Master of Development Studies

Graduate profile: Elena Robertson – Program Specialist (Research, Policy and Practice), Edge Effect

Originally from the US, Elena Robertson knew she wanted to work in international development from the age of 16. By the end of her undergraduate degree, she’d undertaken field research in India, Thailand and Ghana – but after working in the international development sector for about three years in Vietnam and Cambodia, Elena decided to pursue a masters degree to deepen her theoretical knowledge and expand her professional network.

“I knew I wanted to pursue work in Southeast Asia,” she says, “and given the proximity of Australia to Southeast Asia as well as the many Southeast Asia experts at the University of Melbourne” decided to apply.

Prior to studying at Melbourne, Elena says she had little theoretical training in feminist and gender studies, but that her “passion for feminism and gender equitable development programming blossomed during [her] studies”.

“The most enjoyable aspects of the program were the professors, the coursework, and conducting field research for my minor thesis in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia,” Elena says. “In Cambodia I had the chance to meet with incredible feminists and gender equality activists and to hear about their experiences in the sector and as women in Cambodia, some of whom had experienced the Khmer Rouge.”

Now working for Edge Effect, a Melbourne-based company which “assists humanitarian and development organisations to work in genuine partnerships with people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and sex characteristics”, Elena says the “theoretical knowledge, research skills, and critical thinking skills” she gained during her studies have been very useful.

“The work we do at Edge Effect is ground-breaking. The expertise of my colleagues means we are well-connected across the development and humanitarian sectors, and I am proud to be part of such an exemplary team who are committed to changing the sector for the better.”

Master of Development Studies Advisory Board

Joanne Crawford

Joanne Crawford is Strategic Advisor with the Equality Insights program at the International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA). She has been involved with Equality Insights and its predecessor, the Individual Deprivation Measure, since its inception in 2008. Prior to joining IWDA she worked with the Australian Government including senior roles with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Office for the Status of Women, and the then Australian Agency for International Development.

Beth Eggleston

Beth is passionate about approaching humanitarian action differently. After surviving the bureaucracy of large international NGOs and the United Nations, she now enjoys working with a small team to deliver leading-edge research and advice to enable the humanitarian sector to perform at its best. Beth co-founded Humanitarian Advisory Group in 2012, a social enterprise that aims to harness humanitarian passion with entrepreneurial energy and innovation. A 2019 Fulbright scholar, Beth was able to learn more about how militaries engage in disaster response operations at the US Naval War College.

Layton Pike

Mr Pike has been Executive Director, International at RMIT University since December 2022.  He was previously Chief Global Adviser and Director Global Strategy for RMIT University since February 2019.  Mr Pike leads on RMIT’s international effort, including University strategy and partnerships across the Asia Pacific. In Australia, Mr Pike co-founded the Australia Vietnam Policy Institute in 2022, which is Australia's first policy institute focused on its relationship with Vietnam, acting as a partnered public policy hub centred around engagement, collaboration and impact.