Raminder Kaur completed her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts at Delhi University.

She has 17 years of experience in the overseas education industry. Her expertise includes sales leadership, team development, market positioning, compliance, and visa processing.

Raminder’s goal for each learner is to provide personalised guidance and support that empowers them to navigate the complexities of studying abroad with confidence.

She aims to help students not only achieve their academic goals but also develop valuable life skills and cultural awareness that will benefit them long after their education is complete. She strives to ensure that each learner's experience is enriching, fulfilling, and conducive to their future success.

Raminder excels in dynamic environments that foster collaboration and idea exchange. Her passion for travel and exploration fuels her desire to immerse herself in diverse cultures and new experiences.

Chenyang majored in Investment at Pass College of Chongqing Technology and Business University and received a Bachelor of Economics in 2021.

From July 2021 to August 2024, she worked in the Chongqing Branch of JJL Overseas Education Consulting & Service Co. Ltd, mainly responsible for study abroad consulting in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Her goal for each learner is to help them to find their career interests.

Sudarshan Shukla holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Bachelor of Arts with a major in International Hospitality Management, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Hotel Management.

He spent 10 years working in hospitality and customer service before joining the OPAIC team.

Sudarshan strives to provide prospective learners and current students with meaningful, personalised, and engaging support that is adapted to their individual needs, empowering each learner to grow, achieve their goals and deepen their understanding.

Ultimately, his goal is to help create a supportive and enriching experience where each learner feels understood and is engaged and empowered to keep learning.

Kim has more than a decade of professional experience as a writer and communicator. She’s been part of the Otago Polytechnic team since the beginning of 2018. Prior to that, she worked for daily newspapers throughout the country. She specialised as a court and police reporter for much of her journalism career.

Kim’s qualifications include a Master of Creative Writing, a National Diploma in Journalism, a Bachelor of Arts (English), and a Bachelor of Science (Ecology). She’s completed shorter courses in photography, videography, social media, mental health first aid, research ethics, bicultural competency, and graphic design.

Outside of work, Kim is a keen cricketer and football player. She also enjoys reading and creative writing. Kim's writing has featured in more than 15 literary journals in New Zealand and overseas. In 2020, she published her first book - I kind of thought the alpacas were a metaphor until we got there.

Qualifications:
Master in Business First Class Honours (Accounting)
Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Education
National Certificate in Adult Education and Training
Fellowship of Advanced Higher Education (UK Professional Standards Framework)

Teaching areas:
Accounting, Management, Research methods and Analytics

Professional interest areas:
Accounting, Education and Management

Publications:
Thesis
Dai, B. (2010). Investigating the impacts of shadow reports on the social and environmental reports of their targeted corporations [Thesis, Auckland University of Technology]. Https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/839

Research output
Zhukov, Y. & Dai, B. (2023) Understanding the Development of Dynamic Informal Capabilities in Enhancing Project-Based Assessments and Facilitating Programme Development. Proceedings: ITP Research Symposium 2022, 30 November – 2 December ePress, Unitec | Te Pūkenga

Mendoza, M., & Dai, B. (2023) The insurance industry's adaptation practice to climate change. Rere Āwhio – Journal of Applied Research & Practice: Issue 3.

Mendoza, G., Kultaratne, I., Dai, B. (2023) Addressing Gender Pay Equity in the Future of Work. OPSITARA Research Symposium, 30 Nov - 1 Dec, Invercargill.

Mendoza, M., Kularatne, I. & Dai, B. (2023) Addressing climate change: Insights from New Zealand’s insurance industry and comparative perspectives. OPSITARA Research Symposium, 30 Nov - 1 Dec, Invercargill.

Wang, C., Alam, S., Kularatne, I., & Dai, B. (2023) The impact of digital transformation on organisational structure. Rere Āwhio – Journal of Applied Research & Practice: Issue 3.

Dai, B., Altaf, O. & Krishnamoorthy, S. (2022) Training Teachers as a Self-Empowerment Approach for Sustainable Professional Development. Rere Awhio, Journal of Applied Research & Practice Issue 2.

Zhukov, Y., Dai, B. (2022) Dynamic Informal Capabilities in Project-Based Assessments. ITP Research Symposium, Te Pukenga, Southern Institute of Technology, Invercargill, 30 Nov-2nd Dec.

Wang, C., Alam, S., Kularatne, I., Dai, B. (2022) Impact of digital transformation on organisational structure. ITP Research Symposium, Te Pukenga, Southern Institute of Technology, Invercargill, 30 Nov.

Dai, B. (2022) Development of a framework for educators' sustainable professional development. Presentation in Smart Aotearoa –Sustainable Development, Auckland, 29 November 2022.

Quifors, S. Chan, J. & Dai, B. (2021) Workplace Wellbeing During Covid-19: Aotearoa New Zealand Employers’ Perceptions of Workplace Wellbeing Initiatives and their Limitations New Zealand Journal of Applied Business Research, Vol 17, No. 2.

Quifors, S., Chan, J., Dai, B. & Sacdalan, K. (2021) Workplace wellbeing initiatives and their effectiveness: Learnings from Aotearoa New Zealand during Covid-19. 34th ANZAM Conference, 10-2 December, online.

Dhurandhar, N., & Dai, B. (2021) Technology-driven Practical Efficiency in Talent Recruitment Process in New Zealand. Rere Āwhio – The Journal of Applied Research and Practice, 1.

Dai, B. (2020) Participation in an emergent online learning environment during the COVID-19 lockdown: How do we enhance the engagement of Chinese International Students in an accounting course? Auckland Region Accounting (ARA) Conference, 9 December, Auckland.

Zhukov, Y. & Dai, B. (2020) Dynamic Capability Frameworks in Project-Based Assessments. ePIC 2020, the 18th International Conference on Open Education and Open Recognition Technologies and Practices. Online 26-28 October

Dai, B., Chawla, R. and Zhukov, Y. (2020) Empathy for the faceless. Collective Voices of COVID-19, Otago Polytechnic, ISBN 978-0-908846-61-0


Awards:
2018 13th IAAER World Congress of Accounting Educators and Researchers: Bursaries to support emerging scholars
2011 Summer Studentship, Sustainability research project, AUT University.
2010 Graduate/Assistantship Awards Scholarship, AUT University

Industry accreditations:
Certified Accountant (Ministry of Finance, China)

I have obtained my Ph.D. from the University of Auckland and my Master of Management (Management) from Massey University. Before coming to New Zealand I have worked for eight years as a researcher and a specialist for the Ministry of Environment in Sri Lanka. I have more than fourteen years of lecturing and tutoring experience in the New Zealand tertiary education system. My teaching experiences are spread over sustainability, management, project management, quantitative techniques, statistics, information technology and environmental management/sciences. My research interests are in sustainability, employability skills, and corporate social responsibility.

