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Leadership, Academics, Clinical and Research Team
The transformative learning experiences at ISN Psychology are designed to help our students grow both in and out of the classroom. We follow a high academic standard as a guide for the creativity and leadership of our staff.
Our Academics are well placed within the field of Psychology and include experienced clinicians, educators and recognised scientists and experienced educators. The combined resources of the Institute of Social Neuroscience, though ISN Psychology, ISN Clinic and ISN Innovations provides considerable opportunity to work with experienced academics, researchers and psychologists
Professor Tony Paolini
President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Professor Tony Paolini MPsych (Clin Neuro) PhD MAPS is President and CEO of ISN Psychology and on the Board of Directors. A founding Director of the Institute for Social Neuroscience, Professor Paolini is a psychologist and internationally recognised neuroscientist. He has qualifications in psychology (MPsych – Clin Neuro) and in Neuroscience (PhD). Under the mentorship of Professor Graeme Clark, he lead the Auditory Clinical Neuroscience Unit at the Bionic Ear Institute. Professor Paolini has published numerous peer reviewed publications, lead large research teams and has received significant research funding including from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) and the Australian Research Council (ARC). He has published significant internationally peer-reviewed papers in many fields of neuroscience and psychology including medical bionics, sensory and cognitive neuroscience, and behavioural and social neuroscience. At ISN he applies his knowledge of neuroscience and psychology to provide a further understanding of how the environment we live in helps shape our behaviour and mental health. With a research and clinical interest in the role anxiety plays in sensory perception, Professor Paolini is utilising his knowledge to help treat clients who have a heightened sensitivity to sounds and tinnitus distress. He was Professor and Head of Psychology at RMIT University, Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, and holds adjunct positions at La Trobe University and The University of Melbourne.
Professor Sabine Hammond
Emeritus Professor of Psychology
Professor Sabine Hammond, FAPS MAICD, has extensive experience as a researcher, educator and practitioner in Australia, Europe and the United States, and has held leadership roles in both academic and professional settings. She is a past Honorary Professor of Australian Catholic University (ACU) and a former Head of the ACU National School of Psychology. As Executive Manager for Science, Education and Membership at the Australian Psychological Society she was responsible for a wide-ranging portfolio with strategic focus on supporting the discipline of psychology. Professor Hammond’s expertise includes governance, ethics, professional practice and regulation. Professor Hammond has been actively involved in initiatives aimed at reconciliation with Australia’s First Peoples, especially in the areas of cultural safety, suicide prevention, and training a culturally responsive workforce.
Associate Professor Mark Allen
Associate Professor In Psychology
Acting Associate Dean
Mark Allen, with his PhD in Psychology from Staffordshire University, is a distinguished figure in the field of health and social science. His career has been marked by important roles at institutions like London South Bank University, the University of Wollongong, and Leeds Trinity University. Allen's expertise encompasses a range of topics including chronic health issues such as sexual dysfunction and obesity, and extends to diverse areas of psychology such as child development, anxiety, and the psychological facets of sports and exercise. His research is notable for its breadth and impact, particularly in the development of medical programs, including those for erectile dysfunction treatment in the U.S. and Europe.
As a prolific academic, Allen's contributions to literature are substantial. He has authored over 100 journal articles and a textbook on the psychology of sport and physical activity, showcasing his depth of knowledge and research skills. His role as an associate editor for the European Journal of Psychological Assessment and his involvement in reviewing manuscripts for various journals underline his commitment to the academic community.
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Felicity Garland
ISN Psychology
Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Program Coordinator
Felicity is a clinical psychologist and board approved supervisor with over 14 years’ experience in psychology and mental health. She has worked with provisional and early career psychologists to support and develop their capacity to perform the duties of a psychologist with autonomy, integrity, and expertise. Felicity has worked in private practice, education and forensic settings, crisis support, and with first responders. She is passionate about providing best practice client-centred support. In therapy, Felicity routinely utilises therapeutic paradigms including cognitive behaviour therapy, schema therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, acceptance and commitment therapy, and attachment-based strategies for a range of presenting problems. Felicity has also lectured postgraduate and undergraduate students at Deakin University and Edith Cowan University.
