Rate My Professor Felecia Watkin Lui

Professor Felecia Watkin Lui is a Torres Strait Islander academic with ancestral connections (giz) to Erub, Mabuiag, and Badu in the Torres Strait. She holds the position of Professor and serves as Head of Indigenous Teaching Programs and Professorial Research Fellow (ARC Future Fellow) in the Indigenous Education and Research Centre at James Cook University. Watkin Lui completed her Doctor of Philosophy (Indigenous) at James Cook University in 2009, with a thesis entitled "My island home: a study of identity across different generations of Torres Strait Islanders living outside the Torres Strait." Her career at James Cook University has progressed from doctoral research to leadership roles in Indigenous education and research, including supervision of higher degree research students and contributions to the university's Indigenous Education Strategy.

Watkin Lui's research specializations focus on research impact, benefit, and knowledge translation, emphasizing co-design and engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organizations. She is a recognized leader in Torres Strait Islander research, particularly exploring the intersections of health and the environment. As Chief Investigator, she leads on significant projects such as the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Environmental Histories and Futures, the NH&MRC National Network for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Researchers, and the ARC Indigenous Discovery project "Navigating the Tides of Change: a study of political action and change in the Torres Strait." Her scholarly contributions include over 29 publications, with key works such as "No one's discussing the elephant in the room: contemplating questions of research impact and benefit in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian health research" (2015), "Does Indigenous health research have impact? A systematic review of reviews" (2017), "The case for a Torres Strait Islander-driven, long-term research agenda for environment, health and wellbeing" (2020), "Knowledge translation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research contexts in Australia: scoping review protocol" (2022), and "Indigenous leadership in research in Australia" (2021). These publications have amassed over 700 citations, highlighting her substantial influence in advancing Indigenous research methodologies and outcomes.