My Teaching Philosophy is to academically challenge students through a learner-centred teaching environment using experiential learning practices. I want to establish a personal learning environment for learners, using their own experiences in a friendly environment. I will utilise the diversity of the learners (e.g. Language, knowledge, experience etc.) to create an inclusive environment through using academic discussions among themselves. My idea is to use the latest technologies in the classroom in order to give learners skills and capabilities that modern industry expects.

Qualifications:
Doctor of Philosophy (Environmental Science), University of Auckland, New Zealand, 2012.
Master of Management (Management), Massey University, New Zealand, 2015.
Master of Science (Environmental Management), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, 2001.
Bachelor of Science (Chemistry and Biology), University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1997.
Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Education, Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand, 2019
Diploma in Management, Open University of Sri Lanka, 1997.
National Certificate in Adult Education and Training, Southern Institute of Technology, New Zealand, 2015.
Certificate in Sustainable Practices, Otago Polytechnic, 2015.
Certificate in Bicultural Competency, Otago Polytechnic, 2022.

Professional Affiliation:
Senior Fellow - Higher Education Academy (Advance HE, UK), 2020.
Member - Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand.

Teaching areas:
Sustainability, Capabilities for Managers and Project Management.
Supervising Master's and Post Graduate Diploma students' projects.
Course Coordinator - Research Thesis and Professional Project.
Ethics Lead and OPAIC Research Ethics Committee Coordinator.

Professional/research interest areas:
Environmental Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibilities, Cross-cultural Management, Climate Change, Project Management, Quantitative Techniques, Statistics, AI applications in business and Environmental Management.

IRCiD - https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5699-0638
Linkedin: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/indrapriya-kularatne-a3845486

Research Publications:
• Iskandar, T.T., & Kularatne, I. (2024). Exploring Australian travellers’ satisfaction with traditional accommodations in Invercargill, New Zealand. Smart Tourism. 2024; 5(1): 2543. https://doi.org/10.54517/st.v5i1.2543
• Kularatne, I., Ho, H.W.L., & Haaker, T. (2024). Tech Reborn: Unveiling the Fascination of Young Consumers with Refurbished Electronic Devices in New Zealand and the Influential Factors. NBM@SANSEBASTIAN 2024 (Conference Proceedings): Sustainable Business Models for the Digital, Green and Inclusive Transition. https://www.newbusinessmodels.org/publications-media
• Churilov, A., Omisakin, O., & Kularatne, I. (2024). The Demand and Drivers for Teleworking Among Back-Office Personnel After the COVID-19 Pandemic in New Zealand. Journal of Comprehensive Business Administration Research. https://doi.org/10.47852/ bonview JCBAR42022645
• Kaur, P., Omisakin, O., & Kularatne, I. (2024). Psychological distress caused by COVID-19 on Indian immigrants with temporary visas working in retail industries in Auckland, New Zealand. Southern Institute of Technology Journal of Applied Research, 16(1), Article 4. http://doi.org/10.34074/sitj.16104
• Kaur, P., Omisakin, O. & Kularatne, I. (2024). Mental Well-Being of Indian Immigrants with Temporary Visas Working in Retail Industries during and after COVID-19 in Auckland, New Zealand: Analysis Based on WHO-5 Test. International Journal of Research in Business Studies and Management, 11(1), 1-12.
• Sim, J. W., & Kularatne, I. (2024). The Impact of Relationship Marketing Strategies on Customer Loyalty in the High-End Hair Salon Industry in Auckland. Journal of Regional Economics, 3(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.58567/jre03010002
• Omisakin, O.M. & Kularatne, I. (2024). The Impact of COVID-19 on the Learning Experiences of Higher Education Students in the New Zealand Tertiary Institutions. Open Access Library Journal, 11: e11177. http://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1111177
• Asrani,M. & Kularatne,I. (2023). Increasing Sustainability in Auckland Road Construction by Using Plastic Waste. Research in Social Change,15(1) 10-26. https://doi.org/10.2478/rsc-2023-0001
• Wanniarachchi, K., & Kularatne, I. (2023). How National Lockdown Restrictions Impacted the New Zealand Female Workforce: A Review. Journal of Economic Analysis, 3(4), 78. https://doi.org/10.58567/jea03040004
• Li, W. & Kularatne, I. (2023). Digital Transformation in the New Zealand Retail Banking Sector: Challenges and Opportunities for Elderly Customers. Journal of Information Economics, 1(3), 13. https://doi.org/10.58567/jie01030002
• Omisakin, O.M. & Kularatne, I. (2023). Exploring International Students’ Perceptions of the Value of New Zealand Postgraduate Education. Open Access Library Journal, 10: e10360. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1110360
• Wanniarachchi, K. & Kularatne, I. (2023). An Exploratory Study on Underutilisation of Women in the New Zealand Labour Market During the COVID-19 Lockdown. Southern Institute of Technology Journal of Applied Research, 15(1), http://doi.org/10.34074/sitj.15102
• Castillo, J., & Kularatne, I. (2023) Integrating building information modelling and wearable technologies for fall-from-height management in New Zealand construction sites. Rere Āwhio – Journal of Applied Research & Practice. 3. https://doi.org/10.34074/rere.00302
• Razizadeh, S., & Kularatne, I. (2023) The adoption of artificial intelligence-based systems in development of public transportation in Auckland. Rere Āwhio – Journal of Applied Research & Practice, 3. https://doi.org/10.34074/rere.00303
• More, K., & Kularatne, I. (2023) Exploring the impcat of chatbots on customer satisfaction and business efficiency inn New Zealand's financial technology industry. Rere Āwhio – Journal of Applied Research & Practice, 3. https://doi.org/10.34074/rere.00304
• Wang, C., Alam, S., Kularatne, I., & Dai, B. (2023) The impact of digital transformation on organisational structure. Rere Āwhio – Journal of Applied Research & Practice, 3. https://doi.org/10.34074/rere.00305

Qualifications
Degree architectural technology: Bradford University 1989
Master’s degree in business administration: majoring in communication: Huddersfield University 1994
Postgraduate diploma in business: majoring in project management: Massey University 2012
Doctorate in philosophy: majoring in collaborative projects (final stages): Massey University

Teaching areas
Currently: Project Management, Leadership Decision Making, Industry Internship, Professional Project. Previously: Strategic Management, Operations Management, Management Information Systems, Events Management.

Professional interest areas
Collaboration, innovation, projects, and sustainability.

Publications
Project management institute NZ (PMI) paper 2011: The reluctant project manager
Project management institute NZ (PMI) paper: Scientific methodology is not just for scientists
Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) paper: 2011 Sydney : An investigation of academic research project management frameworks and methodologies
Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) paper: 2015 Singapore: The capitalisation of knowledge
Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) paper: 2018 Hobart: Expectations management of multi sector collaborations: A project framework

Qualifications:
Ph.D. Social Sciences and Public Policy [Migrants' Entrepreneurship Management] from AUT, Auckland, New Zealand (2016), Postgraduate Certificate in Social Research Design and Analysis (2013), Master of Business Administration (MBA) Management from Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, BSc. Economics Education (Hons) from Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria, Graduate Diploma Tertiary Education Otago Polytechnic, Otago NZ, Certificate in Bicultural Competency, Otago Polytechnic, Otago NZ.



