LIFETIME MEMBERS
EPHEA Lifetime Member awards recognise significant and long-term contributions to equity in universities and TAFE across Australia and New Zealand. The award also seeks to recognise specific contributions to work within EPHEA over the years.
As well as celebrating dedication and achievements, lifetime member awards enable our organisation to maintain a formal relationship with our esteemed colleagues who are no longer officially engaged in the sector, and to highlight the continued important work of existing equity practitioners in higher education.
Lifetime Members are announced at the biennial EPHEA Conference.
Our 2024 EPHEA Lifetime Members
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Dr Nadine Zacharias
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Judith Little
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Smoxi MengXi Chen
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Dr Alison (Ali) Green
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Katherine Munyard
Dr Nadine Zacharias
nah-DEEN / SAH-ke-ree-as
she/ her
Dr Nadine Zacharias is the Managing Director and Founder of Equity by Design, a specialist consulting firm in student equity strategy, program evaluation, and inclusive service design.
For 20 years, Nadine has led transformative work in higher education to achieve a more equitable and high-performing sector which can support an increasingly diverse student cohort and leverage the potential of individuals for the common good.
As EPHEA President from 2012 to 2013, she demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing equity initiatives across Australian universities.
She is recognised as a national expert on HEPPP and the Student Equity in Higher Education Evaluation Framework (SEHEEF), with her insights instrumental in shaping equity strategies across Australian universities.
Nadine has also held senior management roles at Swinburne and Deakin Universities, led ground-breaking research projects and, with Dr Matt Brett and Prof Sally Kift, developed a proposed policy statement for Australian tertiary education in The Best Chance for All.
Judith Little
Joo - dith / Lit -el
she/her
For 25 years, Judith Little (Jude) has been a strong advocate and agent for change in many roles in the social work and education sectors.
Jude has worked in higher education since 2003 but developed her passion for equity and diversity work as a youth group leader and Youth Worker in the 1990's.
During her time at Monash University, Jude has worked on Special Entry Access Schemes, orientation and transition programs, special circumstances processes and retention strategies. She has also worked closely with cohorts needing extra support including first in family students, students from refugee backgrounds, international students and students with disabilities.
In her current role as Manager, Student Support and Engagement with Monash Connect, Jude case manages students and responds to critical incidents while assisting the International Student Engagement team with their events and programs.
One of Jude’s most cherished roles is working with Humanitarian Scholarship students, helping them navigate and make the most out of their university life.
Jude is committed to providing an inclusive student experience for all and takes immense joy from seeing her students graduate with big smiles as they celebrate their hard work and success.
Smoxi MengXi Chen
smoh-ks-ee / Meng-she / Chen
she/her
Smoxi Chen began her career as a trainee psychologist and has dedicated over 15 years to the disability and mental health sector, championing transformative support for students across primary to tertiary education.
Since joining RMIT University in 2015 as a disability adviser, she is experienced in complex case coordination for students with mental health issues, implementing proactive strategies that reduced complaints and improved outcomes.
As Service Lead for Equitable Learning Services since 2020, Smoxi has led a dedicated team in delivering high-quality support for over 3,000 students annually. Several impactful initiatives flourished including the launch of a monthly student newsletter, continuous enhancement to service processes, the co-design of workshops with people with lived experience, and improving disability data tracking to inform critical decision-making. Smoxi is passionate about advocating for the disability workforce, recognising their vital role in fostering inclusive educational environments.
Smoxi also facilitated RMIT’s inaugural hybrid Assistive Technology Expo, collaborating with industry leaders such as Apple and Microsoft. She also led a six-month pilot of the International Student Strengths Coaching Program, which empowered over 500 international students, enhancing their confidence, and sense of belonging. This program contributed to the project that won the Victorian International Education Award 2023 and holds special meaning for Smoxi, who started her own journey in Australia as an international student.
As a member of the EPHEA executive committee, Smoxi co-developed the inaugural mentoring program for future equity leaders, adopting strengths based approach that has led to tangible outcomes for many emerging practitioners. She has recently departed from her role at RMIT to pursue new opportunities.
Dr Alison (Ali) Green
Dr Ali Green is from a low income, regional background. She grew up in a small New Zealand town, was one of four students in her final year of school, and was first in generation to attend university. She has worked in higher education for 25 years in academic, research and professional roles, with the past 15 years focused on strategic widening participation work. She developed whole of program outcomes-oriented evaluation strategies at both Griffith University and QUT and has come to be regarded as a national equity evaluation expert.
In addition to engaging in the development and analysis of widening participation programs she has been involved in equity evaluation upskilling and capacity building with widening participation practitioners. More broadly she has been an active participant in the Queensland Widening Participation Consortium for 12+ years; was instrumental in establishing dedicated Pasifika roles and programs at both Griffith University and QUT; acted as Secretary of QUT’s University Equity Committee for four years gaining a broader understanding of a wider range of equity priorities; and has written countless evidence-based reports and submissions in response to Government consultation papers.
Katherine Munyard
Kath-er-ine Mun-yard
She/Her
Katherine has worked in higher education since 2010, with over a decade spent working in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, supporting student and staff equity and Widening Participation and LGBTIQA+ Inclusion initiatives.
In addition to a decade working in the QUT Equity Department, she has worked with Equity Practitioners in Higher Education as Communications Coordinator for over four years, and been fortunate to undertake project work with Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET), National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE, now ASES) and Society for the Provision of Education in Rural Australia (SPERA). Throughout her time with EPHEA, Katherine has been fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from and work closely with dedicated Equity Practitioners, and be part launching several new EPHEA initiatives.