Academic Team

Associate Professor Ishmael Adams is Dean at the Lead Institute of Higher Education (LIHE). He has more than 20 years of academic and industry experience. His expertise spans higher education, construction and project management, urban planning, infrastructure and sustainable development. He previously served as senior academic and Head of Construction and Infrastructure Management at Swinburne University of Technology, where presently serves as an Adjunct Fellow. He has also held academic roles at and has been affiliated with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) since 2017. His UTS academic profile provides further information on his academic work.

As Dean, Ishmael provides academic leadership across LIHE. He oversees academic quality, teaching and learning, course development, academic governance and academic compliance. He also supports academic staff and continuous improvement of the student learning experience.

His research and teaching interests include climate change adaptation, environmental sustainability, resilient infrastructure, construction and project management, and sustainable built environments. He advocates for and ensures strongly student-centred approach to teaching and learning and ensures no student is left behind. He also strongly promotes bridging the gap between theory and practice through applied and industry-relevant learning. His research outputs are available through ResearchGate and ORCID.

Professor Adams holds a PhD in Built Environment from University of Technology Sydney. He also holds MSc and BSc qualifications in Urban and Regional Planning from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He has also undertaken further professional development in project management and building certification.

His professional affiliations include the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), Ghana Institute of Planning (GIP), Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) and Project Management Institute (PMI). He is also a trained Building Certifier.

Dr Aziz is a Senior Lecturer in Business with extensive academic leadership experience and a PhD in Finance and Economics from Western Sydney University, Australia. He previously held senior leadership roles as head and Director of MBA programs at Swinburne University’s Sydney campus, overseeing strategic direction, academic governance, program operations, and the enhancement of student learning experiences.

His leadership extends to course design, development for TEQSA accreditation, and implementation, aligning curriculum, assessment, and delivery with institutional priorities and academic quality requirements. Recognised through CQUniversity’s Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award, he also contributes to academic leadership by mentoring Learning and Teaching Grant applicants, reviewing teaching award applications, and supervising master’s and PhD research students.

Dr Shumaila Khurshid is an academic leader, lecturer and researcher with extensive experience across higher education, vocational training, early childhood education, curriculum development and quality assurance. She holds a PhD in Education from the University of Newcastle, Australia, where her research examined the mental health of doctoral students in Pakistan. She also holds an MPhil and MA in Education, along with Australian qualifications in early childhood education, leadership and management, and training and assessment.

 As Course Director of the Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education at Lead Institute of Higher Education (LIHE), she leads the program and works to strengthen teaching and learning, industry and placement partnerships, and academic quality.

 Her interests include student wellbeing, mental health in education, educational leadership, curriculum and assessment, and emerging technologies in education. She has published and presented nationally and internationally on topics such as student mental health, psychological wellbeing, epistemic cognition and artificial intelligence.

 Dr Khurshid is passionate about creating supportive, inclusive learning environments, mentoring staff, and driving continuous improvement for LIHE students.

Gursheen Kaur Chadha is an experienced academic operations professional with nearly 13 years of experience across academic coordination, educational leadership, curriculum management and institutional administration. She holds two master’s degrees and two graduate degrees, reflecting a strong academic foundation across her areas of professional expertise.

Gursheen provides high-level support across academic governance, committee operations, executive coordination, academic compliance and quality assurance, contributing to the effective and efficient functioning of institutional processes. Her responsibilities include coordinating Academic Board, Governing Council and committee activities; preparing governance papers, agendas and minutes; monitoring action items; and maintaining accurate academic, governance and compliance records.

She works closely with academic and executive leadership to support regulatory requirements, academic quality, institutional governance and continuous improvement. Her strong organisational, communication and stakeholder-management capabilities enable her to manage complex academic and governance processes with a structured, detail-oriented and outcomes-focused approach.

Gursheen’s combination of academic experience, leadership capability and governance expertise enables her to contribute effectively to institutional decision-making, accountability and the ongoing enhancement of academic standards. She is committed to supporting strong governance practices and fostering an environment of academic quality, compliance and continuous improvement.

Laura (Huihan) Duan holds a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) from the University of South Australia and has over five years of professional experience across the early childhood and school education sectors. She has worked as an Early Childhood Teacher across a diverse range of settings, including government preschool, community and private early childhood services, with experience at Forbes Children’s Centre, Campbelltown Community Children’s Centre, Goodstart, Precious Cargo and Guardian.

Her experience at Campbelltown Community Children’s Centre includes working within a service recognized for leading the Flying Start Learning Program, providing valuable experience in innovative approaches to early childhood education and practice. She has also worked across government and Catholic school settings, including Salisbury Downs Primary School, St Raphael’s School and Catherine McAuley School, giving her broad experience across the early childhood and primary education sectors.

Konara holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. She brings professional experience across the tourism, hospitality, and higher education sectors. Her academic interests include hospitality and tourism management, business management, and marketing. She is passionate about creating practical, engaging, and industry-relevant learning experiences that support students in developing the knowledge and skills needed for their academic and professional growth.