Past Members
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Guido Melo
Guido Melo is a researcher, writer, and published author. He is a student at the Institute of Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities (ISILC) at Victoria University in Melbourne. His work spans Australia, Brazil, the United States, Colombia, and Africa. His work focuses on AI Erasure and bias in artificial intelligence technologies.
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Rebecca Nalwanga
Born and raised in Kampala, Uganda. Rebecca identifies as a researcher and a social entrepreneur.
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Kofi Bediako
Kofi Bediako is a PhD candidate in International Relations at The University of Melbourne.
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Victoria Mercy Kataike
She is a PhD student in Radiology, researches advanced MRI techniques to understand brain recovery after stroke. As a communications officer, she champions African innovation, advocating for homegrown solutions and envisioning a confident, empowered Africa solving its own challenges.
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Issah Wumbla
Issah Wumbla is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy at the School of Social and Political Sciences, at MU.
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Eyram Sedzro
Ivy gained an interest in international development after experiencing disparities in regional development while growing up in Ghana.
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Kennedy Liti Mbeva
is currently the convener of the African Studies Group (ASG), University of Melbourne, and is also a PhD candidate, and a Research Associate at the Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne. His PhD project examines the linkage politics of trade and environmental policy. Previously, Kennedy worked in public policy research and was also involved with international climate change diplomacy.
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Franka Vaughan
Franka is a PhD candidate in the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Melbourne where she is researching diasporic Liberians claim for (formalised) identity back ‘home’ and how this claim is perceived by Liberians in-country. She the convener of the ASG and is also a sessional tutor for the Faculty of Arts at University of Melbourne. Franka is a critical development enthusiast with over 10 years of professional experience in policy and advocacy research, and project management, particularly in the field of digital open data, and open government.
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Matthew Gmalifo Mabefam
Matthew Gmalifo Mabefam (PhD) is currently a tutor at the University of Melbourne, a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Postcolonial Studies and a Diaspora Fellow for African Research and Impact Network. His research focuses on the politics of international development, spirituality and development, political economy, migration and wellbeing. Matthew also engages in development consultancy, involved in community-led initiatives, and sits on the board of some Philanthropic organisations. He obtained his PhD in Anthropology and Development Studies from the University of Melbourne.
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Charmaine Kinuthia
Charmaine Kinuthia is from Kenya and she completed her Master's degree in Development Studies in 2019.
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Dr. Emmanuel Lohkoko Awoh
Dr. Emmanuel Lohkoko Awoh holds a PhD from the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne. He is an active member of the African Studies Group and a former convener. Emmanuel's PhD research focused on the role of traditional authorities in conflict management and peace building in the North West of Cameroon. He serves as a sessional academic in a number of universities including the University of Melbourne, RMIT University and La Trobe University.
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Simeon Gready
Simeon is a PhD candidate in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne. He is researching the role of the African Union in the transitional justice initiatives of its Member States, and has published on transformative reparations and structural socio-economic reform. He has been a member of the African Studies Group since his first year at the University of Melbourne.
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Evariste Retebuka
Evariste, a PhD candidate in urban ecology at the University of Melbourne, specialises in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem accounting, and policy research, collaborating with governments and institutions like the World Bank to integrate research into impactful environmental policy and city biodiversity indicators.
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Katy Chan
Katy is a PhD candidate in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Her doctoral project investigates how British colonisation has shaped the changes and development of Chinese identity in Hong Kong at an individual-perceptual level. Apart from topics relating to (post)colonial politics, she has also published on LGBT studies. Her research interests are broad and she is now exploring the arenas of Africa-China relations and Chinese African diaspora.