Two Curtin thought leaders named among nation’s finest

Two Curtin researchers have been elected to the Australian Academy of the Humanities, confirming their standing among the nation’s most influential thinkers.

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Katie Ellis and Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker were inducted among 30 new Fellows for 2025, the highest honour awarded in the humanities field across the country.

Professor Ellis, the Director of Curtin’s Centre for Culture and Technology, is a world-leading scholar of disability, media and popular culture.

Professor Kickett-Tucker, from Curtin’s School of Education, is a highly respected Wadjuk-Ballardong-Yued yok, social scientist, community development practitioner, and award-winning children’s author.

Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne congratulated both researchers on being acknowledged among the nation’s leaders across the humanities.

“The Australian Academy of Humanities recognises scholars whose work has shaped how we understand ourselves, our histories and cultures, and our place in the world,” Professor Hayne said.

“Both Professor Ellis and Professor Kickett-Tucker are widely respected leaders in their fields and their contributions to research and thought leadership have contributed greatly to our understanding of the world and our priorities for the future.”

Professor Ellis is an Australian Research Council Mid-Career Industry Fellow and Professor in Internet Studies at Curtin whose research investigates the intersection of media access and representation, focusing on the potential for digital media to create a more inclusive world.

Her work engages with government, industry and community to ensure actual benefits for real people with disability. With more than 100 publications including 19 books and numerous articles on disability and media, her work serves as an authoritative source across academic, policy and industry sectors.

Professor Kickett-Tucker’s career has been devoted to advancing Aboriginal peoples through strengths-based, culturally grounded approaches across education, health, and community development. Deeply anchored in her Wadjuk-Ballardong-Yued identity, Professor Kickett-Tucker’s research explores Aboriginal children’s sense of self, racial identity, and self-esteem.

She has been at the forefront of developing culturally appropriate research tools that reflect Aboriginal worldviews and remain relevant across the lifespan. Her work particularly addresses the needs of urban Aboriginal children and young people, with a strong focus on cultural identity, language, learning, and social and emotional wellbeing.

For more information about the Australian Academy of Humanities, visit here.