Meet Dr Diana Cousens
Since joining the Monash Research Office on a one year secondment in February 2009, Diana has been responsible for the coordination of the research data collection – which entails making sure that information from faculties comes in on time and is as accurate as possible. There is also much clarifying of policy and procedures in relation to publications.
"I have been working in university administration since the late '90s, but recently took some time off to write a PhD. I graduated last week! I enjoy making university systems work and solving problems," Diana said.
"I'm very much a 'project person'. Past projects include assisting in the centralisation of timetabling at Melbourne University and developing courses in a range of areas for government administrators at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. Other university admin experience includes stints in internationalisation and student services. Policy writing and report development have also been significant components of past roles," she said.
Diana likes the education sector because, she says, "One can see the real benefit to society from what we do. The whole community advances from people gaining or improving their qualifications. Individually, people are able to increase their opportunities – but they are also able to make a better contribution and achieve more – and that's a public benefit."
"If we have good structures and systems in place, then we can enable the work of education delivery and research without any hitches. Usually people don't know that there are systems underpinning what they do in the university sector, because they're working well. It's when they're not working well that people become aware of them," she said.
Quizzed as to her greatest achievement in her current position, Diana responded, "Undertaking the university-wide audit and checking of over 300 publications for compliance with government specifications; while at the same time, finalising the categorisation of another couple of hundred – each one of which had to be personally inspected. I take immense pleasure in meeting deadlines without making heavy weather of it."
On the question of future challenges, Diana ventures, "We're looking at automating our systems and moving towards a paperless process, but there is a lot that needs to be sorted out before that can happen."
Asked to describe an ideal world scenario, Diana replied, "I'd like to see academics all volunteer their publication information to their departmental admin officers at the time the publications come out. Then we would be able to capture the data in real time."
Looking forward, Diana is giving a conference paper and seminar in December.
"One is on looking at Religion and Difference at the Australian Association for the Study of Religions Conference. My paper will look at the multi-ethnic community that visits the temple of Triloknath in Lahul, where I did the research for the PhD. The other is a seminar at the Parliament of World Religions. I will be speaking for the Buddhist position on the possibility of interfaith prayer, with a Catholic father and an Orthodox Jewish rabbi.
"It's nice to have broken through the glass ceiling in the world of religion and to be able to represent the Buddhist perspective, even though not an ordained male!" she said.
Outside of Monash University and academia, Diana likes reading non-fiction, bushwalking, travel and photography. Asked to describe any pastimes or achievements outside of the usual, Diana said, "I used to be involved in short film production (16mm). One of my productions, 'Icon' (1994), premiered at the Melbourne Film Festival, was distributed by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), enjoyed three national tours – and was only one minute in duration!" [smiles]
"I was also involved in the production of documentaries on Tibetan communities living in India," she said.