Professional Affiliation:
Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (FHEA) UK
Associate Institute of Management Consultant, New Zealand
Research Association of New Zealand
Institute of Managers and Leaders (Australia New Zealand)
Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria (ACPIN)
Institute of Chartered Economics of Nigeria (ACEN)

Academic Journal Membership:

Conference Committee Member and Editorial Board Member of Institute of Research, Learning & Development https://www.flelearning.ca/conference-committee-2/
Editorial board member of Science Journal of Business and Management. http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/journal/editorialboard?journalid=175

Teaching areas:
Applied Management and Business

Professional interest areas:
Academic Research and impacting knowledge.

List of Publications
Omisakin, O.M. (2024). The Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Profit Growth Performance of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and the Influence of the Environment. Australian Journal of Business and Management Research (New South Wales Research Centre Australia) 10.52283/NSWRCA.AJBMR.20240801A04 Volume. 8, Issue. 1, (53-80)

Omisakin, O.M., Kularatne, (2024). The Impact of COVID-19 on the Learning Experiences of Higher Education Students in the New Zealand Tertiary Institutions. Open Access Library Journal, 11: e11177. http://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1111177

Churilov, A., Omisakin, O., & Kularatne, I. (2024). The Demand and Drivers for Teleworking Among Back-Office Personnel After the Covid-19 Pandemic in New Zealand. Journal of Comprehensive Business Administration Research. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewJCBAR42022645

Kaur, P., Omisakin, O., & Kularatne, I. (2024). Psychological distress caused by COVID-19 on Indian immigrants with temporary visas working in retail industries in Auckland, New Zealand. Southern Institute of Technology Journal of Applied Research, 16(1), Article 4. http://doi.org/10.34074/sitj

Prabhjot K., Omisakin, O.M., Kularatne, I. (2024). Mental Well-Being of Indian Immigrants with Temporary Visas Working in Retail Industries during and after COVID-19 in Auckland, New Zealand: Analysis Based on WHO-5 Test. International Journal of Research in Business Studies and Management, Volume 11, Issue 1, PP 1-12 https://doi.org/10.62557/2394-5931.110101

Mascarenhas, A., M. Omisakin, O., M. (2024). A Review of Some Current Sustainability
Management Practices in the Airline Industry: Proposed SMART Strategies and Methodologies for Improvement. Open Access Library Journal, Volume 11, e11176
ISSN Online: 2333-972, ISSN Print: 2333-9705. http://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1111176

Gunasekera, C., Omisakin, O. M. (2023). The Use of Project Management Techniques and Its Positive Impacts on Project Outcomes in New Zealand Businesses. Journal of Information & Knowledge Management. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219649223500491

Hans, S., Omisakin, O. M. (2023). CUSTOMER SERVICE CHALLENGES: CASE STUDY REVIEW OF THE NEW ZEALAND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SECTOR. Journal of Applied Research & Practice: Issue 3. https://doi.org/10.34074/rere.00309

Omisakin O. M., Kularatne I. (2023). Exploring International Students’ Perceptions of the Value of New Zealand Postgraduate Education. Open Access Library Journal, Volume 10, e10360. ISSN Online: 2333-9721, ISSN Print: 2333-9705. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1110360

Omisakin, O.M., and Adegoke, N. (2022). Entrepreneurial Orientation and New Zealand Family Business Growth Performance: Environmental Effects. Small Enterprise Research, Taylor, and Francis. DOI: 10.1080/13215906.2022.2039883. https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/WQXQHX9DXZ6QGKBW4P2J/full?target=10.1080/13215906.2022.2039883

Omisakin, O. M., Arasanmi, C., Kularante, I. (2022). Proactiveness, Environmental Munificence and Environmental Hostility and their Impacts on the Growth of SMEs. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Vol.26 No.1/2, pp.43–59 DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2022.120882

Petrov, O., Omisakin, O. M., (2022). Evaluating the impacts of COVID-19 on operations and management of Community Centres: An Auckland, New Zealand case study. Journal of Information & Knowledge Management, Vol. 21, No. 2 https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219649222500186

Omisakin O, Kularatne I. (2022) Exploring postgraduate students’ knowledge about environmental sustainable development and how this is being applied. Journal of Sustainability Research, 2022;4(2): e220004. https://doi.org/10.20900/jsr20220004

Omisakin, O. M, Chanaka, B., and Kularante, I. (2020). Designing Customer Feedback Service Channel through Artificial Intelligence to Improve Customer Satisfaction in the Supermarket Industry. Journal of Information & Knowledge Management Vol. 19, No. 3 (2020) 2050015 (34 pages). DOI: 10.1142/S021964922050015X

Omisakin, O. M., Nakhid, M. (2019). NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS AND THEIR ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL IMPACTS: A REVIEW. Journal of International Business Research Volume 18, Issue 1, 2019. 1544-0230-18-1-112

Kalawilapathirage, H., Omisakin, O. M., Zeidan, S. (2019). A Data Analytic Approach of Job Satisfaction: A Case Study on Airline Industry. Journal of Information & Knowledge Management Vol. 18, No.1 DOI: 10.1142/S0219649219500035

Omisakin, O. M (2018). New Zealand Trade Agreements and Their Economic and Societal Impacts: A Review. International Business and Management vol16, No. 2, pp. 38-48 DOI: 10.3968/10841

Omisakin, O. and Jyoti, R. (2018). Recycling of Beverage Containers in New Zealand: Critical Analysis of Existing Status and Proposed Best Practices. International Journal of Waste Resources, 8: 347. doi:10.4172/2252-5211.1000347

Chandeep, K, and Omisakin, O. M. (2018). Data Mining Methods to Improve Clinical Trials in Diabetic Patients. Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Research, Vol.6 No.4:266. ISSN 2386-5180. DOI: 10.21767/2386-5180.100266

Omisakin, O. M. (2018). Exploring the African migrants’ decisions to migrate to New Zealand. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Science Studies, Vol. 4, Is.1 ISBN: 978-1-911185-81-9 (Online) ISSN: 2397-6934 (Online)

Omisakin, O. M. (2017) Economic contributions and challenges of immigrant entrepreneurs to their host country – case of African immigrants in Auckland, New Zealand. Journal of Business Administration Research. www.Sciedupress.com/jbar Online Published: March 13, 2017 doi:10.5430/jbar. v6n1p25 URL: https://doi.org/jbar.v6n1p25

Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Auckland University of Technology
(AACSB Accredited), New Zealand
Master of Science in Business Administration, University of Bath, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Law (Honours), University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Applied Economics (Honours), University of Malaya, Malaysia
Diploma in Marketing, The Chartered Institute of Marketing, United Kingdom
Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand

Professional Affiliation
Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK)

Teaching areas
Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Marketing in a Digital Age, CRM /Analytics, Strategic Marketing

Research interest areas
Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship, CRM, Analytics, Branding, Customer Service

Yury’s journey in Aotearoa started when he decided to pursue of his research interests in deliberative democracy and e-government at the University of Auckland. He has been working in tertiary education alongside other jobs for over fifteen years. Yury has a research Master’s degree and is working on his PhD at the moment.