Associate Professor Pascal Molenberghs
Associate Professor
Associate Professor Pascal Molenberghs completed his Master in Psychology and PhD in Medical Sciences at the University of Leuven, Belgium. He has since worked at the University of Queensland, Monash University and the University of Melbourne and thus brings a wealth of knowledge to the Institute for Social Neuroscience.
His research focus is Social Neuroscience, aiming to understand our social brain and how it breaks down in neurological patients. Interests include empathy, morality, intergroup relations and leadership. His research has already attracted more than $3 million in grant funding and has been published in the leading neuroscience journals. His work has also featured widely in the media, including stories in Time Magazine, The Age and New Scientist.
Dr Emma Nicholls
Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, ISN Psychology
Principal Clinician, ISN Clinic
Dr Emma Nicholls is a Clinical Psychologist and board-approved supervisor with over 12 years experience. Emma–s therapeutic style is collaborative and warm, and she tailors treatment to focus on the client–s personal goals. She works from a place of empathy, support and patience, with treatment that is often long-term in nature depending on the needs of the individual. She has extensive experience in working with trauma, PTSD and Personality Disorders, depression and anxiety disorders. Therapy with Emma can include practical skills, psycho-education, and in-depth therapeutic processes to understand psychological and emotional processes. Her aim is to support clients using the most up to date evidence-based treatments to assist in gaining awareness and a sense of self-efficacy in managing MH issues and improving life satisfaction. Emma has undertaken specialised training in: CBT, DBT, ACT, CPT, Schema therapy, trauma-focussed. She also supervises psychologists and students
Dr Guy Prochilo
Lecturer in Psychology and Honours Coordinator
Dr Guy Prochilo is a Lecturer in research methods and supervises honours students at ISN. He holds a dual Bachelor of Science (Hons. Psychology) and Business Management (Economics) from the University of Queensland, and completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. In his doctoral thesis he developed an organizational neuroscience model of occupational stress that integrated the job-demands resources model with the allostatic load model of stress, and tested propositions of this model in a pilot and feasibility clinical trial. He has a keen interest in quantitative research methods and trial methodology, is proficient in R statistical software, and is an advocate for open science practices and research reproducibility. In this capacity, he is also the Australian and New Zealand Open Research Network (ANZORN) representative at ISN Psychology. He has additionally published work evaluating the use (and misuse) of statistics in organizational neuroscience.
Catherine Panayi
Clinical Programs Coordinator, ISN Psychology
Clinical Psychologist
Catherine Panayi will oversees clinical placements in Bundoora. Catherine has, over the course of 15 years, developed experience in supervising provisional psychologists and early career psychologists. She has worked in a range of public and private settings including public mental health in Geelong, Western GP Division, Back2Work and privately liaising and building working relationships with medical and non-medical professionals.
David Williams
ISN Human Performance Clinic
Sport & Exercise Psychologist
David is a qualified and registered psychologist based in Melbourne, Australia. David specializes in sport and exercise psychology. David’s experiences in the field have consisted of working both locally and internationally with a range of different sports and athletes. At present David is the lead Psychologist for the Geelong Football Club and AFL Players Association, he has also consulted for the Malaysian Olympic cycling program, and as a result of having worked internationally been fortunate enough to build relationships with Football powerhouse FC Barcelona and the Manchester City group via consulting for Melbourne city FC. Being influenced heavily by the latest neuroscience information David’s experiences include; assisting organisations to create enriched high performance environments; training athletes in all areas of high performance including, resilience, skill acquisition, attentional control, mindfulness, cognitive and behavioural change, performance under pressure, leadership, and high performance self-management.
