This year’s Joint Distinguished Fellows with University of South Australia will by Dr Belinda MacGill, Lecturer in Arts Education from the School of Education, University of South Australia and Dr Karen Sinclair, Program Director: Aboriginal Studies from the School of Creative Industries, University of South Australia.

The joint fellowship programme was launched in 2018 and focuses on a broad range of research areas, including arts and humanities, law, science and business. A strong focus of the programme, and accompanying events, is promoted awareness and understanding in the UK and Europe of:

• Indigenous knowledges
• the identity and contribution of First Peoples in Australia
• contemporary Australia’s identity and place in the world

The Fellows enhance their awareness of the UK and Europe, and in turn, promote better awareness of the areas above.

University of South Australia Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Lloyd says these new fellowships will provide a fantastic opportunity to pursue research and promote broader and deeper understandings of Australian history, culture and contemporary society, across the region.

“The fellowships will open up opportunities to share more comprehensive, detailed and balanced understandings of Australian politics, economics, life and culture within research communities. They will also bring new opportunities for specialists in Aboriginal cultures to extend and share their knowledge,” said Professor Lloyd.

Dr Sinclair and Dr MacGill follow the appointment of Professor Irabinna Rigney as the 2018 Menzies Australia Institute and University of South Australia Joint Distinguished Fellow.

The fellowship programme marks the continued collaboration between King’s College London and University of South Australia. They also demonstrate the continued development and progress of King’s Indigenous, a programme in partnership with colleagues in Australia to develop Indigenous-led research, teaching and impact.

The fellowship programme has been made possible due to the generous and continued support of Ros Kelly AO and David Morgan AO, both of whom have been friends of the Menzies for many years – with Ros being a vital member of the Menzies board.

The Director of the Menzies Australia Institute, Dr Ian Henderson comments: "We would like to take this opportunity to extend our immense gratitude to Ros and David for their support and dedication to helping develop the study of Australia, as well as support young Australians to do great things in the world."

To find out more about the fellowship programme or King’s Indigenous, please contact James Baggaley, Policy and Engagement Manager, School of Global Affairs.