Academic Board — election of an academic staff from Faculty of Science

Candidates in ballot paper order

Anthony Dooley

Charlene Lobo

Alexander Solntsev

Frederik Saltre

Candidates’ statements

Anthony Dooley

The Academic Board is responsible for ensuring that the academic voice is part of the fabric of the university. In my two terms as Chair, I represented the Board on Council, introducing the Student Charter, the Academic Risk Register, the Course Loop simplification program and revisions to the PhD program. I held AB Forums on Climate Change, Internationalisation, the Role of a University, and Al in Teaching and Assessment. 

Since ending my term as Chair, I have continued research and teaching as a professor of mathematics, coordinating one of the largest subjects in UTS, supervising a number of PhD and honours students, and remaining active on the Board.

As UTS emerges from the OSI process, it is imperative to have a strong academic representation to the Board. I believe that I can play an important role, bringing an experienced and balanced perspective on crucial academic issues. 

Charlene Lobo

I seek your support for my nomination to Academic Board as a representative of the Faculty of Science. I’m a Professor of Materials Physics and recently served as Head of discipline of Physics.  Prior to joining UTS in 2011, I graduated from my PhD at ANU and worked in the UK and USA for 10 years in both academia and industry. I am a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics, a grant review panel member for the Australian Research Council and serve on a number of editorial boards for leading international journals. 

If elected to academic board, I will protect and promote the unique contribution that Science academics make to knowledge creation and innovation, research training and supervision, and mentoring of students and early-career academics. I will represent Science academic staff in an equitable and collegial manner. 

Alexander Solntsev

I am Professor of Physics and Associate Head of School (Research) in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. Alongside my own research, much of my leadership has focused on making the research environment work better: supporting researchers at different career stages, strengthening research culture and systems, building pathways from research to translation, and connecting students with research. This work was recognised with the 2026 UTS Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence in Leadership and Development.

If elected, I would bring this practical, research-led perspective to Academic Board. I would focus on how university decisions affect degree programs, research and HDR in practice, strengthen links between Science and the wider University, and represent colleagues’ views constructively and independently. I would support academically sound, evidence-based decisions that work for staff and students. 

Frederik Saltre

I am a Senior Lecturer in Ecology and Biogeography in the Faculty of Science, leading the Biogeography, Ecology and Modelling (BEAM) Lab, and a Research Scientist with the Australian Museum Research Institute. Working across UTS and the Australian Museum gives me a valuable perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing university science, and on how we can strengthen connections between research, education, major cultural and research institutions, government, communities and society.

My research and teaching are highly interdisciplinary, and through BEAM I create opportunities for students and researchers to collaborate across traditional disciplinary boundaries. As a member of Academic Board, I would represent the Faculty of Science with the same collaborative approach that shapes my work, i.e., connecting people and ideas across disciplines, looking beyond traditional academic boundaries, and building collaborations that strengthen both our science and its contribution to society. 

How to vote in an online ballot

1. Note your candidate choices and preference order
2. Log in to UTS: Elections Online Polling Booth
3. Choose the election you wish to vote in
4. Select the candidates you wish to vote for
5. Check your vote
6. When you are ready, choose 'submit' to record your vote.

Conduct

Participants in elections (candidates, their representatives and voters) are expected to follow the same high standard of conduct and behaviour during the campaign process as is expected on campus generally. The behaviour of election candidates and their representatives should meet expected standards of conduct. See Code of Conduct for UTS Elections.

Concerns about security due to election-related conduct should be reported to UTS Security and Emergency Management. Phone 02 9514 1192 or dial ‘6’ on any UTS phone.

Further information

The schedule for this election has information about the election rules, Returning Officer and Academic Board.

See Voting for information about votes, confidentiality, appointing a scrutineer and results.