Hita Mistry
Associate Professor Matt McGregor
Sports and Exercise Course Coordinator
Sports and Exercise Psychologist
Matt is an experienced Psychologist with a 20 year history of working in the sports industry with individuals, teams and organisations, in both elite and sub elite domains and across a variety of sports including AFL, cricket, kayaking, rowing, swimming, hockey, tennis and equestrian. Endorsed in Sport and Exercise Psychology, and trained in Mental Health and Wellbeing, as well as Career Counselling, Matt has a broad clientele. With a PhD, Masters degree in Applied Psychology, and Certificate of Practice in Clinical Neuropsychotherapy, Matt has also lectured at undergraduate and post graduate level at UniSA, Deakin and Victoria Universities, and supervised students across field placements.
Placement Coordinator, ISN Psychology.
Clinical and Forensic Psychologist
Hita is a Senior Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with 20 years experience working across forensic, public and private mental health sectors. Hita has held senior practitioner and management roles within these capacities and brings a wealth of clinical and supervisory experience to her current role. She has provided training workshops, professional development and consultancy to several organisations within forensic and public mental health service area and spoken at National and International conferences.
Hita is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and is a Chartered Forensic Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Hita has been a Board Approved Supervisor with the National Psychology Registration Board of Australia (AHPRA) for over 15 years supervising Psychologists towards Clinical and Forensic Endorsements and Higher Degree students.
Hita has a strong clinical background, in particular, working with clients who present with trauma, personality disorder and attachment difficulties. She is trained in several theoretical frameworks including EMDR and is a member of the EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA). Hita is passionate and committed to supporting and developing the next generation of Clinical Psychologists through supervision, education and mentorship.
Christine Leonards
Lecturer of Psychology
Master of Professional Psychology Coordinator
Christine is a lecturer, researcher and psychologist with experience across a range of clinical and mental health domains in private and hospital settings. She has completed a Master of Professional Psychology (MProfPsych) and Master of Research (MRes) at Macquarie University. Christine also has a keen interest in research and is currently in the final stages of her PhD in clinical and cognitive neuroscience at the University of Melbourne. Her research investigates the neural correlates underlying cognitive and affective impairments in mood disorders and has been published in several peer-reviewed journals. As a clinician-researcher, she has also been involved in clinical trials with adolescents and adults. Clinically, Christine has worked with diverse populations, using evidence-based approaches to assist clients experiencing affective disorders, eating disorders, substance use, and domestic violence. Academically, Christine has contributed significantly to higher education in psychology, tutoring on several undergraduate courses. Christine is passionate about extending our knowledge of human behaviour by drawing on the interplay between psychology, neuroscience, and psychopathology. Through this multifaceted approach, Christine strives to deepen our understanding of mental health and wellbeing, and illuminate innovative and better informed effective treatment approaches.
Dr Jian Chen
Lecturer in Psychology
Dr. Jian Chen is a researcher, lecturer and supervises honours students at ISN. He completed his Ph.D. at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences in 2019. In his doctoral thesis, Jian examined the role of attention in enumeration proficiency. His findings emphasize the importance of attentional factors in understanding the causes of low numeracy. He also holds a research master’s degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Jian was a research supervisor at Monash University and an experienced tutor at the University of Melbourne. He is a firm supporter of open science practice. Jian uses behavioural, eye tracking, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging methods in his research. He is actively involved in the international research community.
