Our People

Bringing together scholars who are passionate about conducting innovative, interdisciplinary research

Director
Deputy Director
Advisory Board
Manager

Centre Director

Professor Rodrigo Praino

Dr Rodrigo Praino is Professor of Politics and Public Policy and an expert in decision-making and political behaviour.

He holds a PhD in Political Science and has received several prestigious fellowships, scholarships and awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship. In 2018 he became the first political scientist to win a Tall Poppy Science Award for excellence is scientific research and communication.

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Professor Praino conducts research on elections, voting, and how voters make decisions in a context of low-information. His publications in this area cover a wide range of issues, including the effect of political scandals and corruption, the political behaviour of young voters, the political representation of women, and the role of candidate physical appearance.

Professor Praino is also one of few scholars in Australia engaged in research on space politics and space policy. He is particularly interested in understanding and analysing the importance of space assets for defence, economic development, international relations, and decision-making. He is a co-author of Power, State and Space: Conceptualizing, Measuring and Comparing Space Actors (Springer, 2023).

Professor Praino's research has been published by top peer-reviewed academic journals in the Social Sciences, and has attracted funding from various sources, including the Australian Research Council, SmartSat CRC, Defence, the Australian Space Agency, and UNICEF.

Centre Deputy Director

Professor Emma Thomas

Professor Emma Thomas is a social psychologist at Flinders University, where she serves as a Professorial Research Fellow and Australian Research Council Future Fellow. She also leads the Flinders Social Influence and Social Change Lab.

Her research resides at the intersection of social and political psychology, concentrating on the psychological mechanisms that drive political engagement, collective action, and extremism. She explores how social identities, group norms, emotions (such as anger, outrage, and hope), and online interactions influence individuals' decisions to participate in both peaceful protests and radical movements.

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Professor Thomas has received substantial funding from the Australian Research Council, including a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) and Future Fellowship (2025-2030) and has collaborated with government and non-government organisations on studies related to online radicalization and misinformation.

Professor Thomas has served as Associate Editor (2017-2019) at the British Journal of Social Psychology and Political Psychology (2025-2028). Her work has garnered attention from media outlets like The Washington Post and ABC Radio. In recognition of her contributions, she was honoured with the South Australian Tall Poppy Science Award in 2018.

Jeff Bleich Centre

Advisory Board

Ambassador (ret) Jeff Bleich

The Honourable Jeff Bleich served as the US Ambassador to Australia from 2009 to 2013, as Special Counsel to President Obama in the White House, and as a member of the National Security Education Board.

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A specialist in digital technology and complex dispute resolution, he has been a federally appointed Special Master, a Partner at both Munger, Tolles & Olson and Dentons, and the Chief Legal Officer at Cruise LLC. Following law school, he clerked for the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court as well as for both the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal and the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He has been regularly listed as one of the United States' 500 most influential lawyers, and in 2024 was honored as a "Legend in the Law" at the Library of Congress.

Ambassador Bleich has served as the Board Chair of PG&E Corp, in the U.S., and Board Chair, of Nuix Ltd. in Australia. He served (three times) as Chair of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board by appointment of President Obama, and on the Executive Committee of the East West Center Board by appointment of Secretary John Kerry. He also serves on the board of RAND Australia and the Australian American Leadership Dialogue. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Law Institute. Ambassador Bleich previously served as the Chair of the California State University Board of Trustees, Trustee of Amherst College, President of the California State Bar, and President of the Bar Association of San Francisco. Flinders University has named the Jeff Bleich Centre on Democracy and Disruptive Technologies in his honor.

Professor Colin Stirling

Professor Colin Stirling is the President and Vice-Chancellor of Flinders University, responsible for ensuring the success and efficacy of Flinders University while providing strategic direction to its employees.

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Professor Colin Stirling has extensive experience in research, teaching and management. Educated in Scotland, his early genetics research took him to the University of California, followed by the University of Manchester where he was awarded several prestigious prizes.

