Our team at the Carumba Institute is composed of academic and professional staff members who bring years of experience, forming a dedicated teaching, research, and supervisory team committed to building Indigenous research capability.
Meet our academics and professional staff of Carumba Institute.
Academic team
Executive Director
Professor Chelsea Watego
Professor Chelsea Watego (formerly Bond) is a Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman with over 20 years of experience working within Indigenous health as a health worker and researcher. She is the Executive Director of QUT’s Carumba Institute, and her scholarship has drawn attention to the role of race in the production of health inequalities. Her current ARC Discovery Grant seeks to build an 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 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, a 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.
Indigenist Health Humanities Academic Director
Dr David Singh
David is a settler. Originally from the UK, where he was a community organiser against racial violence and saturation policing and director of several municipal policy units, he is now the Academic Director of the ARC Indigenist Health Humanities project. He has taught refugee and social policy at Birkbeck College, University of London, and as a researcher specialises in race critical theory and its application in a range of policy areas including Indigenous health, education and policing.
He is the co-host, with Professor Chelsea Watego, of 'Let's Talk - Blacking Knowing' on Triple A Radio. He also a principal researcher and co-director of the Institute of Collaborative Race Research.
David works at Carumba Institute’s Head Office at Gardens Point Campus.
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.
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.
Raelene works across both the Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses.
Lecturer
Francis Nona
Francis Nona is a descendant from the Dhoeybaw Clan of Saibai Island with strong ties to Badu Island in the Torres Strait. Francis is a lecturer and early-career researcher at the Queensland University of Technology, Carumba Institute. His work is informed by a strong cultural upbringing, balanced with a career as a Registered Nurse and Director of an Indigenous community-controlled health service in the Darling Downs. Francis has worked in clinical settings as a Registered Nurse including juvenile detention centres, aged care, rehabilitation units, brain injury rehabilitation, and Aboriginal Medical Services.
He has also managed and led Aboriginal Medical Services in his role as acting CEO and Clinic Manager. He has his nursing degree, Master of Public Health and is now enrolled in a PhD with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Queensland. He brings to academia a strong understanding of cultural engagement and protocol from his Country, an understanding of the health system as it applies to First Nations and other Australians.
Francis works across both the Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses.
Lecturer
Dr Angela Baeza Peña
Dr Angela Baeza Peña is Diaguita First Nation from the north of Chile.
She is a lecturer at the Carumba Institute. Angela is a math teacher and holds a Master's degree in Education from Monash University and a Master's degree in Learning Disabilities from PUC. Her PhD focused on understanding the experiences of teachers and Indigenous community members in providing Indigenous education in rural and remote areas.
As a lecturer at Carumba Institute, she has actively contributed to significant research initiatives, such as the Queensland research project facilitated by the National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network (NIRAKN). This ARC (Australian Research Council) funded project seeks to understand the social determinants that influence the completion of university by Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Angela is the project's chief investigator, creating partnerships for integrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge in Australian classrooms.
Angela’s research interests include Indigenous education, teacher professional development and higher education with Indigenous peoples. She has published several books and journal articles in English and Spanish. Angela enjoys her free time travelling and exploring nature with her beautiful daughter.
Angela works across both the Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses.
Lecturer
Dr Helena Kajlich
Helena is a settler, born in the United States and with family connections in Slovakia. She lives and works on the sovereign lands of Turrbul and Yagara people. As a Lecturer at Carumba Institute, Helena collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of researchers, academics and community partners on research led by Professor Chelsea Watego that addresses state racial violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. With a background as a legal practitioner and with research interests across law and political science, Helena brings a critical and interdisciplinary lens to the analysis of racism and anti-racist strategies and interventions.
She recently submitted her PhD at The University of Queensland, which interrogates racism in the health and coronial systems.
Helena works at Carumba Institute’s head office at Gardens Point 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 South East. Kevin completed his social work undergraduate degree at QUT and has recently returned as a lecturer within the Carumba Institute.
Kevin is also a research student at QUT, investigating ways to best support First Nations peoples through complaint processes. 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 Triple A's Let's Talk 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.
Professional team
Manager, Carumba Institute
Renita Anderson
Renita works across both the Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses.
Events and Community Engagement Coordinator
Talitha Love
Talitha is a proud Kamilaroi woman with Papua New Guinean heritage. Her mob’s connection is located at the southern QLD and northern NSW border. She was born in Meanjin (Brisbane) and raised in Logan on Yugambeh Country where she currently raises her small family.
