The Carumba Institute brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and allied staff dedicated to advancing Indigenous sovereignty through research, education, and community engagement. Grounded in respect for Country, culture, and community, our team fosters transformative learning environments, supports Indigenous student success, and champions the power of Indigenous knowledges to shape a more sustainable future.
Meet our academics and professional staff of Carumba Institute.
Executive director, Carumba Institute
Professor Chelsea Watego
Professor Chelsea Watego (formerly Bond) is a Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman and Executive Director of QUT’s Carumba Institute. With more than 25 years of experience in Indigenous public health, her scholarship has drawn attention to the role of race in the production of health inequalities. Her current ARC Discovery Grant forges Indigenist Health Humanities as a new field of research; one that is committed to the survival of Indigenous peoples locally and globally, foregrounding Indigenous intellectual sovereignty and leading to the formation of an Indigenous critical race theory. She was appointed to The Lancet Commission on Racism, Structural Discrimination, and Global Health in 2023 and is a prolific writer and public intellectual, having written for Indigenous X, NITV, The Guardian, and The Conversation. She is a founding board member of Inala Wangarra, an Indigenous community development association within her community, and founding director of the Institute for Collaborative Race Research, but most importantly, she is also a proud mum to five beautiful children. Her debut book 'Another Day in the Colony', published by UQ Press, was released in November 2021 and met with critical acclaim. Her most recent book 'Black Thoughts Matter' published in 2025 is a catalogue of more than a decade of editorials and essays she has authored.
Chelsea works at Carumba Institute’s head office at Gardens Point campus.
- Provides strategic leadership and direction for the Carumba Institute, advancing Indigenous-led priorities, partnerships, and impact.
- Leads organisational governance, operations, and stakeholder engagement across the institute and the university.
- Drives and contributes to major research initiatives as chief investigator on funded projects (ARC Indigenist Health Humanities; NHMRC Children’s Health Queensland).
Explore Chelsea's publications
For all executive director, Carumba Institute enquiries, email carumbaed@qut.edu.au
Indigenist Health Humanities academic director
Dr David Singh
David is a settler. Originally from the UK, where he was a community organiser and director of several municipal policy units specialising in racial equality, he is now the academic director of the Carumba Institute. He has taught refugee and social policy at Birkbeck College, University of London, and as a researcher specialises in the sociology of race and its application in a range of policy areas including Indigenous health, education and policing.
David works at Carumba Institute’s head office at Gardens Point campus.
- Provides leadership and support to academic staff and contributes to Institute governance and committee leadership.
- Chief investigator on major funded projects (ARC Indigenist Health Humanities; NHMRC Children’s Health Queensland).
Research team
Senior lecturer
Dr Raylene Nixon
Raylene is a proud descendant of the Gunggari people of southwest Queensland and the Remarkable Women of the West. Drawing on the strength, resilience, and resistance of the matriarchs she grew up with, a personal loss ignited her passion for creating a better world. Guided by the belief that every person has basic human rights - regardless of race, colour, class, or religion - and that there is no place for racism, she has committed her life to advocating for acceptance, tolerance, and kindness in the pursuit of social justice and accountability. As a senior lecturer with more than ten years of experience in the academy, her research focus now is on (re)addressing Indigenous deaths in custody and critically examining how grieving families are often limited to coronial inquests as their only avenue to seek justice.
Raylene's diverse professional experience spans academia, nonprofit organisations, and government, equipping her with expertise in research, strategic planning, leadership, governance, and community engagement. Raylene's work is driven by a deep commitment to equity and inclusivity, inspiring her to advance initiatives that promote systemic change. She is a powerful advocate for institutional, structural, and systemic reforms, appealing to human compassion and common sense. Known for her calming presence, collaborative approach, and perseverance, she strives to create a more just and compassionate society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Raylene works at our Kelvin Grove campus.
- DECRA Dr Raylene Nixon - Family Testimony as Black Justice: Interrogating Institutional Responses to Black Deaths in Custody.
- Weekly focused writing sessions facilitator.
