2025 Fellows
The George Alexander Foundation Fellows
Jordan Fleming
Reviving Lost Trades: Vitreous Enamel in Contemporary Australian Design
Jordan's Fellowship will explore the history and modern uses of vitreous enamel, aiming to reintegrate it into Australian design and manufacturing. Through collaboration with international artisans and industry leaders, the project will deepen knowledge of enamel techniques and production methods. Research in northern Europe will focus on enamel applications and contemporary techniques on alternative substrates, while engagement with global artist collectives will offer insights into modern interpretations. The Fellowship will refine technical skills, build industry connections, and foster local collaborations to preserve and evolve vitreous enamel in Australian Design.
Molly Younger
Natural Latex: Processing and Crafting
Molly’s Fellowship explores sustainable processing and manufacturing of natural latex, to be utilised within design and fashion practices to drive alternate ways of producing. The research intends to promote a sustainable approach to natural latex within a design and fashion practice, to prompt reflection and action. It aims to broaden the existing material range available within these industries in Australia, providing more alternatives to synthetic materials. Considering the inherent material characteristics of natural latex, the fellowship will encourage opportunities for new design methodologies. The Fellowship proposes visits to communities, producers, material laboratories, designers and leading researchers, specifically within the Amazon rainforest.
Lauren Crockett
Anti-Demolition: Learning from the Past, Adapting for the Future
Lauren’s Fellowship will explore methods for the maintenance and adaptation of existing buildings, in lieu of demolition. It will focus on the construction industry in Brussels, where forward-thinking approaches to preservation and circularity have become mainstream, thanks to a combination of policy shifts and the advocacy of individuals. Her research will investigate how construction teams navigate the complexities of retaining and adapting existing structures, balancing technical, economic, and regulatory challenges. By studying these methods first hand, she aims to develop an atlas of practical strategies that minimise resource consumption while preserving or enhancing architectural and cultural value.
.jpg)
Marlo Lyda
Circular Stone Revival: Harnessing Heritage Techniques for Sustainable Australian Design
Marlo Lyda’s Fellowship explores stone in its second life—a study of reuse, reinvention, and material storytelling across Italy, Spain, and the UK. Through hands-on workshops, she will investigate mosaic, terrazzo, and spolio, repurposing stone with age-old techniques. This isn’t about nostalgia but about redefining stone’s role in contemporary Australian design, testing its potential in furniture, interiors, and architecture. By merging traditional craftsmanship with modern material challenges, Lyda aims to shift perceptions of stone—bridging the gap between its extractive past and a more resourceful future.
Mason Family Trust Fellows
_edited.jpg)
Rebecca Boehme
Stained Glass Painting and Restoration Research Project
In her Fellowship, Rebecca aims to research and report on European stained glass restoration and conservation techniques. Her main objectives are to study environmental protective glazing methods, to explore treatments for paint loss in Victorian-Era stained glass windows, and to learn traditional multi-layer traditional glass painting techniques. Rebecca will investigate these topics through hands-on work experience with world renowned glass studios both in Australia and York, England. At the conclusion of her fellowship, Rebecca will publish her findings and provide education on these skills through a series of presentations and workshops. The acquired knowledge and skills from this fellowship will further cement Rebecca's position as an acknowledged advocate for best practice stained glass restoration methods in Australia.
Cody Winward
​Bringing Passementerie Back to the Goldfields
Cody Winward’s Fellowship focuses on preserving the endangered craft of Passementerie-the art of creating trim by hand including braids, fringes, buttons, rosettes and tassels. As Costume Manager at Sovereign Hill Museum Association, an immersive 1850’s experience, she has witnessed the diminishing supply of authentic trims as well as the importance of keeping rare trades alive. Through hands-on experience with the last few passementerie masters worldwide, she will bring back practical knowledge to enrich Australia’s costume and fashion landscape to aid in keeping this art form alive.