Talitha’s background comes from Local Government and after the development of a successful Indigenous university pathway program, Talitha decided to transition into a full-time career working with mob to focus on advocating for change and making a difference in Indigenous equality. Talitha is a member of the professional team at Carumba Institute as the Events and Community Engagement Coordinator. With over a decade of experience in events, human resources, finance and projects, Talitha organises and supports various Carumba activities and events, manages stakeholder relations, and oversees and produces content for the Carumba Institute's social media channels, website, newsletter, and media releases. She develops resources and strategies for promoting engagement through these channels.
Talitha works at Carumba Institute’s Head Office at Gardens Point Campus.
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 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 academic team for teaching and research programs, research partnerships, projects, and consultancies.
Shanel works at Carumba Institute’s Office at Gardens Point Campus.
Indigenous Postgraduate Programs Officer
Kia Warkill
Kia Warkill is a descendent of the Yidinji people and a South Sea Islander woman, born and raised on Dharumbal country (Rockhampton, QLD). From a young age, she has always had a passion for community work and working with mob.
As the Indigenous Postgraduate Programs Officer (IPPO), Kia provides university-wide support to Indigenous Higher Degree Research students, students enrolled in an Honours Program and those that apply for the Indigenous PhD/Professional Doctorate to Postdoctoral fellowship (P2P) program in collaboration with University Faculties, Divisions, and Institutes. She also forms part of the Carumba Professional Team to perform administration tasks including day-to-day office duties, and system processes and procedures.
Kia works across both the Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses.
Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
Marleya Isua
Marleya Isua is a proud Gangulu and Saibai Koedal woman who grew up on Yugumbeh Country. As the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, Professor Chelsea Watego, Marleya’s role is pivotal in ensuring the smooth operation of high-level executive functions and strengthening connections and relationships.
Marleya has achieved several key milestones on her journey to this role, including providing secretarial support to the Faculty of Health leadership team in the Executive Dean's Office and to the Directors of Indigenous Health with her attention to detail and proactive approach were instrumental in driving success.
Before joining QUT, Marleya gained invaluable experience at the ANU College of Law Office of Student Administration at the Australian National University where she further honed her skills in student administration management and stakeholder engagement and completed her traineeship in Business Administration with the ANU National Centre for Indigenous Studies.
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 over 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.
Project Officer
Joyrah Newman
Joyrah Newman was born on Waibene and her upbringing was on Angkamuthi, Atambaya, Gudang and Yedhaykenu country, particularly Ichurru (Bamaga) of the Angkamuthi language. She is a Wulgurukaba woman and canoe people of Yunbenun country. Her great grandmother is Morgor of Erub though she spent most of her time with her grandmothers of Injinoo and Tamwoy town.
Joyrah began her career in commonwealth tax administration, state and federal finances, fiscal reforms, and social policy building all whilst studying at QUT's school of accountancy. In prior years she managed state government programs in remote Indigenous communities and is now pursuing an academic research career at Carumba Institute. In November 2021, Joyrah completed her first marathon to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and worldviews. She began her most recognisable role as an international marathoner in October 2022 where she ran globally to celebrate Kalaw Lagaw Ya people and their way of life.
Joyrah works at Carumba Institute’s Head Office at Gardens Point Campus.
Project Lead – Curriculum Development
Alison Quin
Alison Quin (Lucas) is a Tagalaka woman, born on Muluridji Country in far north Queensland, who is now raising her family on Kabi Kabi Country. Originally a high school teacher, Alison has worked in Indigenous community education and knowledge projects across northern and eastern Australia. For more than a decade, she has lectured in Indigenous Studies and Indigenous education and specialises in Indigenous curriculum and learning design. Alison brings her expertise in critical Indigenous pedagogy to QUT to lead the development of the curriculum portfolio for the new Faculty of Indigenous Knowledges and Culture. She would always prefer to be camping out bush or pottering in her veggie garden.
Alison works at Kelvin Grove campus.
Senior Research Officer
Dr Saran Singh
Saran is a settler. He completed his PhD in literary and cultural studies at the University of Queensland in 2023. His research examines how contemporary fiction maps conjunctive crises, particularly in regards entanglements between neoliberal capitalism, racist violence, imperialism, and contemporary fascisms. He has lectured and taught classical and contemporary literature at the University of Queensland. He has also worked as a sessional academic at the University of Melbourne on micro-certificates about Indigenous sovereignty and treaty.
He works as a Senior Research Officer at the Carumba Institute where he assists the academic team with preparing ARC grants and publishing research articles.
Saran works at Carumba Institute’s Head Office at Gardens Point Campus.
Our team
Contact us
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