Donna Brien

Biography

"A research-intensive academic in the discipline of writing and publishing, I have, since 2000, focused on non-fiction genres and pedagogy of writing. As a highly motivated, results-orientated researcher, my passion for sharing knowledge is evidenced in my outstanding record of esteemed scholarly publications and academic as well as public and community presentations. While I have published with the best scholarly publishers and journals, I have also written for such high profile popular publications as The Griffith Review, The Conversation, The Australian and the Courier Mail. Career highlights before, and during, my academic career include as: exhibition curator, Powerhouse Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art (both Sydney); contracted non-fiction author, Allen & Unwin; long-serving President, national peak body, Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP); and Australian Research Council (ARC) secondment as an ERA peer reviewer (FoR 19). I have been a Chief Investigator on external ($564,765) and internal ($120,050) grants and have won a number of prestigious awards, and a national citation for the quality of my mentorship of research higher degree candidates. I have won a large number of esteemed research residencies and fellowships. Most recently, I was 2016 Eminent Visiting Researcher at the University of Southern Queensland. The esteem in which I am held by the academic community is also evidenced in being often sought as an examiner of RHD theses. I have edited many themed special issues of journals, solely but more often with other academics, with 35 refereed journal issues edited overall. In 2010, I co-founded (and continue to co-convene) the Australasian Food Studies Network, a research-focused Facebook group with 175 active members, and I am the Commissioning Editor, Special Issues, for respected refereed journal, TEXT: Journal of Writing and Writing Courses. I am on the Editorial Advisory Board of national and international journals including The Australasian Journal of Popular Culture. Through these roles, I encourage and foster the research careers of many national and international researchers, including early career researchers. I am regularly interviewed by the media, including for ABC National and regional programs, and my research is regularly cited in the print and online press. I have been an invited judge of a number of major awards including the Queensland Premier’s Awards, the national Walkley Awards (non-fiction book category), the Josephine Ulrick Award ($10,000 prize for nonfiction), Australian Publishers’ Association annual awards for Australian textbooks, and the annual AAWP postgraduate prize. I have also been an invited judge of a number of research related competitions, including the 2015 5 Minute Research Pitch Competition (ACU)."

Research Interest

My interests are in all areas of creative writing, editing and publishing, especially non-fiction but also fiction. I am especially interested in the publishing end of the process, including producing work with publication in mind, and the ways to be published in the 21st century. All aspects of food writing and publishing of special interest.