Professor Edward Palmer, Professor of Educational Technologies, Adelaide University

Short Biography

I am Professor of Educational Technologies at Adelaide University, leading initiatives that connect education, industry, and emerging technologies. My research spans artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and digital assessment, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world impact. This work has secured over $6 million in funding through partnerships with government and industry. For two decades, I have chaired the Higher Education Research Group of Adelaide (HERGA), a 1,000-member cross-institutional network advancing higher education research and teaching innovation. I am passionate about building collaborative scholarly communities and bringing people together to shape the future of learning.

Personal Statement

I am honoured to stand as a candidate for President of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia. Throughout my academic career, I have valued HERDSA as a collegial community that brings educators, researchers, and leaders together to advance the scholarship of teaching and learning.

My engagement with HERDSA has included scholarly participation and leadership, including providing workshops and serving as Chair of the HERDSA South Australia Branch. I have also served for 20 years as Chair of the Higher Education Research Group of Adelaide (HERGA), a cross- institutional network of over 1,000 members. Through this work, I have focused on building collaborative research communities that connect educators and advance research in teaching and learning.

HERDSA has benefited from strong and dedicated leadership, and I value the collegial ethos that continues to shape the society. If elected, I would build on these foundations by working with branches, SIGs, TATAL, and all members to strengthen communication, engagement and collaboration across the community and develop a long-term plan for the growth of HERDSA.

Higher education is undergoing significant transformation, including developments in artificial intelligence, digital learning environments, and evolving approaches to assessment. In this context, HERDSA has an important role in fostering scholarly dialogue and supporting research-informed approaches to learning and teaching.

One aspect of HERDSA’s mission that I am particularly interested in strengthening is its research dimension. Building on HERDSA’s strong foundations, there are opportunities to further highlight the research contributions of members by supporting collaborative research networks, nurturing emerging scholars, and increasing the visibility and impact of scholarship across the sector.

If elected as President, I would focus on three priorities: strengthening the HERDSA scholarly community through enhanced opportunities for engagement and collaboration; supporting scholarship that responds to emerging sector challenges; and strengthening HERDSA’s visibility and partnerships within the broader higher education landscape. I am particularly committed to strengthening the “R” in HERDSA, by supporting collaborative research, connecting scholars, enhancing the visibility of our collective work. and linking with national initiatives such as the Decadal plan for Australian Education Research 2026-2035.

My leadership approach is grounded in bringing people together to work on meaningful, collaborative initiatives that advance learning, teaching, and research. I would be honoured to serve the HERDSA community as President and to work collaboratively with colleagues to support its continued contribution to higher education.