Academic Team

Executive Dean

Dr Ehsan Ahmed

Executive Dean

I am a highly experienced, passionate, and knowledgeable academic professional with various expertise in senior-level positions within the education industry. As a highly experienced Academic Administrator, Course Coordinator, and Lecturer, I have comprehensive work experience in course development, course delivery, TEQSA registration, and compliance. I have worked in universities and various tertiary education institutes, where the overall academic governance has been a critical focus of my role. I have also spent much time developing and implementing strategies and institutional policies to assist with business growth, for instance, developing and implementing strategic plans, teaching and learning plans, and workforce plans to achieve high rates of student retention and institutional success. I have chaired and actively contributed to a wide range of academic governance committees. As an experienced lecturer, I have first-hand experience in delivering a broad array of face-to-face and online courses.

My critical professional summary includes: 

More than 23 years of work experience in academic governance, including 13 years of Australian education experience at AIM Business School (ABS), Kent Institute Australia (Kent), Think Education Group Pty. Ltd. (THINK), and the University of New South Wales (UNSW); 

More than 11 years of working experience in managing online education and developing blended courses; 

More than nine years of working experience in managing TEQSA, ASQA, and other external industry bodies.   

Heads of School

Dr Judith Ayre

Head of School, Counselling

Dr Judith Ayre has been a psychotherapist and a Jungian Sandplay specialist since 1990 and still maintains a solo therapeutic practice.  She did her post graduate counselling training at La Trobe University and went on to complete a Clinical Doctorate in Counselling and Psychotherapy focusing on learning therapeutic process from a transformative and consciousness raising perspective. Having studied breathwork with Stan Grof, kinesiology, Chinese medicine, energy work and numerous healing modalities in the 1980’s, Judith began teaching as a transpersonal and holistic counsellor educator in 2006.

Judith has led teams of academics in the field of counselling for 10 years and has taught many hundreds of students. Over the last few years, she has been teaching post graduate courses to practicing registered counsellors, social workers, and psychologists, in the specialist practice of Emotion Focused Therapy in which field she has been a specialist for 19 years.

Julie Michlmayr

Head of School, Education

Julie Michlmayr is Ikon’s Head of the School of Education with more than 25 years’ experience in education provision across a wide variety of educational contexts, including 15 years in Early Childhood and Primary Education, 5 years in Vocational Education and 10 years in Higher Education. Before joining Ikon, Julie worked as an Academic and Course Coordinator on TAFE NSW’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care (Birth-5).

Over her career, Julie has continued her own life-long teaching and learning journey starting with a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Birth-8 years) from the University of Wollongong, a Master of Education (Early Childhood) with a specialisation in Leadership and Management from Torrens University, and a TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from TAFE NSW.

Associate Professor

Dr Tra-Ill Dowie

Associate Professor, Counselling and Psychotherapy

Dr Tra–ill Dowie is a practicing psychotherapist, supervisor and public speaker. He holds dual PhDs, receiving a PhD in Psychiatry from Monash University and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Melbourne as well as qualifications in psychology, philosophy, sociology, history of ideas and Jungian psychology. He has previously been the Chair of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Panel for Trauma Standards & Practice.

Dr Dowie’s academic life and public lectures cover a broad range of interdisciplinary topics that relate to the human condition; psychiatry, psychotherapy, trauma, continental philosophy, philosophy of mind, anthropology, health and wellbeing, and human optimisation.

Senior Lecturer

Dr Daniel R. Rothschild

Senior Lecturer

Dr Daniel R. Rothschild is a Senior Lecturer in our Counselling and Psychotherapy courses. After completing a Bachelor of Music, specialising in composition, from the University of Adelaide, Dan began an Advanced Diploma of Counselling and a Bachelor Degree in anthropology. After completing his Advanced Diploma and attaining First Class Honours in anthropology, Dan completed a Ph.D. in Social Theory from the University of Melbourne.

Dan has previously practiced clinically as a transpersonal counsellor and currently practices as an integrative psychotherapist.

Academic Team Members

Sabina Keppel

Lecturer, Early Childhood Education

David Champion

Lecturer, Arts Therapy

Jade Nolan

Lecturer, Counselling & Psychotherapy

Roman Ilgauskas

Lecturer, Counselling & Psychotherapy

Jake Potter

Associate Lecturer, Counselling & Psychotherapy

Consulting Hours

Our academic team members are available each week for consulting outside of class times. Contact details are provided in the course pages in Canvas and bookings can be made through the Student Hub of Canvas.

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