Throughout an esteemed academic career, Professor Stirling has established a record of strategic leadership, innovation and successful change management. Professor Stirling has held a range of board positions across health, academic and community organisations and is currently a Director of Education Australia, the General Sir John Monash Foundation and IDP Education.

Rear Admiral the Hon Kevin Scarce AC CSC RAN (Rtd)

Rear Admiral the Honourable Kevin Scarce was the 34th Governor of South Australia and served in that role from 2007 until 2014.

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Kevin Scarce served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1968, specialising in military logistics and procurement, and rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and Head of Maritime Systems at the Defence Materiel Organisation.

Kevin was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1994, the Knight of Grace in the Venerable Order of Saint John in 2007, Officer of the Order of Australia (Military Division) in 2004 and a Companion of the Order of Australia (General Division) in 2008.

Kevin completed a Bachelor of Financial Administration from New England, Master of Management Economics Degree at the University of New South Wales, and a Master Degree in National Security Strategy at the US War College (National Defense University) in Washington, DC. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Flinders University in 2009 for distinguished service to the public of South Australia and an Honorary Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) from the University of New England in 2014.

He served as the 16th Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, was Chair of the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority from 2018 to 2022, Chair of Novita from 2014 to 2022, and is currently Chairman of Operation Flinders, APC Technology, Barossa Australia, Humanihut and Deputy Chairman of Seeley International and Chair of its Audit and Finance Committee.

Mr Shaun Bonett OAM

Shaun Bonett founded Precision Group in 1994 and serves as its CEO & MD. Shaun is also a Director of Exoflare, Managing Director of Lenders Direct, and the Chairman of Litigation Lending Services.

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Shaun holds a Bachelor of Arts (Major in Jurisprudence), Bachelor of Law and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of South Australia and is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Australia.

Shaun is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, member of the Young Presidents' Organisation, member of the President's Council of the Art Gallery of NSW, and founder of his own charity the Heartfelt Foundation that supports charities and people who no one else will help. In 2022, The University of South Australia bestowed on Shaun an honorary doctorate for his contributions and accomplishments in the business and philanthropic sectors.

Mr Mark Arbib

Mark Arbib is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), appointed in April 2025 after an extensive political career.

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In his political career, Mark served as Australia's Federal Minister for Sport from 2010 to 2012, where he established the National Anti-Match-Fixing Policy, a precursor to Sport Integrity Australia, and represented the country on the World Anti-Doping Agency Board. He was also a Senator for New South Wales 2008 to 2012, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Employment Participation.

Beyond public service, Mark held executive roles in the private sector, including Director of Strategy and Business Development at Consolidated Press Holdings. Arbib holds a Master of Arts in political science and economic history from the University of New South Wales.

Centre Manager

Katrina Lee

Katrina Lee assumed the role of Centre Manager at the Jeff Bleich Centre in October 2023, bringing a diverse background in business operations across multiple industries. In her current position, she holds key responsibilities in strategy, operations, and finance, aiming to enhance engagement on both international and domestic fronts. Katrina is dedicated to supporting growth initiatives and expanding the centre's capabilities.

Our Members and Associates

JBC is the home of researchers addressing the most pressing challenges of our time.

Our members conduct and commission interdisciplinary projects on the advance of digital technologies that impact societies and governments. With expertise across politics, international relations, business, psychology, sociology, the JBC remains an authoritative expert voice in any field.

Members
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Dr Sofia
Ammassari

Senior Lecturer in Politics at Flinders University

Expertise:
populism, radical-right politics, women in politics, youth political participation, political parties

Our People

Centre Director

Professor Rodrigo Praino

Centre Deputy Director

Professor Emma Thomas

Jeff Bleich Centre

Advisory Board

Ambassador (ret) Jeff Bleich

Professor Colin Stirling

Rear Admiral the Hon Kevin Scarce AC CSC RAN (Rtd)

Mr Shaun Bonett OAM

Mr Mark Arbib

Centre Manager

Katrina Lee

Our Members and Associates

JBC is the home of researchers addressing the most pressing challenges of our time.

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Members H-M

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Our Affiliates

Our network of national and international researchers ensure our impact transcends borders.

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