History and Creative Writing
Masters in Oral History and Historical Memory, Monash University
Diploma in Professional Writing, Council of Adult Education (CAE), Melbourne
Bachelor of Arts (Hons. Geography), Melbourne University
Bachelor of Arts (Literature and Journalism), Deakin University
Diploma of Education, Melbourne University
Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training, Swinburne University
Professional Sensory Evaluation, University of Adelaide
Reading Historic Cookbooks: A Structured Approach, Radcliff Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University

Gregor Blair-Smith

Lecturer and Tutor Melbourne

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 The Hotel School Melbourne and management subjects for the RMIT College of Business.

QUALIFICATIONS

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

Jenine Fleming

Lecturer and Tutor Melbourne

Jenine has over 20 years’ experience in the Victorian tourism industry, working as a marketing professional at leading attractions including Scienceworks, Melbourne Museum, State Library of Victoria and Melbourne Zoo. She also has experience in the commercial sector, with her marketing career beginning in the automotive industry at Honda, followed by reservation and account executive positions at Holiday Inn. Jenine has substantial experience in developing and implementing innovative and multi-faceted marketing campaigns for programs, events and exhibitions, including blockbuster exhibitions such as Titanic at Melbourne Museum and Star Wars at Scienceworks. She has also played a key role in the development of strategic plans for Museum Victoria, State Library of Victoria and Western Melbourne Tourism (WMT), where she held the positions of Chair and Board Member. Jenine currently lecturers and tutors at The Hotel School Melbourne and William Angliss Institute, teaching Introduction to Professional Practice, marketing and event subjects. Jenine has a Bachelor of Business in Travel and Tourism Management, with a major in Marketing and a minor in Hospitality Studies from Victoria University. She is also a graduate of the Melbourne Tourism Industry Leadership Program and a judge for the Victorian Tourism Awards.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Business in Travel and Tourism Management, Victoria University
Melbourne Tourism Industry Leadership Program

Nadia Vago

Lecturer and Tutor Melbourne

Nadia joins the Hotel School Melbourne at SCU with over 10 years tutoring experience at La Trobe University in the Business School (Tourism & Hospitality) and over 10 years industry experience in the Hospitality and Hotel Industry in operational, supervisory and managerial roles in properties, including The Langham Hotel Melbourne, Sheraton Towers Southgate, Quest Serviced Apartments and Le Meridien at Rialto. Nadia has completed a Diploma in Hospitality followed by an Honours Degree in Business (Tourism and Hospitality) at La Trobe University in 2000. In 1998, during Nadia’s degree she was also awarded the “Best of La Trobe University” by the School of Tourism and Hospitality and a panel of industry judges. Most recently Nadia has also completed her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. In July 2016, Nadia was also awarded the “Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Support Staff Award” from La Trobe University, Melbourne. This was in recognition of enhancing the overall student learning experience by contributing to subject development and improvement.

QUALIFICATIONS

Diploma in Hospitality
Bachelor of Business (Tourism and Hospitality) (Hons.), La Trobe University

Sydney Staff

John Iveson

Head of Academic Operations Sydney

John brings a diverse higher education background along with extensive hospitality experience to The Hotel School team. John brings substantial online framework and instructional design experience, having been through the implementation of online programs in multiple types of platforms. He has also been involved in creating best practice in open space learning through the delivery of ‘flipped classroom’ base models, peer-supported learning schemes and coaching practices in the classroom. Referring to himself as a ‘Hospitality lifer’, John has extensive hospitality experience having worked in restaurant operations all over the world, in many functions and roles, from dishwasher to Head-Chef. John’s Education experience has seen him run organisations in both the Higher Education and VET sectors, across multiple disciplines, from Hospitality, to Marketing, Events and Public Relations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master of Arts, University of Technology, Sydney
Bachelor of Arts, Caldwell College, NY

Paul Weeks

Postgraduate Program Coordinator

Paul joined SCU School of Business and Tourism in 1991 after 20 years managerial experience in hotel, motel and food service organisations, moving to The Hotel School 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. Pau 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)

Dave Hurlow

Undergraduate Program Coordinator

With over 15 years’ experience in the education industry, Dave is passionate about giving students all the tools they need to be successful in their careers. After teaching English grammar both in Europe and Australia he spent years leading a busy Academic Learning Centre in a private management college where he set up a hugely successful Peer mentoring service, advised faculty on embedding academic skills into the curriculum, and helped students achieve their best, before moving into Higher Education Compliance and Quality, curriculum design, review and accreditation. Dave is very excited to be the new Undergraduate Program Coordinator at The Hotel School, Sydney and working directly with students again. He is currently studying a Master of Applied Linguistics.

QUALIFICATIONS

BA (Hons) Media Production
TESOL
TEFLA

Chafica El-Labban

Lecturer Sydney

Chafica El-labban is a Graduate of The Hotel School and one of our great success stories. Chafica teaches multiple units across the bachelors and master’s program at The Hotel School. With access to industry and her experience in the field Chafica works on inspiring students to reach beyond their potential and become active leaders in the industry. Chafica has worked for multiple international hotel chains and brings with her practical knowledge and skills which she applies in the class room. Chafica is an entrepreneur in the digital marketing field and utilises her current business trends and experiences to support the learning experience.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management
Masters of Management in International Tourism Management

Glenn Murray

Lecturer Sydney

Glenn has lived hospitality for over two decades and has vast experience in several sectors of the hospitality industry, including International hotels, restaurants, tropical resorts, multinational hospitality and event companies. He has traveled and worked extensively throughout Europe, the UK and the Americas in search of the true ‘Hospitality Experience’. Having started his career as a qualified chef he moved into executive roles then on to operational management positions. Glenn has been lecturing for eight years within hospitality and tourism and has lectured within the Faculty of Hospitality, Sports and Marketing at the Western Sydney University, The Faculty of Business, Justice & Behavioural Sciences at Charles Sturt University as well a senior lecturer at the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Art Institute within the Bachelor of Business International Restaurant Management and International Hotel Management since 2011.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master of International Hospitality and Hotel Management

Julie Luiker

Lecturer & Academic Support Coordinator

Joining The Hotel School in 1990, Julie remains one of the longest serving team members. Julie focuses communication and tourism across the bachelor program and coordinates the academic learning service to develop and ensure students are supported to maximise their academic results.

QUALIFICATIONS

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

Academic spotlight on

Trish Powers

Lecturer Sydney Staff

Trish Powers is a Lecturer at the Hotel School Sydney. In this capacity, she teaches on various Event Management units within the hospitality discipline. Originally trained and working as a High School teacher Trish has subsequently held senior teaching posts in higher education over the last twenty years. A passionate educator, Trish has received seven Excellence in Teaching Awards covering both online and face-to-face modes. She has delivered four presentations and papers at education conferences internationally. Actively involved as a consultant and trainer, Trish runs her own Training Company consulting to business and universities both in Australia and China. She has also worked extensively as an Event Director and as a model, makeup artist and journalist. Trish is currently working on her Doctorate in Education with the University of Wollongong on a topic related to adults successfully transitioning into online higher education.

QUALIFICATIONS

Masters in Adult Education with Distinction, University of Wollongong