Lisa Kervin

Professor Lisa Kervin was elected to be an academic staff representative on Council, effective 1 January 2022 for a two year term. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Hons) and a Doctor of Philosophy.

Lisa currently serves as Director of Research for Early Start in the Faculty of the Arts, Social Science and Humanities where she leads research culture and works to promote recognition and reputation for Early Start within UOW and in external contexts. She has also previously served as Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Social Sciences (2017-2020) and then Faculty of the Arts, Social Science and Humanities (2020-2021).

Lisa’s academic expertise lies in the education field as she focuses her research on young children and their educators, mostly in vulnerable communities, and how they can be empowered through literate and digital practices. She has held seven Australian Research Council Discovery Grants which have enabled her to focus on adult and child interactions when using technology, young children and writing, and digital play. In 2020 Lisa was a successful Chief Investigator in the 7-year ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. In this centre she co-leads the national “Educated Child” program of research and leads the UOW node (including responsibility for the Children’s Technology Play Space, a living laboratory for the Centre). The Centre has several industry partners (government, commercial and non-profit), many based in NSW who have strong connection to the UOW node. Lisa was acknowledged in the 2022 Wollongong Australia Day Awards where she was a winner in the Innovation Achievement category.

Prior to joining UOW, Lisa worked as a primary school teacher. Lisa has strong connections to networks of schools in the local, state and national context.