Qualifications:
PhD in vocational and professional Learning Victoria University,Melbourne 2021
MBA Warwick University UK 1992
BSc Hons Applied Physics Brighton Polytechnic UK

IS0 9001 Quality Assessor 1992
Investors in People Advisor and Assessor UK 1992

Teaching areas:
Principal facilitator and lead assessor for both Independent Learning Programmes in undergraduate business and engineering and Professional Practice post graduate programmes in business, management, leadership and education at Capable NZ

www.linkedin.com/in/philip-cass-ab4b0916

Nishika has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka and a master’s degree in Business Administration in Information Technology from the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka. She is coming to the end of her PhD in Information Systems at AUT.

She worked as a Lecturer for more than 15 years at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and as a Teaching Assistant at AUT for more than four years. She has also worked as a Research Assistant at AUT.

Nishika’s research interests include digital transformation and its impacts on organisations, societies, and individuals.

She loves encouraging learners to enhance their knowledge, skills, and attitudes to achieve their goals, particularly by helping them apply the theoretical knowledge they’ve gained.

Outside of work she enjoys being involved with social groups including Toastmasters, as well as cooking, listening to music, and engaging in religious activities.

Qualification
BCom (University of Auckland) 2008
BCom (Hons) University of Auckland 2009
Certificate in Tertiary Teaching (Auckland University of Technology) 2011
Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Teaching (Auckland University of Technology) 2012

Teaching areas
Management, entrepreneurship, HRM, introduction to commercial law.

Professional interest areas
Business course writing and moderation, employment relations/dispute consultancy, international student consulting. Research interest in the areas of internationalisation of higher education, ethnic entrepreneurship, migrant worker experience and youth development.

Publications
Journal Articles
Anderson, D., Jamieson, S., and Naidu, K. (2012) Managed migration? The health and safety and human rights implications for student migrant labourers in the horticulture sector (research paper). Auckland/Sydney: AUT/Sydney University.
Anderson, D., Naidu, K. (2010) The Land of Milk and Honey? the Contemporary Working Lives of of Contingent Youth Labour New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations (Online) , Vol. 35, No. 3 , September 1, 2010

Varun’s educational background is firmly rooted in business and management. He’s recently passed his viva for a PhD in Management from the University of Auckland, which he pursued from 2017 to 2024. Prior to this, he completed a Master of Commerce in Marketing (2010-2011), Honours in Marketing (2008-2009), and a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Management (2004-2007), all from the University of Auckland.

His industry experience is quite diverse, spanning several sectors. He’s worked in building management at Alpha Apartments, engaged in social entrepreneurship through ventures like Kai Kai, BioDymaxion, and Caring4Whānau, and has been involved in sustainable living and regenerative farming with Nested Living Ltd. and Regenma since 2011. Earlier in his career, he gained experience in corporate sales with Southern Cross Healthcare and in corporate partnerships with IAG Insurance.

Varun’s research areas are multifaceted, focusing on cross-scale resilience in food systems, sustainable consumption and production, and climate change management in the dairy sector. He's particularly interested in organisational institutionalism, systems thinking, and complexity-based approaches in management. Community resilience, social innovation, and AI-enhanced pedagogical methods in education are also key areas of his research.

As an educator, his goal for each learner's journey is to inspire critical thinking and challenge conventional boundaries in business practices. Varun strives to foster an understanding of sustainable and innovative organisational practices, encouraging the application of theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges. He aims to promote a holistic understanding of business that integrates environmental and social sustainability, and to develop learners' abilities to adapt to future work environments and engage in lifelong learning.

Varun has a strong commitment to community engagement and social innovation, as evidenced by his involvement in various social enterprises and community projects. Beyond this, he’s passionate about yoga and has been teaching at the Auckland Yoga Academy since February 2024. He’s a qualified yoga instructor with an RYT500 certification and is registered with the Yoga Alliance. This practice not only contributes to Varun’s personal wellbeing but also allows him to share the benefits of mindfulness and physical wellness with others in the community.

Additionally, Varun has a keen interest in Generative AI and its potential applications, particularly in the field of education. He’s fascinated by how AI can enhance educational pedagogy and improve learning outcomes. This interest aligns closely with his academic work, where he’s been exploring AI-enhanced pedagogical methods. Varun believes that the integration of AI in education has the potential to personalise learning experiences, provide real-time feedback, and create more engaging and interactive learning environments. This intersection of technology and education is an area where he sees immense potential for innovation and positive impact on learners' experiences and outcomes.

Varun is deeply committed to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and cultural sensitivity in his work. His ability to work across diverse cultural contexts is demonstrated by his international research and teaching experience. Above all, Varun is dedicated to addressing urgent global challenges, such as climate change and community resilience, through his work and research.

Shikha holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Information Systems and Operations Management from the University of Auckland. She also has a Bachelor of Business (Honours) from Auckland University of Technology. She has recently submitted her PhD thesis for examination at AUT.

Shikha has worked as a Teaching Assistant and Workshop Leader at AUT over the past six years. Her research relates to digital accessibility and technology for social inclusion.

Shikha recognises that each student has a unique background and learning pace, and she aims to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment that caters to everyone.

Her interests outside of work include playing badminton and running marathons.

Dr Jimmy (Jishuo) Sun is a lecturer in the Department of Applied Management at Otago Polytechnic, Auckland International Campus, Auckland, New Zealand. He completed his PhD in management at Massey University in 2024. His research interests include workplace bullying, employee wellbeing, emerging technology management (e.g., AI), business innovation, and sustainability. He is a member of the Healthy Work Group (HWG) and Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business (AIDB) Research Group at Massey Business School. His work has been published in high-ranked journals, including Research-Technology Management (ABDC: A). Jimmy has also presented research papers at international conferences, such as Academy of International Business (AIB) Asia Pacific Regional Conference and International Association of Workplace Bullying and Harassment (IAWBH) Conference. He also serves as an ad hoc reviewer for several high-impact international journals and conferences, such as Journal of Management & Organization (ABDC: B), Corporate Governance (ABDC: C), Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AoM), and Australian & New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Conference.

