Natasa Kusmuk-Duus

Public-purpose leadership; ethical leadership and AI governance; stakeholder engagement and intercultural leadership; women, gender and institutional power; migration, refugees, settlement and multicultural policy; human trafficking and modern slavery; community development and social cohesion; social-policy evaluation; NGO governance and community investment; international relations, war, diplomacy and peace; maritime security and piracy; trade and investment; start-ups and international business development; youth leadership and career development.

I am a practitioner-educator, Doctor of Business Leadership candidate and former NGO chief executive with more than 15 years of experience across Australian Government, humanitarian settlement, social policy, programme evaluation, multicultural affairs, community development, governance and international engagement. I began my teaching work as an academic tutor, delivering individual and seminar-based learning for university and secondary students in English literature, modern history and human biological sciences. I worked with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, including students with learning difficulties. I currently serve as a presenter, guest trainer, mentor and scholar-selection contributor with the Bosnia and Herzegovina Futures Foundation. I design and deliver sessions for young people and emerging professionals on leadership, ethics, governance, career development, identity, belonging, mental health, civic participation and navigating institutions. I am also developing an October 2026 session on AI ethics and governance for emerging leaders, with further material being designed for leaders in government and non-government settings. My wider speaking experience ranges from small interactive workshops to public panels and conferences involving audiences of more than 500 people. I have presented or contributed to discussions on migration, refugee settlement, multicultural affairs, community development, leadership, public policy, human trafficking, modern slavery and social cohesion, including activities connected with United Nations Day, World Refugee Day and Harmony Day. My University of Western Australia background is in Political Science and International Relations, European and global studies, with academic work encompassing gender, globalisation, war, strategy, diplomacy, peace and conflict. I received UWA’s Begum Sarfraz Iqbal Memorial Prize for the highest achievement in Islam, Peace and War and contributed to the University’s Migration and Mobilities Update Conference initiative, connecting research with government, community and practitioner perspectives. I have also facilitated government and community grant workshops, presented within policy and stakeholder forums, and represented Australian Government departments at public and interagency events. My advisory experience includes eight years with the Western Australia Police Force Senior Multicultural Women Leaders Advisory Group and work with the WA Interagency Group on Modern-Day Slavery and Human Trafficking. Internationally, my research with the Maritime Institute of Malaysia examined piracy on the high seas and the resulting legal, political, security, economic and human consequences. In December 2026, I will undertake a fellowship at the University of Edinburgh, hosted by Professor Meryl Kenny, extending my comparative work on leadership, gender and institutions.

I enjoy bringing together academic ideas, public policy and real-world practice. My teaching style is conversational, evidence-informed and case-based. I use practical examples from government, migration and refugee settlement, NGO leadership, policing and community trust, social-policy evaluation, international relations, governance and business development to help students understand how complex decisions are made in real institutions. I do not rely on long, text-heavy presentations. I usually begin with a real problem or leadership dilemma, introduce the relevant concepts and evidence, and then invite students to test possible responses. Depending on the setting, this may involve discussion questions, short scenarios, stakeholder mapping, ethical decision exercises or reflection on competing perspectives. I am comfortable addressing sensitive subjects—including displacement, war, racism, trafficking, institutional mistrust, gender inequality and ethical failure—with care and without reducing people or communities to case-study objects. I aim to create a respectful environment in which students can question assumptions, disagree constructively and connect theory with their own discipline or future profession. I can adapt my delivery to a short panel contribution, a 45–90 minute guest lecture, an interactive seminar or a longer workshop. My objective is for students to leave with clearer questions, practical analytical tools and a stronger understanding of how leadership and policy choices affect real people.