This presentation will provide an overview of the WIL Awards for 2026 - the types, details and helpful information to assist nominees.
Presenters
Natalie Milic
Associate Dean Work-integrated Learning, Charles Darwin University
Natalie is the Associate Dean Work-integrated Learning within the Faculty of Health at Charles Darwin University. Natalie provides strategic leadership in the design and governance of WIL across the Faculty, overseeing the redevelopment of processes, documentation, and reporting frameworks to enhance consistency, accountability, and operational efficiency. She also contributes to university-wide policy & schedule development, ensuring alignment and quality assurance across placement-related activities, with clear expectations and a supportive experience for students. With extensive experience in curriculum design, teaching quality, and industry engagement, Natalie has held multiple senior leadership roles that inform her student-centred approach.
Nicola Fish
WIL Manager Academic Programs (Education Innovation Exchange), Swinburne University of Technology
Nicola Fish is Manager and Senior Lecturer in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) at Swinburne University of Technology. In her leadership role, Nicola oversees an academic team dedicated to delivering scalable and inclusive WIL models that enhance employability and transform student outcomes. Her research explores student engagement and employability development, and she leads a national, cross-institutional project examining the quality dimensions essential for effective industry supervision in WIL contexts.
Leoni Russell
Lead, Employability and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in the Centre for Educational Innovation & Quality at RMIT University.
Leoni provides academic support to build staff capability across a range of educational strategies including industry partnered learning, work integrated learning (WIL), career development learning (CDL) and the embedding of employability initiatives into curriculum. Leoni has extensive experience in WIL policy, governance, national research and facilitating professional development to support WIL practice. Leoni has been involved in WIL Australia (ACEN) for over 14 years.