Qualifications:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management – Massey University (Auckland)
Master in Business Studies (Management) – Massey University (Auckland)
Associate Fellow of Advanced Higher Education (AFHEA) – Advance HE (UK Professional Standards Framework)
Certificate in Bicultural Competency – Otago Polytechnic
Postgraduate Certificate in Learning Design (Ongoing) – Otago Polytechnic

Professional Associations:
International Association on Workplace Bullying & Harassment (IAWBH), Member
Academy of Management (AOM), Member
Academy of International Business (AIB), Member
International Association for Chinese Management Research (IACMR), Member

Teaching Areas:
Research Methods, Business Analytics, Human Resource Management, and Organisational Behaviour

Research Outputs:
Sun, J., Liu, D., & Dai, B. (2024, December 4-6). AI capability and innovation ambidexterity in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises: The role of dynamic capability and entrepreneurial bricolage [Paper presentation]. 2024 Academy of International Business (AIB) Asia Pacific Regional Conference, Guangdong, China.

Sun, J., Forsyth, D., Blackwood, K., D’Souza, N., & Catley, B. (2024, June 25-28). Exploring the nature of workplace qiling (bullying) in Shenzhen, China [Paper presentation]. 14th International Association on Workplace Bullying & Harassment (IAWBH) Conference, Huddersfield, UK.

Petrisia, N., Mao, D., & Sun, J. (2024). Exploring the motivation of sustainable commuting: A case study of international students in Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus (OPAIC). Frontiers in Sustainability, 5, 1383782.

Liu, Y., Sun, J., Zhang, Z., Wu, M., & Sima, H. (2024). How AI impacts companies’ dynamic capabilities: Lessons from six Chinese construction firms. Research-Technology Management (ABDC: A), 67(3), 64-76.

Sun, J. (2024). Exploring the experience of workplace qiling (bullying) in Shenzhen, China [Doctoral dissertation, Massey University]. Massey University Research Online. https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/69424

Petrisia, N., Mao, D., Sun, J. (2024, February 14). Exploring the motivation of sustainable commuting [Paper presentation]. 2nd Smart Sustainable Development Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.

Blackwood, K., D’Souza, N., Sun. J., Bentley, T., Yarker, J., Carryer, J., & Catley, B. (2019). Understanding management competencies for managing bullying and fostering healthy work in nursing. College of Nurses Aotearoa and Massey University. https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/fms/school_of_management/HWG/Management%20Competencies%20-%20CoN%20report.pdf?D11B279BA42A70EB0261517A508BB6A9

Cardow, A., Imbeau, J-S., & Sun, J. (2019). Finding Meaning: A talking points brief on underemployment of service personnel. Post Transition Limited and Massey University.
Apiata, B., Martin, J., Imbeau, JS., Cardow, A., & Sun, J. (2019). A failure of care: A talking points brief prepared for Bill (Willie) Apiata VC. Post Transition Limited and Massey University.

Sun, J. (2019). The role of management competencies in workplace stress and bullying in New Zealand [Master’s thesis]. Massey University.

Blackwood, K., D’Souza, N., Sun. J., Gordon, M., Bentley, T., Yarker, J., Carryer, J., & Catley, B. (2019, Nov 22). Line manager competencies for fostering healthy work [Paper presentation]. The HealthyWork Conference 2019, Auckland, New Zealand.

Research Contributions:
Organising Committee Member (May 2024 – Present)
3rd Smart Sustainability Conference 2025

Editorial Review Board Member (Oct 2023 – Present)
International Journal of Information Technologies and Systems Approach

Editorial Review Board Member (Aug 2023 – Present)
The Journal of Digital Economy

Journal Reviewer (Feb 2025 – Mar 2025)
Journal of Innovation Management

Conference Reviewer (Jan 2024 – Feb 2025)
The 84th & 85th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AoM)

Journal Reviewer (Jul 2024 – Aug 2024)
Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society

Conference Reviewer (July 2022 – Aug 2024)
2022-2024 Australian & New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Conference

Panel Member (May 2024 – Jun 2024)
Panel Discussion at the 14th International Association on Workplace Bullying & Harassment (IAWBH) Conference

Journal Reviewer (May 2024 – Jun 2024)
Journal of Applied Research & Practice (Rere Āwhio)


Journal Reviewer (Nov 2023 – Jan 2024)
Journal of Management and Organization

Awards:
Teaching Award – Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus 2024
Mentor With The Most – Department of Applied Management, Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus 2024
ACE Alliance Award – Department of Applied Management, Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus 2024
Technology Warriors Award – Department of Applied Management, Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus 2024
The Helpful Hagrid Award – Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus 2024
Best Reviewer Award – ANZAM Conference 2023

Qualifications
Bachelor of Architecture (University of Mumbai, India)
Master of Construction Management (Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand)
PhD Construction Management (Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand)

Teaching area
I teach courses related to Construction Management and Quantity Surveying. Some of the courses that I teach are; Construction Technology, Building Services, Programming, Social and Legislative Environment, Building Law.

Professional interest areas
Teaching and research in the areas of Construction Technology, Construction Contracts and Sustainable construction.

Publications
Raina, P., & Tookey, J. E. (2012, 28-30 June). The Purpose of Retentions: A Review of the Existing Literature. Paper presented at CIOB world construction conference “Global Challenges in Construction Industry”, Colombo, Srilanka.
• Raina, P., & Tookey, J. E. (2011, 16-18 Feb). Construction defects and monetary retentions in construction projects:A review of case law. Paper presented at the 4th International Conference of Construction Engineering and Project Management (ICCEPM – 2011), Sydney, Australia.
• Abeysekera, V., Raina, P., & Neitzert, T. (2009, May 20-22). Building Theory on Monetary Retention Regimes. Paper presented at the meeting of the Fifth International Conference on Construction in the 21st Century (CITC-V) "Collaboration and Integration in Engineering, Management and Technology", Istanbul, Turkey.
• Raina, P., & Tookey, J. (2013, 20-22 November). The perceptions of retentions as held by clients, contractors and subcontractors. In T.W. Yiu & V. Gonzalez (Eds), 38th Annual Conference of the Australasian Universities Building Educators Association (AUBEA), Auckland, New Zealand.
• Raina, P., & Tookey, J. (2014). Perceptions of the retention system in the construction industry. Paper presented at the 2nd ASEA-SEC Conference “Sustainable solutions in Structural Engineering and Construction”, Bangkok, Thailand.

Awards
Awarded scholarship by BRANZ for PhD studies for three years.
Awarded graduate teaching assistantship at AUT for three consecutive years 2009 – 2012 which included a tuition fee waiver and part time employment as an hourly paid teaching and research assistant.