Senior lecturer
Dr Amy McQuire
Dr Amy McQuire is a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman from Rockhampton, Central Queensland. She is currently a senior lecturer at the Carumba Institute. She received her PhD from the University of Queensland.
Amy's research interest is in race and representation, focusing specifically on the crisis of disappeared Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, as well as the violence of the justice system. Her background is in journalism, where she has over two decades experience working in independent and Aboriginal media. She has previously been the editor of two national Indigenous publications (National Indigenous Times and Tracker Magazine), and has been a correspondent for NITV National News, BuzzFeed News Australia and New Matilda. Her writing has been featured widely, and she has co-hosted the investigative podcast Curtain the Podcast for the past eight years.
In 2021 she published her first children's book ‘Day Break’ and in 2024, published her first non-fiction work 'Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media'. Amy is also a mother of two and enjoys reading in her downtime.
Amy works at Carumba Institute’s head office at Gardens Point campus.
- DECRA Dr Amy McQuire - Building Black Justice Journalism
- Weekly Reading+Writing Group Facilitator
Senior lecturer
Dr Helena Kajlich
Helena is a settler, born in the United States with family connections in the Slovak Republic. She is a senior lecturer at the Carumba Institute, where she is engaged in critical, interdisciplinary research that interrogates how race operates within legal and health systems. Her research advances anti-racist strategies and interventions in health justice.
Prior to pursuing her PhD, she was admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Queensland and practised as a solicitor, bringing both professional and scholarly expertise to her socio-legal research.
In 2024, Helena was awarded her PhD by the University of Queensland, receiving the Dean's Award for Outstanding HDR Thesis. Her doctoral research examines the operation of racism across the health and coronial systems, with a focus on how coronial processes entrench racial logics that foreclose recognition of preventable Indigenous deaths in the health system.
She is a chief investigator and health justice stream leader on the ARC-funded Indigenous Health Humanities (IHH) project (2018-2026), contributing to a program of research that advances Indigenist approaches to health justice. She is also a chief investigator on the NHMRC project with CHQ (2024-current) Developing an Anti-Racist Educational Intervention in Children's Health and Hospital Services.
She has extensive experience supervising undergraduate students through the VRES program and through decades of undergraduate teaching. She is currently supervising Indigenous and non-Indigenous PhD projects exploring the function of race in legal and health systems for Indigenous people.
She is based at the Carumba Institute's head office at QUT's Gardens Point campus.
- Leads research strategy and oversees the Carumba Institute research team.
- Chief investigator on major funded projects (ARC Indigenist Health Humanities; NHMRC Children’s Health Queensland).
- Manages research grants and projects.
- Supervises research staff, VRES participants, and PhD candidates.
- Contributes to institute governance and committee leadership.
Lecturer
Dr Alissa Macoun
Alissa is a settler, and a senior research officer at the Carumba Institute. She is a researcher interested in race and colonialism in Australia, especially in policy, politics and higher education. She is interested in ways that people and institutions enact and contest racialised colonial power dynamics. She worked as an academic in politics, policy and Indigenous studies for many years, and has a PhD in politics from UQ. Much of Alissa’s career has focused on building intellectual community and supporting those doing disruptive interdisciplinary work.
- Contributes to Carumba Institute research projects and initiatives.
- Provides grant writing support to secure research funding.
Indigenous research officer
James Tabuai
James Tabuai’s family roots and worldviews are grounded in ancestral connection to Sager Gub, Ayth Koedal, Saibai Island. Born on Waibene, James spent his formative years, mostly on Saibai, before moving south to Gimuy Walubara Yidinji lands with family for schooling. He then relocated to Turrbal and Yugara country to commence his tertiary studies at QUT Kelvin Grove.
Having worked in education for many years, he recently joined the Carumba Institute as the Indigenous research officer. He brings with him a wealth of expertise in education, having taught for more than twenty years in New South Wales and Queensland and across independent, state and Catholic systems. In addition to his professional responsibilities, James is now moving towards further studies after completing his Master of Education in 2022.
James’ scholarly interest centres around critical race theory and its application to education. As an Indigenous research officer, James is a central part of the Carumba team responsible for developing relationships and partnerships within Indigenous-led research frameworks.
