QUT Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC) First Nations Senior Research Fellow Dr Jessa Rogers has been appointed to the Federal Government’s 2024 Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP on Thursday 25 January.
The Committee has been asked to examine the adequacy of regional Australia’s telecommunications, including hearing from people in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.
The appointment of Dr Rogers, a Wiradjuri researcher, educator, board director, and former teacher, reflects her significant research impact within the DMRC.
Jessa was awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Research (DECRA) Fellow in 2023 for her project Improving the Outcomes of Indigenous Boarding School Graduates.
She led the DMRC research project Connecting in the Gulf: Digital Inclusion for Indigenous Families Living on Mornington Island to address community concerns regarding access, affordability and digital skills, as well as internet safety.
Dr Rogers brings her considerable experience and expertise to the Committee as Managing Director of Baayi Consulting, and as a board member of Wesley Mission Queensland, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and St Philip’s College (Alice Springs).
The Committee will be led by the Hon Alannah MacTiernan as Chair, with other appointments including Mr Ian Kelly, the Hon Fiona Nash, and Ms Kristy Sparrow.
The Regional Telecommunications Review occurs every three years and is an opportunity to examine the existing and future telecommunication needs in regional, rural and remote communities across Australia.
Further information about the Committee is available on the Regional Telecommunications Review website.