Qualifications:
Ph.D (Construction Materials) Anna University, Tamilnadu, India, 2020
Masters in Construction Management, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, 2019
M.Tech, Masters in Transportation Engineering and Management, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India. 2004
B.E, Bachelors in Civil Engineering, Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamilnadu, India. 2001

Teaching Areas:
Construction Technology, Contract Administration, Measurement, Procurement and Tendering and Property Investment

Research Areas:
Urban Traffic Planning, Supply Chain Management, Stakeholder Management, Logistics Management, Construction Economics, Transportation Management, Construction Materials, Geopolymer, Project Management, Construction Contracts

Professional Membership:
Member in National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC), New Zealand
Member in New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB), New Zealand

Publications:
Mathi Rohitha R, Dr. Srividya Krishnamoorthy, Aruna M (2021) A Study on the Extension of Time (EoT) Claims and Protocols International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) Volume 8, Issue 9, September 2021 https://www.irjet.net/volume 8-issue 9 S.No: 291
B. Hari Abinaya, D. Srividya and G. Chitra (2021) A Study on Effectiveness of Blockchain Technology into Construction Supply Chain Management. International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) Vol. 10 Issue 06, June-2021. Paper ID : IJERTV10IS060437.
Srividya. D and Nagan.S “Flyash – Based Geopolymer coating on coarse aggregates for bituminous application”, The Asian International Journal of Life Sciences, Vol 27, 2018, pp 87-107
Srividya. D and Nagan.S, “Effect of Flyash Based Geopolymer coated Aggregates in Bituminous Concrete” Gradevinar, Journal of Croatian Association of Civil Engineers, Vol 70, Issue No 3, 2018, pp 187-199
Srividya, D, Nagan, S & Vaishnavi Devi, S 2017, ‘Microstructure study on flyash based geopolymer paste’, Proceedings of National Conference on Research Innovations in Materials, Construction Techniques and Sustainable Development RIMTSD – 2017
T. Karthigaipriya and D. Srividya, “Road Asset Management System for Madurai CBD”, International Journal of Innovations in Scientific and Engineering Research, Vol 1 Issue 11 Dec 2014, P- 18 - 23
G. Sathya, R. Velkennedy and D. Srividya, “Prioritization of Urban Transport system for Madurai City”, International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering (IJIRAE) 1, Vol.2, Jan 2015, pp 318-322
D. Srividya and U. Yoganandhan, “Analysis of Possibilities and Proposals of ITS Implementation in Madurai City, International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology, Vol 3. Issue 29, 2015

Saranga is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with over 18 years of experience in large and complex international projects across Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Sri Lanka.

Her expertise spans pre and post contract quantity surveying, contract administration, procurement, and commercial management in the building and infrastructure sectors.

She has worked with contractors, consultants, and government bodies, handling high-value projects such as the Lusail Plaza Towers in Qatar, major wastewater and flood mitigation projects in Sri Lanka, and large-scale developments in the UAE.

Saranga holds an M.Sc. in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution and another M.Sc. in Project Management, from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. She also has a B.Sc. (Hons) in Quantity Surveying.

She is a MRICS (Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and an AIQSSL (Associate Member of the Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka).

Her research interests include construction law, dispute resolution, and procurement strategies. Past research has focused on design and build liabilities concerning differing site conditions, as well as procurement strategies for disaster reconstruction projects.

Saranga’s goal is to equip learners with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills that are essential for success in the construction industry. She aims to foster critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a strong understanding of industry standards, cost management, and contract administration.

She is passionate about contributing to the next generation of professionals in the construction industry. With her diverse international experience, she aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practices, preparing students for global opportunities in the fields of quantity surveying and construction management.

Outside of work, Saranga has an interest in music and travelling, which helps her explore different cultures and broaden her perspectives.

Farhad has completed his BSc, MSc, and PhD in computer science. He was a post-doctorate researcher working in the area of high-performance and low-power computing systems in Kyushu University, Japan between 2007 and 2010. From August 2010, he was an Associate Professor in the Kyushu University, where he participated in several joint projects with industry in Japan, and supervised/co-supervised many Master and PhD students.
He joined Tech Futures Lab at Auckland as a Data Science and IoT Specialist in May 2016. Later in 2017 he joined Unisys as a senior consultant and data scientist. He has been with OPAIC since January this year, and alongside his current academic placement as a senior lecturer, he has also founded STEM Fern, a start up in Auckland developing AI and robotics technologies and content for primary aged STEM education.
Farhad has a broad experience both in industry and academia across three different countries and has initiated and led several interdisciplinary R&D projects particularly on AI, robotics, and IoT-enabled smart systems. He is a senior member of IEEE.

Qualifications:
Post-doctorate: High-performance and Low-power computing systems (Kyushu University)
PhD, Computer Science (Amirkabir University of Technology & Kyushu University)
MSc, Computer Systems Architecture (Amirkabir University of Technology).
BSc, Computer Engineering (Sharif University of Technology).
Specialisation in Data Science, 2014 (Coursera - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health).
NZ Cert in Adult & Tertiary Teaching, Open Polytechnic (ongoing)

Teaching areas:
Data Science, Internet-of-Things, Cloud Computing, AI, Databases

Professional interest areas:
AI and Robotics for STEM Education, Business Intelligence.

Selected Publications:
(Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.nz/citations?user=ihicYOUAAAAJ&hl=en)

Book Chapters:
1. Farhad Mehdipour, Bahman Javadi, Aniket Mahanti, Guillermo Ramirez-Prado, Fog Computing Realization for Big Data Analytics, Fog and Edge Computing: Principles and Paradigms, Wiley, 2018.
2. Farhad Mehdipour, M. F. Rahman, K. Murakami, Intelligent wireless sensor networks in cyber-physical systems, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, ISBN-10: 1849198241, Mar. 2016.
3. Farhad Mehdipour, Hamid Noori, Bahman Javadi, Energy-Efficient Big Data Analytics in Data Centers, Energy Efficiency in Data-Centers, Elsevier’s Book Series on Advances in Computers, Feb. 2016.

Recent Journal Publications:
1. S. Rastegar Moghaddam Mansouri, H. Gholamhosseini, A. Lowe, Farhad Mehdipour, M. Lindén, Estimating Systolic Blood Pressure Using Convolutional Neural Networks, pHealth, 2019.
2. Kalpana Nand, Nilufar Baghaei, John Casey, Bashar Barmada, Farhad Mehdipour, Engaging Children with Educational Content via Gaming, Smart Learning Environments, Smart Learning Environments 6 (1), 6, 2019.
3. N. Rahmanikiaa, A. Amiri, H. Noori, Farhad Mehdipour, Performance evaluation metrics for ring-oscillator-based temperature sensors on FPGAs: A quality factor, Integration, the VLSI Journal, Vol. 57, pp. 81-100, Mar. 2017.
4. Karen Baker, Richard Rowley, Farhad Mehdipour, Collaborative teams: The investigation of how collaborative processes and team dynamics impact on collaborative teaching in a New Zealand context. Core Education uLearn16, Rotorua, New Zealand, 2016.
5. A. Medhat, A. Shalaby, M. Sayed, M. El-Sabrouty, Farhad Mehdipour, Adaptive Reduced Comlexity Algorithms for Motion Estimation Unit in HEVC Encoder, IET Image Processing, Feb. 2016.

Recent Conference Papers:
1. Bahman A. Sassani (Sarrafpour), Rosario D. S. Choque, Blake M. Paul, Farhad Mehdipour, Commercial Security Scanning: Point-on-Sale (POS) Vulnerability and Mitigation Techniques, The 4th IEEE Cyber Science and Technology Congress, Fukuoka , Japan, 2019.
2. Bahman Sassani, Andrew David, Xiaosong Li, Farhad Mehdipour, AgentPi: An IoT Enabled Motion CCTV Surveillance System, The 4th IEEE Cyber Science and Technology Congress, Fukuoka , Japan, 2019.
3. Farhad Mehdipour, Mohsen Pashna, Aniket Mahanti, A 3-Tier AI-Based Solution for Facilitating STEM Education, Submitted to Sixth International Conference on Learning and Teaching in Computing and Engineering (LATICE), 2018.
4. Bahman Sarrafpour, C Abbaro, Ivan Pitton, Craig Young, Farhad Mehdipour, PST 2016 : 14th International Conference on Privacy, Security and Trust, Auckland, New Zealand, Dec. 2016.
5. M. F. Rahman, Farhad Mehdipour, H. Furukawa, Modeling the Impact of Clustering with Random Event Arrival on the Lifetime of WSN, ICNCC '16 Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Network, Communication and Computing, Pages 292-296, Tokyo, Japan, 2016.
6. B. A. Sassani, C. Abbaro, I. Pitton, C. Young, and Farhad Mehdipour, Analysis of NTP DRDoS Attacks' Performance Effects and Mitigation Techniques, Cybersecurity considerations, Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Trust Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, Dec. 2016.
7. Farhad Mehdipour, Bahman Javadi, Aniket Mahnati, FOG-Engine: FOG-engine: Towards Big Data Analytics in the Fog, The 2nd IEEE International Conference on Big Data Intelligence and Computing, Auckland, New Zealand, August 8-12, 2016.

Ganeshan brings a wealth of academic and industry experience across New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, and the USA. He has over eighty publications in computing and education and has supervised hundreds of undergraduate and postgraduate projects. His current research focuses on the applications of computing and AI in education and healthcare.

Ganeshan is deeply committed to fostering a mindset of lifelong learning and problem-solving in his students, which he considers his most significant contribution to their development.

Outside of his academic and research endeavours, Ganeshan is an avid sports enthusiast, with a particular passion for swimming and surfing.

Waruni holds a PhD in Computer and Information Sciences from AUT, New Zealand and a BCS (Special) from the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. She worked as a lecturer in Sri Lanka for nearly three years before starting her PhD, and then as a teaching assistant at AUT for two years during her PhD.

Waruni’s research interests include Data mining, Machine learning, Business Intelligence, Database Management Systems, and Computer Science Education.

She strives to help learners acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes that they can confidently apply in practical scenarios.

Outside of work Waruni enjoys reading books, listening to music, watching movies and hiking. She loves learning new things and facing and overcoming challenges.

List of Publications
• Mehdipour, F., Hewage, U.H.W.A., Boonrat, W., Naviza, A.L., Vidhya, V., Aharari, A. (2024). A Model for Predicting Crime Risk. In: Nakamatsu, K., Patnaik, S., Kountchev, R. (eds) AI Technologies and Virtual Reality. AIVR 2023. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 382. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-9018-4_1
• Hewage, H., Sinha, R., Asif Naeem, M. (2023) Privacy-preserving data (stream) mining techniques and their impact on data mining accuracy: a systematic literature review. Artificial Intelligence Review, 56, pp 10427–10464.
• Hewage, W., Mehdipour, F., & Ganeshan, K. (2023) Improving learner experience: Collaborative learning facilitation. Teaching Excellence Symposium held at Te Pūkenga | Otago Polytechnic 29-30 June, Dunedin.
• Mehdipour, F., Babenkov, E., Hewage, U. & Aharari, A. (2023) Identification and Prevention of Banking Fraud and Scams. 2023 27th International Conference on Circuits, Systems, Communications and Computers (CSCC), Rhodes Island (Rodos Island), Greece 19 - 22 July 2023
• Ganeshan K., Boon T., Mehdipour F., & Hewage, W. (2023) Helping Older Learners into Careers in IT: An Innovative Approach. Canada International Conference on Education (CICE-2023) and World Congress on Education (WCE-2023).
• Hewage, W., Pears,R. & Asif Naeem, M. (2022) Optimizing the Trade-off Between Classification Accuracy and Data Privacy in the Area of Data Stream Mining. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence, Vol 20, No. 1.
• Hewage,W., Sinha,R. & Pears, R. (2022) Utilizing Noise as an Attack Independent Measure for Representing Privacy in Logistic Cumulative Noise Addition. International Women in Engineering Symposium, Sri Lanka.
• Hewage, W. (2022) Optimising the Trade-Off Between Accuracy and Privacy in Data Stream Mining Environments. Doctoral thesis, AUT

Asanthika is an experienced lecturer with a strong passion for empowering novice programmers and IT students. She holds a BSc, Master's, and PhD and has been in academia for nearly a decade, teaching at tertiary institutions in Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Sri Lankan institutes affiliated with Australia and the United Kingdom.

She is a professional member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and a member of the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF).

Asanthika’s research primarily focuses on computer science education, with a keen interest in understanding the challenges faced by novice designers, how they learn, and how research-informed teaching strategies can enhance student success. Her broader research interests include UX engineering and large language models (LLMs), exploring how these technologies can improve learning experiences, software design, and human-computer interaction.

As an academic, she is dedicated to bridging the gap between research and practice to create meaningful and impactful learning experiences for the next generation of IT professionals.

Qualifications:

PhD, Computer and Information Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
Master's, Information Systems Management, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
BSc (Hons), Information Technology (SE), Sheffield Hallam University, UK

Teaching Areas:

Databases, Software analysis and Design, Programming (CS1)
Research Interests:
Computer Science Education, UX Engineering

Recent Publications:

Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=XvvHYScAAAAJ&hl=en

Dowdeswell, B., Khan, T., Imbulpitiya, A., Hewage, W., Ganeshan, K., & Mehdipour, F. (2024). Object-Early versus Object-Late: Perspectives on concept acquisition in Undergraduate Software Engineering courses. Rere Āwhio - the Journal of Applied Research and Practice, 4, 72–80. https://doi.org/10.34074/rere.00408

Whalley, J., Imbulpitiya, A., Clear, T., & Ogier, H. (2024). From student to working professional: A graduate survey. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2410.07560

Imbulpitiya, A., Whalley, J., & Senapathi, M. (2024). A Qualitative Study of Novice Experiences with Database Normalisation. https://doi.org/10.1145/3636243.3636254

