Lydia Kavanagh

Professor Lydia Kavanagh is a distinguished chemical engineer and education innovator at The University of Queensland, where she has made significant contributions to engineering education and team-based learning. With a background as a principal engineer in a large environmental consultancy, she returned to academia in 1998 and has since become a leader in engineering education, designing curricula and courses that integrate real-world projects and active learning methodologies. As Director of First Year Engineering for nearly a decade, she oversaw a program involving over 1,100 students, focusing on multi-disciplinary team projects to solve real-world problems. Her work includes the development and implementation of the Flipped Classroom approach, innovative assessment methods, and the introduction of multi-disciplinary courses. Recognized with a Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and an ALTC Excellence in Teaching award in 2011, she has led numerous national and international projects on teamwork, online learning, and curriculum innovation. Currently, she serves as Deputy Associate Dean (Academic) for Curriculum Review and Teaching Innovation in the Faculty of Science and holds a fractional position with the Institute of Teaching and Learning Innovations, where she develops frameworks for shorter form credentials and trains academics in teaching and learning practices. Her book, "The Flipped Classroom: Practice and Practices," has been widely acclaimed and downloaded over 55,000 times, reflecting her impact on global educational practice