Researcher Profiles

This page introduces some of our research-active staff and their areas of interest. Please see our publications page for research outputs.

Dr Debi Futter-Puati

Emaildebi.futter-puati@academyex.ac.nz
RoleDirector of Teaching and Learning
QualificationPhD Education
Background / ExperienceHealth and sexuality education
Critical pedagogy
Policy development in the Pacific for areas of education including:
Inclusive education, physical education, relationships and sexuality education, mental health.
Research
Interests
Pasifka education
Teacher education
Health and Wellbeing.
ORCiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5656-6239

Dr Craig Hilton

Emailcraig.hilton@academyex.ac.nz
RoleLead Advisor
QualificationPhD
Background / ExperienceScience
Biotechnology
Biomedical research
Art
Research InterestsArt practice to facilitate public conversation about
biotechnology and science
ORCiDhttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-5184-2185

Milla Inkilä

Emailmilla.inkila@academyex.com
RolePostgraduate Director
QualificationMaster of Arts (Education) and Master of Change and Organisational Resilience
Background / ExperiencePostgraduate education
Digital and contemporary education
Teacher professional learning
Innovation and design thinking
Inclusive education
Educational change and innovation
Research InterestsAI and digital technologies in education
Teacher learning and professional development
Educational change and systems change
Software development in education
Gender-inclusive education
Equity, diversity and inclusion in education
Design-based and practice-based research
ORCiDhttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-5877-2224

Huw Jones

Emailhuw.jones@academyex.com
RoleKaitohu Moana Māori | Director Māori & Pacific Strategy and Partnerships
QualificationMaster of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (MCE)
Bachelor of Electronic Commerce (BECom)
Background / ExperienceEntrepreneurship,
International Business, Innovation
Founder Development, Startups,
Digital Marketing,
Kaupapa Moana Māori research
Research InterestsIndigenous Cybernetics
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Wayfinding and Polynesian Voyaging
Strategic Foresight and Futures Thinking
Kaupapa Moana Māori
(Māori and Pacific approaches to
research, education, leadership, innovation
and business development)
ORCiDhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-0965-0789

Dr David Parsons

Emaildavid.parsons@academyex.ac.nz
RoleResearch Director
Qualification PhD Information Technology
Background / ExperienceSoftware development
Higher education
Technology enhanced learning
Research
Interests
Agile and Lean Methods
Digital Curricula
Digital Learning
AI in Education
ORCiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9815-036X

Dr Hayley Sparks

Emailhayley.sparks@academyex.ac.nz
RoleDirector of Academic Quality
QualificationPhD Geography
Background / ExperienceDigital technology in education
Practice-based research
How systems of privilege operate to shape the lived realities of children.
Research InterestsIntersection of geography and education
Understanding relationships between people and place
Micro-credentials
ORCiD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6685-7280

Dr Herbert Thomas

Emailherbert.thomas@academyex.ac.nz
RoleProgramme Lead – Master of Contemporary Education
Qualification PhD
Background / ExperienceTechnology-integrated education
Leadership and management of
technology-integrated education in secondary and tertiary institutions
Research InterestsComplexity in education
Critical pedagogy
Educational leadership in complex environments
Value-sensitive design in education.
ORCiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3752-791X

Dr Melenaite Tohi

Emailmelenaite.tohi@academyex.com
RolePostgraduate Director MTF & MCOR
QualificationPhD Health Science
Background / ExperienceDevelopmental origins of health and disease
Non-communicable diseases
Knowledge translation, Pacific Peoples
Pacific methodologies
Lifelong health, adolescent health, health and wellbeing.
Research InterestsPasifka health
Knowledge translation
Health and Wellbeing.
ORCiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2521-4238