Our People in the School of Social Sciences

Dean, School of Social Sciences

Professor Brian Stout

Professor Brian Stout is Dean, School of Social Sciences, Provost, Liverpool Campus and Professor of Social Work.

Professor Stout has a long history of research, teaching and practice in Australia, Europe and South Africa. His most recent book is ‘Community Justice in Australia’ and has carried out research in Australia into interventions with children and young people facilitated by Juvenile Justice, FACS and other agencies. He has a long record of teaching and research in criminal justice, youth justice, probation and social work.  Professor Stout has been involved in developing and delivering training and education for criminal justice professionals in the UK and South Africa and participated in a number of European criminal justice social work projects.  His research has included child justice diversion in South Africa and sex offender public disclosure schemes in the UK.

Professor Stout is an experienced academic leader, recently holding the roles of Deputy Dean and Director Academic Programs for Social Work. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK.

Deputy Dean, School of Social Sciences

Professor Adam Possamai

Professor Adam Possamai is Deputy Dean, School of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology.

Professor Possamai is an influential sociologist of religion who studies and promotes religious diversity. He has published close to 90 refereed articles/chapters and 20 books, including the Sage Encyclopaedia of the Sociology of Religion, 6 monographs and 5 novels. The 2010-14 President of Research Committee 22 for Sociology of Religion of the International Sociological Association, and President of the Australian Association for the Study of Religions (2004-5), Professor Possamai was also Programme Coordinator for the Sociology of Religion for the 2006 and 2010 World Congresses of Sociology in South Africa and Sweden. He was chair in 2011, 2013, and 2017 of the Australian Sociological Association’s Jean Martin Award Panel for the best sociology thesis in Australia.

He was a visiting Professor at the Graduate Centre of the City University of New York and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris.

Dean's Unit

Professor Emma Waterton
Associate Dean
(Research)

Dr Peter Bansel
Director,
HDR And Research Training

Ms Corrinne Sullivan
Associate Dean
(Indigenous Education)

Associate Professor Nichole Georgeou
Associate Dean
(Engagement and International)

Dr Julie Wen
Associate Dean 
(China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan)

Dr Hayley Saul
Associate Dean
(South Asia)

Mrs Lauren Marsh
School Manager