CURTIN UNIVERSITY

Samantha is the Director, Gender Equity and Inclusion (Academic Lead) at Curtin University. She is also an Academic Lead for the Curtin University Gender Research Network, which brings together over 200 researchers. The GRN aims to establish Curtin University as a centre for thought leaders in gender research, leverage and build on Curtin University’s strengths in gender research; and contribute evidence needed for the design and evaluation of gender aware policies, strategies and practices. Samantha is an historian and a gender researcher passionate about understanding communities and how they work. Her current work is on gender, safety and sexual violence. Samantha’s daughter is a Swiftie and there is a sustained commitment to Swift fandom in her household.

RMIT UNIVERSITY

Kate Pattison is a third year PhD Candidate at RMIT in Melbourne, Australia. She researches pop music fandom, with a focus on fans of Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Delta Goodrem and BTS. Her PhD research looks at the relationship between pop music fandom, skill development, creativity, and professional pathways. Kate also works as a social media consultant in the entertainment industry, through her business The Idea Cult.

MONASH UNIVERSITY

Dr Philippa Chandler is a human geographer at Monash University. She is interested in the intersections of emotion, place and community, and has explored these themes in a diverse range of contexts including COVID contact tracers, school leaders and principals, retirees in caravan parks, and bushwalkers. Prior to her academic career, Philippa worked in event-management and media, and her arts and culture journalism is occasionally featured in The Conversation, The Age / Sydney Morning Herald, and Guardian Australia.

CURTIN UNIVERSITY

Dr. Madeleine Dobson is a Senior Lecturer in the Curtin University School of Education. She is an Associate Investigator with the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, and a member of the Curtin Gender Research Network. Madeleine's research encompasses themes of gender, identity, lived experience, trauma, and more. Her work with the Digital Child focuses on the innovative use of digital technologies to enhance pedagogical approaches in early childhood environments. Madeleine's teaching at Curtin focuses on play-based pedagogies and caring, learner-centred, and creative approaches to create a sense of belonging in educational contexts. Madeleine is also passionate about creative writing, with her pieces embracing themes of trauma, survival, connectedness, and belonging through a queer feminist lens

Laura is an experienced student support professional at a multi-university partner, with previous experience in casual lecturing and tutoring contracts. She has been a Swiftie since she first heard "Our Song" in 2006 at age 12. After completing her Honours, Laura presented her paper, "Serious games & GamerGate: The myth of an online egalitarian utopia" examining online gender inequality, harassment, and agency, at TASA 2015. When Taylor Swift's "Reputation" was released, Laura was on her own journey of empowerment in the UK, volunteering at her college union and writing her master's thesis, "choosing narratives of tumblr feminism: a project in queering methodology". She aspires to pursue an interdisciplinary PhD in the future, and her research interests include: intersectional feminism, queer theory, crip studies, and popular culture, using critical approaches.

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Kayla (she/they) is a psychology PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, researching ethical considerations, consent and the use of touch in psychedelic and MDMA therapies. Kayla also serves on the research committee for Student's for Sensible Drug Policy. Prior to starting a PhD, Kayla worked for several years in community-based domestic abuse and sexual assault intervention services. In their work and research, Kayla is passionate about subverting power structures and highlighting the multiplicity of lived experiences. Kayla openly admits that she is not a 'real' Swiftie, but became fascinated with the dynamics of Swift fandom from watching way too many TikToks of the eras tour, and noticing the parallels with religious and psychedelic experiences.

CURTIN UNIVERSITY

Elizabeth Baca is a representative of the Gender Research Network at Curtin University, bringing gender researchers together from a broad range of fields of study, promoting gender research projects within and outside Curtin University. Elizabeth’s previous research has covered children’s rights, social justice, experiences of sexual violence in Australia, and caring communities. Elizabeth has a background in literary and cultural studies, professional and creative writing, social media, and photography.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

Jennifer recently completed her PhD in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne, where she now works as the Strategic Communication Lead, Arts/Fine Arts & Music. Her academic research interests are digital communication and education, specifically learning from reading in university contexts. She likes nothing more than singing to Taylor’s greatest hits in the car with her six year old, who implores her to quiet down because she’s drowning out the music.