Associate Professor Kylie Mosely
Associate Professor in Psychology
Sydney Workshop Coordinator
Associate Professor Kylie Mosely is an esteemed psychologist with a strong academic background and a profound commitment to improving health outcomes in the areas of diabetes, eating disorders, and mental health. Educated at the University of New South Wales, Australia, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Doctor of Philosophy, and a Master of Psychology (Health) from Monash University. Her pioneering research has significantly contributed to understanding the intricate relationship between eating behaviors and chronic conditions like diabetes. Professionally, Kylie has held impactful roles including Psychologist at BodyMatters Australasia, Clinical Fellow at UTS, and various academic positions at the Australian Catholic University. Her clinical expertise spans the National Diabetes Services Scheme and specialized roles in health psychology and eating disorder treatment. Kylie's extensive research portfolio offers critical insights into diabetes management, exploring innovative behavioral models and mindfulness-based interventions for obesity. Notably, her development of assessment scales for diabetes-related stigma has been a key contribution to the field, enriching healthcare practices and enhancing patient care. Dr. Mosely's dedication to her field is evident in her comprehensive approach and her influential work, making her a valuable asset in the realms of psychology and health sciences.
Tony Glynn
ISN Human Performance Clinic
Clinical and Human Performance Psychologist
Tony is an AHPRA registered psychologist with over 20 years experience as a Performance Psychologist and Clinical Psychologist. Tony is adept working at the elite, professional and development levels in performance and clinical roles. He has developed these skills working with athletes from a range of sports such as cricket, rugby, AFL, netball, rowing, swimming, and soccer. He is currently a Performance Psychologist for Equestrian Australia and Tennis Australia.
His experience as a Clinical Psychologist extends to children, adolescents and adults in Australia and the UK. His current clinical work involves largely adolescent and adult populations (athletes and non-athletes) through Fit Mind Consulting and The Royal Children’s Hospital. In addition to seeing children, young people and families in his work he has led NHMRC funded research into how best to service these populations.
Dr Michelle Noonan
Clinical Psychologist, ISN Clinic
Senior Lecturer, ISN Psychology
Michelle is an experienced Clinical Psychologist, a Psychology Board of Australia Approved Supervisor, a credentialled Eating Disorder Clinician, and a yoga teacher. Michelle has over 10 years’ experience in clinical practice and has worked across a range of settings including hospital, private practice, education, and in forensic mental health.
Michelle is skilled in providing psychological therapy for adolescents and adults, and has extensive experience in working with complex trauma, PTSD, personality disorder, adjustment to major life changes, anxiety, and mood disorders. Her current clinical work mainly involves working with adults in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating and body image issues. Michelle practices from an inclusive ‘Health at Every Size’ (HAES) framework. Michelle’s approach is warm, compassionate, and collaborative. She utilises a range of evidence-based, client-centred, and embodied approaches that are tailored to the individual needs and goals.
Laura Kennan
Clinical Psychologist, ISN Clinic
Clinical Psychologist who has many year experience working with adults with a wide range of problems including depression, anxiety, postnatal depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, loss and grief and workplace issues. Laura particularly enjoys working with clients going through life transitions such as from school to university, adjusting to parenthood and retirement, relationship breakdowns and changes in life circumstances.
Laura seeks to gain a deep understanding of the causal factors impacting the client’s current situation and works collaboratively with them to determine their goals of therapy and the the best approach for treatment. She uses a range of frameworks including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Schema Therapy, ACT, and Mindful Self-Compassion. Laura has worked in a range of settings including the community health, not for profit and tertiary sectors. She is also an accredited Mental Health First Aid instructor and Board Approved Supervisor.
Rozalia Hecht
Ed and Dev. Psychologist, ISN Clinic
Rozalia is an experienced Education and Developmental psychologist and board-approved supervisor. Rozalia has been a registered Psychologist since 2005 and has worked in a range of settings, including primary and secondary schools, and in private practice settings.
Rozalia specialises in assessment and therapeutic intervention with children and adolescents who are experiencing a range of concerns, including social and behavioural difficulties, and school related issues including learning impairments and school refusal.
Rozalia also works with adult clients, including for parenting support. She is experienced in the intersection of neurodevelopmental disorders and trauma. Rozalia provides a flexible person-centred therapeutic approach, aligned with the client’s developmental needs, age, and interests, including CT, emotion-focused therapy, narrative therapy, ACT, DBT and mindfulness.
