Director and Research support services

Director of Northern Institute

:  kimberley.humphery@cdu.edu.au

:  +61 8 8946 7405

:  CDU Casuarina Campus, Darwin NT

CDU Research Portal

Kim has been Director of the Northern Institute at CDU since late 2022 and previously held various senior positions at RMIT University – as a Deputy Dean and Associate Dean of Research & HDR and Director of the Centre for Applied Social Research.

Kim is an interdisciplinary academic who was initially trained in politics, social theory, HPS, and history but predominantly works in the domain of sociology (and is currently the president of The Australian Sociological Association).

Internationally, Kim is best known for her work on the socio-cultural and political dimensions of consumption and material life. She has also worked extensively on the social and cultural aspects of Indigenous health (in the NT and Victoria) and cross-cultural research ethics. Over the last two decades, Kim has published widely in these fields, has held a number of Australian Research Council grants, and has pursued collaborations through visiting research/professorial positions in sociology and media & creative industries at the University of Manchester, King’s College London, and the University of Sussex.

Kim has a long history of successfully supervising HDR candidates, mentoring early and mid-career colleagues, and working in partnership both across disciplinary boundaries and with government, non-government and community organisations.

Kim’s current research variously focuses on; critical and transformative frameworks of ethical/sustainable consumption and enterprise, community-based arts and social enterprise, renewed approaches to social research, and transgender studies (especially transfeminism). She very much welcomes suggestions for research collaboration and inquiries from potential higher degree by research students.

Partnerships Coordinator 

:  katrina.britnell@cdu.edu.au

:  +61 8 8946 6838

:  CDU Casuarina Campus, Darwin NT

Katrina joined the NI team in 2010 after returning to Darwin from a six-year hiatus in Brisbane.  Her first task at NI was the successful launch of Northern Institute at NT Parliament House. With a marketing and business management background in the mining, oil and gas industries Katrina was excited for the challenge of working in a research and higher education environment.

Katrina's role as a professional staff member has evolved from administration to the fostering, development and maintaining of internal and external stakeholder relationships, research partnership facilitation and support plus community engagement. 

She works collaboratively with NI researchers to promote their research and assist them to capture research opportunities, grants, projects and activities in the Northern Territory, northern Australia, nationally and internationally. 

Finance Officer 

:  aravinda.senarath@cdu.edu.au

:  +61 8 8946 6965

:  CDU Casuarina Campus, Darwin NT 

The Finance Officer is responsible for:

• processing all receipts, invoices, and paying internal and external suppliers
• managing Pro-Master system
• supporting project teams with budgeting and acquittals
• managing NI financial records

Research Administration Assistant 

:  maryann.maddox@cdu.edu.au

:  +61 8 8946 6446

:  Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT

The Research Administrative Assistant is responsible for:

• travel bookings and enquiries
• processing administrative forms for staff/projects
• supporting project teams with administrative processes
• organising and renewing staff contracts
• adjunct/honorary appointments
• supporting the Finance Officer

Administration Officer 

:  lani.buxtonshepherd@cdu.edu.au

:  08 8946 6854

:  CDU Casuarina campus
Darwin, NT

Lani was born and bred in Darwin, began working with Northern Institute in 2021 after returning from six years living in London, UK. She provides support for the Partnership Coordinator, Director, Faculty Manager and Northern Institute researchers. This includes research project support and communications, organising seminars and events, social media content creation, website and intranet maintenance, promotional print materials and general admin.

Lani has a varied background of work in the education, non-government, small business and commercial sectors, including communications and marketing in security-tech industry, administration in non-for-profits and education/childcare support in local schools and businesses. Lani has travelled extensively and has interests in design, photography and science.