Robert Phiddian teaches in Renaissance and Eighteenth Century literature and has a special interest in political satire, parody, and humour. He is a member of the Laboratory Adelaide project on the value of culture and also researches political satire, especially current Australian political cartoons and Jonathan Swift. He has been Deputy Dean of the School of Humanities and Creative arts, Chair of the Adelaide Festival of Ideas, Director of the Australasian Consortium of Humanities Research Centres (ACHRC), and a Board member of the Australian Book Review and of the international Consortium of Humanities Centres and Institutes (CHCI).