Prof. Zambetta
CTO, Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Innovations, ISN Innovations
Prof. Fabio Zambetta is a renowned computer scientist with deep expertise in AI & Mixed Reality Simulation. Educated at the University of Bari, Italy, he holds a Master's in Computer Science and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. Presently, he is honored with a professorship in AI & Mixed Reality Simulation at RMIT University, underscoring his academic distinction and leadership in the realm. Beyond academia, Prof. Zambetta brings his vast experience to the forefront as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Innovations at ISN Innovations. With extensive industry involvement, he's had pivotal roles in various industry-centric projects. His pioneering research encompasses Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, and Human-Computer Interaction. Recognizing his contributions, he was named a Cloud Research Software Fellow by Microsoft Asia in 2019. Prof. Zambetta's wealth of knowledge and innovation are pivotal as ISN Innovations pushes the boundaries of technology in mental health.
Dr Lucy Parrington
Senior Scientist (Biomechanist) Centre for Human Performance Innovations, ISN Innovations
Dr. Lucy Parrington, an accomplished Biomechanist with an extensive background in sport science and medicine, has recently joined the ISN Innovations team at the Centre for Human Performance Innovation. Holding a Ph.D. in Biomechanics from Victoria University and a B.S. in Health Sciences from the University of South Australia, Dr. Parrington's academic credentials are impeccable. Her professional journey includes a significant tenure working with the Balance Disorders Lab at Oregon Health & Science University, where she spearheaded innovative biomechanics research in the area of concussion. Beyond her research, she also has a long history of providing biomechanics servicing to amateur and professional sporting organisations in both Australia and the US. Dr. Parrington has expertise in motion capture systems, inertial sensors, and advanced data processing. Her unique blend of technical skills, combined with her ability to communicate complex biomechanics principles, positions her as a leader in her field. Dr. Parrington's rich background, innovative approach, and leadership qualities make her an invaluable asset to our team, enhancing our commitment to advancing human performance innovation.
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Dr Damith Senanayake
AI Scientist (Software and Machine Learning Engineer), Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Innovations, ISN Innovations
Dr Damith Senanayake, is a proficient Software and Machine Learning Engineer and AI Researcher, is distinguished by his expertise in Data Science, Machine Learning and AI. Skilled in Python, R, and TensorFlow, his research has been recognised in leading conferences like ICML and respected journals such as Bioinformatics. At the University of Melbourne, Dr Senanayake has spearheaded AI projects and made significant advancements in the application of AI to biomechanics, seamlessly integrating technology with human motion studies. After earning a Ph.D. focused on high-dimensional data analysis in Computational Biology, Dr Senanayake continued his academic pursuits with a postdoctoral position, publishing in high-impact journals and further solidifying his reputation in the field. During his tenure at WSO2 INC, he contributed to the development of open-source middleware platforms serving a diverse range of industries. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, he is well-positioned to enhance forward-thinking teams and initiatives.
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Dr Nathan Semertzidis
AI and Neurotechnology Scientist (Software Engineer), Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Innovation and Centre for Clinical Neuroscience Innovation, ISN Innovations
Highly skilled in the design and application of Brain-Computer Interfaces, with an in-depth understanding of AI techniques, including deep learning and machine learning algorithms. Demonstrated proficiency in User Experience, focusing on the integration of neurotechnology into human-computer interactions. Comprehensive knowledge in signal processing, particularly in the context of neuroimaging and quantitative EEG analysis. Familiar with a range of programming languages such as Python, JAVA, C++, and expertise in using software development and visualization tools such as Godot, Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, and MATLAB. Additionally, he exhibits a strong foundation in human cognition, neuroprosthetics, and closed-loop bionic systems.
Additional Expertise
ISN also works with a large cohort of psychologists and clinical psychologists who engage with ISN as expert lecturers and supervisors.