DrBronwyn Sutton

(She/Her)

Manager, Research Education and Development

Researcher Development Academy/Research Education and Development

  • Manager, Research Education and Development
    Researcher Development Academy/Research Education and Development
  • Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125

BIO

Dr Bronwyn Sutton is a regenerative educator, researcher and leadership specialist committed to supporting people, communities and organisations to thrive in times of change. Her work is grounded in relationality and guided by an ethic of care, curiosity and deep listening, with a focus on responding ethically to complex ecological and social challenges. She brings a strong commitment to participatory, community-based practice that honours lived experience and fosters shared learning.

 

Bronwyn’s academic practice is shaped by a 20-year career beyond higher education, where she led high-profile, award-winning communications campaigns and public education initiatives designed to engage diverse communities in creating more sustainable futures. She has worked across state and local government, higher education and private enterprise in roles spanning program design, social research, project leadership, teaching, facilitation and creative practice.

 

Her research explores the affective and embodied dimensions of place-conscious community learning and leadership. She works with qualitative, practice-led, arts-based and relational methodologies, and is particularly interested in how learning with kin, colleagues and community can support processes of transformation and regeneration towards more just and flourishing futures for all beings.

Bronwyn holds postgraduate qualifications in adult and work-based learning and a PhD in education (leadership and environmental education). Drawing on self-study research and collaborations with colleagues and kin, she developed a place-based, kin-centric theory and praxis of leadership, and was nominated by Deakin University for the 2025 AARE Ray Debus Award for excellence in doctoral research.

DEAKIN UNIVERSITY CURRENT APPOINTMENT

  • Manager, Research Education and Development
    Deakin University, Research Education and Development

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Sessional Tutor / Lecturer
    University of Melbourne, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, Parkville, Australia2017 - 2021
  • Casual Seminar Lecturer / Research Assistant
    Deakin University, School of Education, Australia2020 - 2023
  • Research Fellow
    Deakin University, Centre for Regenerating Futures, Australia2025 - 2025

NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Project Manager - Tech Schools Evaluation
    Deakin University, Geelong, Australia2019 - 2021
  • Creative Director
    Mesch Engagement, Australia2012 - 2021
  • Team Leader Strategy & Production, Sustainability Victoria
    Victorian Government, Australia2021 - 2022

DEGREES

  • PhD
    Deakin University, Geelong, Australia2025
  • Master of Education (Adult & Work-based Learning)
    Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing)
    Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
  • Associate Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing & Editing)
    Box Hill Institute, Box Hill, Australia

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

  • The New Manager
    Australian Institute of Management, Australia

FIELDS OF RESEARCH

  • Leadership
  • Educational administration, management and leadership
  • Environmental education curriculum and pedagogy
  • Climate change impacts and adaptation
  • Cultural responsiveness and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities education

AREA/FACULTY

  • Research and Innovation

DEPARTMENT/SCHOOL/INSTITUTE/DISCIPLINE

  • Researcher Development Academy

AREAS OF EXPERTISE