James works at Carumba Institute’s head office at Gardens Point campus.
- UMe project officer.
- Supports research activities and coordination across the institute.
- Assists with research processes and project implementation.
Senior research coordinator
Lee Pokino
Lee was born in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and relocated to Meanjin (Brisbane) at the age of six. She brings more than two decades of experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community health, with a career grounded in advocacy, frontline service, and strategic leadership. Lee holds a degree in Indigenous primary health care from the University of Queensland and is a dedicated advocate for addressing racial injustices impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Her commitment to equity and systemic change is reflected in her longstanding work alongside Indigenous communities.
In her current role as senior research coordinator at the Carumba Institute, Lee leads the coordination of the institute’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Medical Research Futures Fund Indigenous Health grant, delivered in partnership with Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service. Prior to joining the Carumba Institute, Lee worked extensively on the frontline, supporting Indigenous women and families across critical sectors including child safety, justice, housing, social services, mental health, and alcohol and other drugs. Her holistic and community-centred approach continues to inform her leadership in Indigenous health research and policy.
- Leads the administration coordination of the NHMRC Medical Research Futures Fund Indigenous Health grant in partnership with Children’s Health Queensland.
- Manages project implementation, reporting, and stakeholder engagement to support NHMRC research outcomes.
Teaching and learning team
Associate director, curriculum lead
Associate Professor Deb Duthie
Associate Professor Deb is a proud Wakka Wakka Warumungu woman with family connections to Cherbourg (QLD) and Tennant Creek (NT). She is director of Indigenous Health (Faculty of Health) at QUT and an associate professor in the School of Public Health and Social Work. She also serves as associate director, curriculum lead at the Carumba Institute (part-time), where she leads the teaching and learning team.
Deb has extensive experience in teaching, curriculum development, and community-engaged research, including co-developing QUT’s Indigenous Knowledges minor and leading the Cherbourg-QUT Project. Her work focuses on embedding Indigenous knowledges in higher education and advancing culturally safe practice.
With a background in social work, Deb brings more than a decade of frontline experience in the domestic and family violence and homelessness sectors. She is a multi-award-winning educator recognised nationally for excellence in teaching, community engagement, and innovation.
Research interests: cultural safety, Indigenous knowledges in curriculum, food sovereignty, and social issues impacting Aboriginal self-determination.
- Leads the teaching and learning team at Carumba Institute as associate director, curriculum lead.
- Provides strategic leadership in embedding Indigenous knowledges in curriculum and education.
- Drives culturally safe teaching practices and community-engaged learning initiatives.
Senior lecturer
Dr Janet Stajich
Dr Janet Stajic is a Yidinji–Jirrbal woman of Far North Queensland who grew up in Brisbane. Janet has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health service delivery, program management, policy, and research across the Aboriginal community-controlled, public, non-profit, and university sectors for 18 years.
With more than a decade of research experience, Janet has contributed to projects relating to chronic disease, blood borne viruses, health services research, program evaluation, and workforce. Her doctoral research explored the racialisation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Practitioner workforce and its positioning within the health system, their conceptualisations of care, and the limitations of the health system in supporting this workforce. Janet currently works for the Queensland University of Technology Carumba Institute as a senior lecturer undertaking teaching and research.
Janet works at our office at Kelvin Grove campus.
Lecturer
Kevin Yow Yeh
Kevin Yow Yeh is a Wakka Wakka and South Sea Islander man, born and raised on Butchulla/Badjala Country in Queensland's Southeast. Kevin completed his social work undergraduate degree at QUT and has returned as a lecturer with the Carumba Institute.
At QUT, Kevin is the unit coordinator of QUT002 Walking on Country and CIB103 Indigenous Resistance, Revolutionaries and Rights. As a director of the Institute for Collaborative Race Research, Kevin is interested in race, racism and the pursuit of justice and is an active member of the Magan-djin community where he enjoys collaborating with other First Nations peoples across academia, activism and the arts.
