Dr Jeanette Fyffe leads the graduate research development portfolio at La Trobe University, and is held in high regard by the university’s cohort of graduate researchers and supervisors.

Through her leadership of the Research Engagement and Development (RED) team and direct interventions across the university, the importance of intellectual climate and research culture has been established as a significant area of investment and engagement at La Trobe.

In 2015 Jeannette established the Intellectual Climate Fund which provides seed grants to promote and support staff and student led initiatives to stimulate local research communities, particularly at smaller regional campuses where candidates feel particular isolated. This innovative approach has since been emulated at several other universities.

Dr Fyffe designed the innovative and nationally recognised La Trobe RED program, which targets strategically important domains for skill development: academic writing and publishing, research integrity and ethics, funding and grantsmanship, career development, industry engagement, graduate research supervision, digital literacies and research communication.

Special commendations:

• Professor Michelle Tuckey, University of South Australia
• Dr Suzanna Fay, The University of Queensland