Dr Angela O'Brien

Dr Angela O’Brien is a Barrister-at-law, Victoria, Mediator, Arbitrator and independent consultant with specialist expertise in the areas of dispute resolution, education and the arts. In 2009 she retired from the University of Melbourne where she was an Associate Professor, Deputy Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Discipline Chair of Creative Arts in the School of Culture and Communication, Faculty of Arts. Prior to these roles she was foundation Head of the School of Creative Arts from 2001 to 2004 at the University of Melbourne and Dean of the School of Studies in Creative Arts at the Victorian College of the Arts (1995-2000). Prior to joining the VCA, she spent thirteen years training teachers for the primary and secondary systems. She

She holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria (2002).  Professor O'Brien has significant experience in workplace management, particularly change management. She has extensive governance and committee experience on educational and professional bodies. She has been a member of the Prahran College Council, The University of Melbourne Council, the Victorian College of the Arts Council, and federal and state councilor for the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU). Professor O'Brien's doctoral study was in left wing theatre in Australia (1920-1960), and its association with left wing theatre in the United Kingdom, USA and the former Soviet Union.