I am a Professor at the University of Alberta and hold the Canada150 Research Chair in Gender and Cultural Informatics (Digital Humanities/Women’s and Gender Studies). I am also the Director of the Humanities Networked Infrastructure (HuNI) Project. I was previously Associate Dean of Engagement and Innovation in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

I currently serve on the boards of NDRIO (New Digital Research Infrastructure Organisation) and CANARIE. I also sit on the international Research Data Advisory Board for Elsevier. I previously served as inaugural Deputy Chair of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (2008-2011) and as CEO of the Australian Film Institute (2000-2002).

I was the founding Director of the Humanities Networked Infrastructure (HuNI) Project. HuNI is a national virtual laboratory for humanities researchers. Its a large-scale interoperability initiative that brings together 17 institutional partners including universities, cultural institutions such as the National Library, eResearch agencies, and the private sector.

My specific research interest lies in extending the limits of conventional film studies; exploring the intersection between cinema studies and other disciplines such as history, information management, geo-spatial science, statistics, urban studies and economics. In addition to scholarly publications and media appearances, I have focused on the development of online research resources such as the Cinema and Audiences Research Project (CAARP) database, an ongoing exploration of big cultural data (kinomatics) and The Ultimate Gig Guide (TUGG) an online archive of live music information.

I have a long association with the Australian film industry in a variety of roles including serving as CEO of the Australian Film Institute and Deputy Chair of the National Film and Sound Archive.

I am available to speak on a variety of topics. I have presented around the world on: