Join Deakin Library for a thought-provoking panel discussion exploring the 2025 Open Access Week theme, “Who owns our knowledge?” Facilitated by Dr Danny Kingsley, Director of Library Services (Information), this seminar brings together diverse voices from across Deakin University to unpack the systems, structures and stories that shape how knowledge is created, shared and valued. Danny will be joined by Associate Professor Judi Parson, School of Health and Social Development, Dr Wade Kelly, Senior Lecturer, Researcher development, Dr Lauren Halcomb-Smith, Lecturer, Open Education, and Teagan Menhenett, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) student.  

Our panellists will reflect on: 

• Who has access to education and research 

• How knowledge is produced and disseminated 

• Where knowledge originates 

• Whose voices are recognised and amplified 

This timely conversation invites us to consider the ethics and equity of knowledge, and the role open access plays in shaping the future of research, teaching and learning. 

Biographies

Facilitator: Dr Danny Kingsley 

Dr Danny Kingsley is Director of Library Services (Information) at Deakin University and an Ambassador for the OAPEN Library of open access books. As a thought leader in the international scholarly communication space, she has worked for universities across Australia and was Deputy Director of Cambridge University Libraries. She established Open Access Australasia in 2013. She sits on the Royal Society Advisory Committee on the Future of Research Publishing, the Australian National Open Science Taskforce and the FORCE11 Board of Directors.  

Speakers

Associate Professor Judi Parson 
Associate Professor Judi Parson, PhD, is a paediatric Registered Nurse, Play Therapist/Supervisor, and Discipline Leader for Play Therapy at Deakin University, Waterfront Campus, and Honorary Professor at Hong Kong Shue Yan University. A co-founder of key industry bodies including the International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations (IC-PTA), Judi is an internationally recognised author, presenter, educator, and researcher, with expertise in medical play therapy, intercultural collaboration, and digital health technologies to support children's psychosocial wellbeing. She has over 50 publications, co-edited two books and is currently establishing the first Australian Journal of Play Therapy through Deakin University’s OJS.  

Dr Lauren Halcomb-Smith 
Lauren Halcomb-Smith is an innovative higher educational professional with experience in teaching, research, and service roles. She has expertise in scholarly publishing, publishing as pedagogy, Open Education Practices (OEP), critical pedagogy, qualitative research, curriculum & learning design, and social justice in education. In her current role as Lecturer, Open Education (based in the Deakin Library), Lauren supports academic staff to build capability in open, inclusive, and student-centred approaches to teaching and learning. Her role spans professional learning design, one-on-one engagement with educators, and research into the impact of open education initiatives. 

Dr Wade Kelly 
Dr Wade Kelly is a Senior Lecturer in the Researcher Development Academy at Deakin University, specialising in developing researchers' impact and engagement capability across the career span. An influential contributor to the impact discourse in higher education, Dr Kelly brings extensive experience advising university leadership, faculties, institutes and funders on strategically embedding impact into policy, practice, and culture. His scholarly foundations provide the underpinnings of the engagement and impact development and cultural change approaches. In 2022, his edited book, The Impactful Academic: Building a Research Career That Makes a Difference, was released by Emerald Publishing. 

Teagan Menhenett 
Teagan is completing her Honours year in a Bachelor of Psychology with the aim of commencing postgraduate study in 2026. She is one of the authors of the Open Educational Resource, Communication and teamwork skills to support neurodiversity, and has led a project group to develop training for student mentors at Deakin in understanding and supporting neurodivergent students. Teagan has also worked within Deakin as a peer mentor across multiple programs, and external to Deakin as an Allied Health Assistant, support worker and receptionist. She has a passion for creating inclusive and accessible environments. 

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