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MGAEC Executive Committee 2024 - 2025


Jonathan Robberts

Doctor of Philosophy (Management)


Faculty of Business & Economics

Caulfield Campus

 

President

The President is responsible for initiating and maintaining liaison with the University and its representatives, advocating for the collective interests of Monash graduate students, chairing all meetings of the MGA and the MGAEC, implementing the decisions of the MGAEC in consultation with the staff of MGA, hearing grievances, complaints or suggestions to do with any aspect of the working of MGA from any graduate student or any member of the MGAEC, and to ensure that approriate action is taken, and more.

The learn more about this position, read the extract from the MGA Constitution.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your background and your area of study?

I’ve been with Monash University since 2016, having completed my Bachelors of Commerce in 2019 before returning in 2020 after working full-time to complete my Honours in the Department of Management (Faculty of Business & Economics) and continuing into the PhD program. My interdisciplinary doctoral research contributes to an ARC Linkage project, “The Wellbeing of Architects: culture, identity & practice”, by broadly exploring the enactment of professional identities in emerging architectural practices.

With a background in researching organisational change management and a passion for understanding how we practice our identities/selves, I have always been interested in the processes that allow change to come about.

Throughout my tertiary studies, I have always worked in casual or part-time roles which have developed the values and principles that I practice today. Working in retail banking and compliance during my undergraduate studies, I learned important skills in negotiating, regulatory oversight, and the management of organisational change. Having worked in early dispute resolution for an Ombudsman scheme after my undergraduate degree taught me the importance of independence, accessibility, and fairness, and inspired me to return to university to pursue socially impactful research. Today, I am a sessional teaching associate in the Department of Management, teaching organisational change and leadership, and have been a research assistant on a number of projects.

During my PhD, I have been the Department of Management and Faculty of Business & Economics HDR representative since late 2021, and the GRC HASS representative and an Academic Board member in 2023. I have been committed to improving the university HDR representative network alongside the MGA, developing stronger ties between the university and our HDR student cohorts, and was involved in campaigning for increasing the RTP Stipend in 2022.

 

What motivated you to join the executive committee? What drives you to make a difference in your graduate committee?

I joined the MGAEC because I feel I have the experience and compassion to truly make a sustainable difference to our graduate community at Monash. The issues we face as graduate students are complex and interwoven across professional, institutional, and political boundaries. I look forward to redefining the agency of our graduate students, developing the collective leadership capabilities of our cohort, and working collaboratively with the MGAEC and Monash University to reframe the challenges we face. By practising my core values of empathy, authenticity, and respect, I hope to work together towards collective improvement.

 

What are your personal interests? What do you do for fun?

Whether it be an art gallery or community event that deals with prickly topics, you often will find me in creative and intellectually inspiring spaces. A social butterfly by heart, I enjoy meeting new and different people and find comfort in learning new skills or interests. I wind down by streaming (too much!) television and film, as well as reading philosophy and hiking in nature.

 

MGA's 2024-2025 Committee Members

 

The MGA team

Got a question or request about anything at all? Get in contact with one of our staff members – we’d love to hear from you. Alternatively, drop by the MGA office at Clayton or Caulfield so we can help!

Meet your current elected representatives

Curious to know who’s representing you at the moment? Get to know your elected representatives, what they do and how you can get involved.

Work for the MGA

The MGA employs Monash graduate students to fill the receptionist roles at the Clayton and Caulfield offices. When a vacancy arises we advertise the position through our email newsletter and on our website.

The Monash Graduate Association (MGA) is the representative body for all graduate research and coursework students enrolled at Monash University. So, what sets us apart from the University services? The MGA is an independent, not-for-profit association governed by graduate students, for graduate students. Our primary aim is to be there for you! If you can’t find what you are looking for, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our four Australian campuses stand and their continuing connection to the land on which we live and work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.