Dr. Ann Stewart

Director, The Equity Office, The University of Queensland and
National Co-Convenor for National Equal Opportunity Practitioners in Higher Education Australia

Ann Stewart is currently the Director, The Equity Office at The University of Queensland. Her role has a primary focus upon the development of policy and strategic initiatives across UQ in the broad areas of equity and diversity for staff and students.

Ann’s background is in education. She has held senior positions directly related to staff and student equity in the three metropolitan Queensland universities including having operational responsibility for outreach and student support programs. Prior to this, Ann spent nearly 20 years working in education in the Northern Territory; firstly in the area of Deaf Education, and then as Assistant Principal and Principal in bilingual Aboriginal community bilingual schools. She began working with Batchelor College (now Institute) as a lecturer in Teacher Education and later became Regional Coordinator for the College in Arnhemland.

Ann has particular interest in cultural change in organisations and has recently completed doctoral studies at Griffith University exploring perceptions of leadership in the higher education context in relation to the introduction of equity and diversity initiatives. She also enjoys working collaboratively with The University of Queensland’s Community Engagement Centre (the Boilerhouse) on a number of research projects related to student outreach to disadvantaged groups.