Imbulpitiya, A., Whalley, J., & Senapathi, M. (2023). Reflections on Conducting Online Think-Alouds. ACM Inroads, 14(2), 26–34. https://doi.org/10.1145/3596917

Imbulpitiya, A.M. Understanding the Development of Knowledge in Novice Database Modellers. Diss. Auckland University of Technology, 2023. http://hdl.handle.net/10292/17326

Samarakoon, U., Manathunga, K., & Imbulpitiya, A. (2022). Theory or Practice: Student Perspective on Project Based Learning Versus Module Based Learning to Improve Technical Skills Among IT Undergraduates. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 968–979. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93907-6_103

Samarakoon, U., Manathunga, K., & Imbulpitiya, A. (2022). Enhancing the Quality and Student Attitude on Capstone Projects Through Activity-Based Learning and Reduced Social Loafing. Communications in Computer and Information Science, 336–358. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14756-2_17

Imbulpitiya, A., Whalley, J., & Senapathi, M. (2021). Examining the Exams: Bloom and Database Modelling and Design. Australasian Computing Education Conference. https://doi.org/10.1145/3441636.3442301

Sonia holds a Ph.D. in Telecommunications from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. Additionally, she earned a Master of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Computer Science from Lahore College for Women University, Pakistan.

Sonia has over 20 years of experience in information technology, networking, and computer science. Her roles have included teaching, research, curriculum development, and leadership at institutions such as King Faisal University, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Unitec, and Cornell Institute of Business and Technology.

Additionally, she has contributed to network research, IoT advancements, and AI-driven solutions, with a strong focus on bridging academia and industry needs.

Sonia’s research focuses on:
- Wireless Communications & IoT – Optimising network performance and security in wireless sensor networks.
- Artificial Intelligence in Networking – Using AI for autonomous systems and network optimisation.
- Ethics & Socio-Cultural Impacts of Computing – Addressing ethical challenges in emerging technologies.

Her aim is to equip learners with practical skills, critical thinking, and research-driven insights to excel in networking, computing, and IT domains. Her goal is to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment, bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world applications to prepare students for both academic and industry success.

Beyond academia, Sonia is passionate about mentoring students, organising events and conferences, and staying updated with emerging technologies. She also enjoys exploring the intersection of technology and ethics in shaping future innovations.

She takes pride in mentoring students, leading research initiatives, and contributing to global academic communities. With a strong commitment to innovation, collaboration, and lifelong learning, she strives to make a meaningful impact in education, research, and the evolving field of IT.

Udara holds an M.Sc. in Enterprise Application Development (EAD) which he passed with Distinction. He also won the best performer award at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) in the United Kingdom.

Udara has completed a B.Sc. in Information Technology with honours at the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) as well as a B.Sc. in Information Technology at Curtin University.

Udara is an Oracle Certified Professional Java Programmer (OCPJP). He also holds a certification in teaching in higher education, as well as some AWS certifications.

With more than five years of industry experience as a Software Engineer and Technical Consultant, Udara has contributed to enterprise-scale project development for clients in the UK, USA, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.

Additionally, he has more than nine years of academic experience, delivering lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at the Faculty of Computing, SLIIT.

In his academic career, he has supervised and examined undergraduate and postgraduate research projects, reviewed and published conference papers, and contributed to curriculum development for accredited degree programmes.

Furthermore, Udara has experience as a Research Engineer at Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) in Russia.

Udara’s research areas are Distributed Computing, Semantic Web, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Generative AI, Augmented/Virtual Reality, HCI, and IoT.

His goal is to continuously learn from each experience and bridge gaps in industry and academia by introducing multidisciplinary research.

Outside of work, his interests are travelling, reading, and playing the violin.

Bruno Balducci is a Learning and Teaching Specialist with wide-ranging experience in teacher training and development, curriculum development, teaching and lecturing, as well as departmental management and coordination. Before coming to New Zealand, he worked in the UK and Vietnam, and also has experience of delivering short courses overseas.

Qualifications:
Research MA, English/French translation (University of Leeds, UK)
Cambridge ESOL Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (Delta)
Postgraduate Certificate, Further Education (University of Huddersfield, UK)
BA Honours, Philosophy/Politics (University of York, UK)

Professional interest areas:
Experiential learning, reflective learning, authentic learning design, assessment design & AI

Publications:
Balducci, B., & Sultana, K. (2024). Analysing modes of reflection in experiential learning: a sociocultural perspective on student peer editing. SN Social Science, 4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-00937-2

Balducci, B. (2024). AI and student assessment in human-centered education. Frontiers in Education, 9.
https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1383148

Balducci, B. & Mao, D.(2022). Exploring Student Perceptions Of Their Learning Through Flexible Internships. International Journal of Higher Education Pedagogies, 3:3.
https://doi.org/10.33422/ijhep.v3i3.207

Balducci, B. (2022). Experiential learning: Investigating lecturers' perceptions of authentic learner activities.Scope: Contemporary Research Topics (Learning & Teaching), 11.
https://doi.org/10.34074/scop.4011008

Balducci, B. & Mao, D.(2022). Sustainability internships: a path to becoming agents of change? Rere Āwhio - The Journal of Applied Research and Practice, 2.
https://doi.org/10.34074/rere.00201

Conference Papers:
Balducci, B. (2023) Meeting the challenge of AI and assessment security. OPSITARA Research Symposium, 30 Nov-1 Dec, Invercargill, New Zealand.

Mao, D., & Balducci, B. (2023) Sustainability Internships - A Way to Promote International Students' Sense of Belonging and Connectedness. WACE World Conference, 27-30 June, Waterloo, Canada.

Balducci, B., & Sultana, K. (2022) Reflective learning: How do English language students rationalise their editing decisions on written work? OPSITARA Conference, 14-15 July, online.

Balducci, B., & Mao, D. (2022) Exploring the flexible delivery of student internships with sustainability projects. The Internship Summit, 20 May, online.

Balducci, B., & Mao, D. (2022) Exploring student perceptions of their learning through flexible internships. 4th World Conference on Teaching and Education, 25 June, online.

Balducci, B., & Mao, D. (2022) Developing a user-friendly and comprehensive system for tracking learner development in sustainability and other capabilities. Smart Aotearoa - Sustainable Development Awards, Auckland, New Zealand, 30 November. Won first prize in the Research & Idea Category.

Other Research Projects:
Balducci, B., Dowdeswell, B., Fountain, M., & Terry, A. (2024) AI-Safe Assessment Design.
https://aisafedesign.com/

Albbe Luo majored in Accounting and Finance at the University of Auckland. She has worked at a professional accounting firm, as well as in construction, insurance, aviation, and now education.

She encourages all learners to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals. She says they should explore their interests and believe in their potential.

Ultimately, Albbe loves seeing students not only reach their goals but also gain confidence and skills for a lifetime of learning and growth.

Outside of work, Albbe enjoys baking, cooking, hiking, and Pilates. She is married with two girls and has a 15-year-old dog.