DrLeanne Kelly

Leanne is a research-only academic, so her formal teaching profile is more targeted than that of a teaching-focused scholar. Her teaching contribution centres on research-led postgraduate education, methodological training, evaluation capability building, and culturally responsive academic mentoring.

At Deakin, Leanne has contributed to teaching and assessment across the Master of Humanitarianism and Development, including ADS701, ADS711, ADS722, ADS723, and ADS734. In 2024, she co-developed and taught ADS734 Geopolitics and the Political Economy of Development with A/Prof Anthony Ware, designing the unit structure, learning activities, case-based teaching materials, and assessment tasks. Her teaching draws on applied case studies from humanitarian-development practice, conflict, disasters, political economy, civil society, and evaluation to help students connect theory with real-world policy and practice.

Leanne has also provided guest teaching, marking, and short-term teaching support across Masters units in Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Indonesia, and the Philippines, including online and face-to-face delivery to up to 80 students per unit. Student feedback has recognised her responsiveness, encouragement of peer discussion, and detailed, actionable feedback that strengthened students’ writing, research skills, and confidence.

For seven years, from 2015 to 2021, Leanne tutored Indigenous tertiary students through Deakin’s NIKERI Institute for Koorie Education, supporting 4–7 students per trimester with culturally sensitive academic mentoring, flexible tailored teaching, and advocacy within the university system. 100% of these students graduated and feedback from students and Aboriginal Elders strongly endorse the value of her sustained support.

Beyond formal university teaching, Leanne has extensive experience translating research into professional learning. She has developed evaluation literacy and capability training, facilitated community development skills workshops, and established an internal evaluator community of practice with more than 80 members at Australian Red Cross.