VSA International VET Practitioner Fellows
%20(1).png)
%20(1).png)
Tracy Pearce
Vocational Centres of Excellence: Applying global best practice to the Australian context of Health and Community Services.
​
Kangan Institute, supported by the Victorian Government, has launched a $60 million Health and Community Centre of Excellence (HACCOE) in Broadmeadows, setting a new standard in vocational education and training. As Bendigo Kangan Institute’s fourth Centre of Excellence, HACCOE aims to address Australia's health and community skills shortage through innovation and industry collaboration. This fellowship will explore international Centre of Excellence (CoE) models to: 1) define best practice, 2) analyse successful partnerships between CoEs, government, and industry, and 3) examine how integrated vocational and higher education models enhance CoE impact in health and community services.
Paul Hrasko
Creating an International Best Practice Culture for Gender Equity in vocational education
As part of his ISS Institute Fellowship, Paul Hrasko will investigate Iceland’s internationally recognised approach to achieving gender equity in Vocational Education and Training (VET). Iceland consistently ranks first in global gender equality, providing valuable insights for dismantling barriers across vocational fields. His research will centre on inclusive teaching strategies that foster gender-diverse participation. By translating Icelandic practices to the Victorian context, this Fellowship aims to develop professional development resources and strategic frameworks that promote lasting, system-wide improvements. Findings will inform ongoing research, writing, and collaborative efforts that strengthen gender equity in VET.
Candace Van Der Krogt
Developing and Improving Sustainable Upholstery Training in Victoria
Candace’s Fellowship will focus on teaching sustainable methods in the upholstery industry, to train the next generation of Upholsterers with environmentally conscious materials and to revive the expert craftsmanship and skills involved in traditional upholstery. During her fellowship, Candace will attend training in England to learn these traditional methods from master craftsmen and to explore the sustainable materials for upholstery that are currently being used in Europe. Candace will then bring this research back to Australia and through the upholstery teaching program at Holmesglen and working closely with industry leaders in Victoria, these methods and materials will be explored, used and implemented, creating a more sustainable and beautiful future for the furniture industry.
Freyja Dixon
Strengthening flexible learning pathways in a community hub
​
Freyja's Fellowship will investigate how global adult education policy frameworks, networks and emerging ideas can improve the educational approaches of a locally-driven family learning hub in Melbourne. Freyja will travel to the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) annual conference in Germany in June, where the theme is ‘flexible learning pathways’. Later in the year, Freyja will travel to East Africa for site visits and targeted networking with adult education organisations, leveraging contacts from within the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning. This research aims to further the success of the Debney Meadows Community Hub (hereafter The Hub), a Learn Local Partnership Award-winning initiative that supports Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) families living in public housing. The Hub has helped increase participation in adult education amongst a traditionally under-served section of the population, namely mothers of East African origin who face multiple barriers to accessing education and training.
Faraz Khan
Teaching the future: Integrating cybersecurity into education
This Fellowship explores how leading nations train teachers to integrate cybersecurity into curricula. By examining teacher training programs in countries with established cybersecurity education, it will identify best practices in cyber readiness training for educators. The insights gained will help strengthen cybersecurity education in Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector. The goal is to equip teachers with the skills to teach digital safety and reinforce cybersecurity principles, creating a more cyber-aware workforce. This research will contribute to improving cybersecurity education and training for Australian teachers and students alike.
Engela Van Der Klashorst
Developing inclusion strategies to support the success of students from a disadvantaged background
The Fellowship is aimed at expanding the current support provided to from disadvantaged backgrounds to access and engage in VET opportunities. Even though Australia provides increased access to training through government programs like the Skills First, Free TAFE program, the fellowship intends to explore inclusive strategies used in Finland and Sweden that prioritise equity over equality, in order to develop an individualised person-centred approach of support in which the learning and social support of students are integrated. Through co-design and collaboration with RTO staff and students, the fellow will work to identify strategies to develop individualised training plans that cater to diverse needs, beyond disability access plans currently available in Victoria.