Kevin is a regular on ABC Brisbane Radio show and enjoys a laugh as a TV commentator on Network Ten's Gogglebox series.
Kevin works across both the Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses.
- Unit coordinator - QUT002 Walking on Country.
- Unit coordinator - CIB103 Indigenous Resistance, Revolutionaries and Rights
- Chief investigator - National Health Medical Research Council, Medical Research Future Fund, Children Hospital Queensland Project.
Administration team
Manager, Carumba Institute
Angela Johnson
Angela Johnson is a Gooreng Gooreng woman with connections to Country in the Bundaberg and Gladstone regions and is also of Māori and South Sea Islander heritage. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) from Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
Angela is the manager of the Carumba Institute, where she leads a dedicated professional services team and oversees the institute’s operations, governance and planning to ensure its work is delivered effectively and sustainably. She brings experience from both the higher education and corporate sectors and is committed to culturally safe leadership, strong partnerships and advancing Indigenous research, teaching, and student success across the university.
Angela works at Carumba Institute’s head office at Gardens Point campus.
- Leads the administration team at the Carumba Institute.
- Provides strategic advice to the executive director across planning, governance, change, HR, and organisational development.
- Oversees the institute’s financial management, including budgeting and forecasting.
Events and community engagement coordinator
Talitha Love
Talitha Love is a Kamilaroi (Weatherall) and Papua New Guinean woman, with family connections to the southern QLD border, St George QLD. Born in Meanjin (Brisbane) and raised on Yugambeh Country in Logan, where she now raises her family there.
With more than a decade of experience across corporate events, community engagement, and project delivery, Talitha transitioned from local government into a career dedicated to advancing Indigenous equity. She is the events and community engagement coordinator at the Carumba Institute, where she leads the delivery of major events and programs including the QUT Meanjin Oration and manages stakeholder relationships, and drives communications and engagement across digital and media platforms.
Talitha is passionate about amplifying Indigenous voices and creating meaningful, community-led spaces that support lasting change.
Talitha works at Carumba Institute’s head office at Gardens Point campus.
- Leads the planning and delivery of major events and programs, including the QUT Meanjin Oration.
- Communications, content and digital: drives communications and engagement, including content creation, managing social media and digital platforms, and reporting on performance and impact.
Indigenous postgraduate programs officer (acting)
Marleya Isua
Marleya Isua is a proud Juru, Gangulu and Saibai Koedal woman who grew up on Yugumbeh Country. Her values are grounded in service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and in the understanding that 'Black knowing' is central to the work and purpose of the Carumba Institute. This alignment strongly informs her role as Indigenous postgraduate programs officer.
Marleya plays a key role in supporting senior leadership, providing strategic and confidential assistance that enables effective leadership and organisational continuity within an Institute led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, priorities, and ways of working. With experience across executive support, administration, and engagement within higher education environments, Marleya brings a broad skill set and a strong foundation in professional practice. Her work is grounded in collaboration, reliability, and service to community.
Marley works at Carumba Institute’s head office at Gardens Point campus.
- Supports delivery of Indigenous postgraduate programs and student initiatives.
- Provides guidance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HDR students.
- Builds relationships to strengthen engagement and promote postgraduate pathways.
- Case management including academic mentoring and financial support.
- Black Knowing Scholarship Seminar Series coordinator.
Teaching and research operations coordinator
Shanel Cubillo
Shanel Cubillo is a Larrakia and Wadjigan woman raised in Garramilla, Darwin.
Shanel has experience in project, policy and administration roles advancing the empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Before joining QUT, Shanel was project manager with the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network. As the teaching and research operations coordinator, Shanel provides operational administrative support to the Carumba Institute’s teaching and research programs, research partnerships, projects, and consultancies.
Shanel works at Carumba Institute’s office at Gardens Point campus.
- Provides governance and operational support to teaching and research teams.
- Coordinates the Vacation Research Experience Scheme (VRES) program.
- Supports program delivery and administration across teaching and research activities.
Contact us
Send any enquiries to carumbaInstitute@qut.edu.au and the request will be distributed to the relevant officer for actioning and response.