A team of international scientists from Griffith University and the University of Alberta are about to start human clinical trials for a Strep A vaccine they hope will induce long-lasting immunity against the deadly pathogen which kills more than 500,000 people each year.
Professor Michael Good
Griffith University researchers identified two small molecules (epitopes) found on every Streptococcus A strain and combined them into a vaccine candidate designed to enhance the body’s immune response against even the most virulent strain.
Lead researcher Professor Michael Good AO from Griffith’s Institute for Glycomics said previous Streptococcal A vaccine research had been slowed by the enormous diversity of the pathogen, but that his vaccine design is based on presenting key epitopes to the immune system that represent its Achilles heel.
“This gives us a novel strategy to finally make a successful vaccine to protect against multiple Strep A strains,’’ he said.
“There is currently no vaccine available and natural immunity to Strep A takes years to develop.
“This is because there are multiple strains and it is a highly virulent organism that subverts immunity.”
Distinguished Professor Lorne Tyrrell OC and Nobel Laureate Sir Michael Houghton from the Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute at the University of Alberta, who are sponsoring the clinical testing, said streptococcal disease was a major cause of global morbidity and that amongst First Nations people in Canada, invasive streptococcal disease was a significant cause of premature mortality.
“Our Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute is dedicated to preventing major viral and bacterial infections where there is serious unmet medical need,’’ Sir Michael said.
Dr Manisha Pandey
“Professor Michael Good holds an adjunct position at the University of Alberta and we are delighted to be helping him and our colleagues at Griffith University in working to curb this dangerous global epidemic which afflicts many Canadians, including indigenous peoples.”
Dr Manisha Pandey from the Institute for Glycomics said repeated infections can also cause auto-immune complications such as rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
“In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples suffer the highest rate of rheumatic heart disease in the world.”
The trials will take place at the University of Alberta, Canada, within the NACTRC clinical trials centre led by Dr Lawrence Richter and Dr Michael Hawkes, and are due to commence on 21 November.
If the trial is successful, the vaccine could be available for children and people at high risk of disease within five years.
Institute for Glycomics Director Professor Mark von Itzstein AO said he was delighted the Institute for Glycomics has developed this important vaccine candidate from discovery to human clinical trials, with the potential to save many lives.
“It’s a great example of the Institute’s translational output and what we hope will be the world’s first vaccine to market for prevention of diseases caused by Strep infection.”
ABOUT
Strep affects people of different ages and socio-economic levels. It is a leading cause of infection-related death in the world.
Pathology due to Strep A include the relatively benign streptococcal tonsillitis and school sores, and the very serious conditions of rheumatic heart disease, necrotising fasciitis (‘flesh eating disease’), toxic shock syndrome, and kidney disease.
Griffith Business School celebrated its industry partners and connected with their community through their inaugural Better Business Dinner on Friday November 4 at Sofitel Brisbane.
The School’s industry showcase event saw more than 400 business and academic leaders, students and alumni come together to network and celebrate under this year’s theme: Success in the new economy.
“We are all here tonight to celebrate our strong partnerships and shared success so that we continue to work towards a future that we can shape for the better,” Professor Caitlin Byrne, Pro Vice Chancellor (Business) said. “We look forward to shaping the next generation of business leaders ready to take on the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.”
The event opened with an In Conversation segment with Professor Byrne, entrepreneur and 2021 Griffith University Outstanding Alumnus Dr Elise Stephenson, and 2022 Griffith Business School International Alumnus of the Year Troy Yue.
Simon Griffiths, CEO of Who Gives a Crap
Ideally positioned to be this year’s keynote speaker was Simon Griffiths, CEO of Who Gives a Crap. His thriving toilet paper business was created to make a difference, with 50 per cent of their profits being used to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world. It’s a strategy that perfectly aligns with Griffith’s values of responsible leadership and sustainable business.
Simon shared the inspirational journey of Who Gives a Crap–which has donated over $10 million–and the importance of doing good being good business. “Purpose becomes this north star that keeps us sailing straight when the sailing is good, and when the sailing gets rough, our purpose becomes this anchor that grounds us and keeps us steady in these rough seas,” he said.
As part of the event, Griffith Business School took the opportunity to announce their Industry Partner of the Year Award: Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ).
During their partnership with the School, TIQ has facilitated many student internship opportunities across multiple key locations in the Asia—Pacific region, and between 2018 to 2020, a total of 117 Business School students have been key beneficiaries of the Griffith Asia Business Internship program.
Trade and Investment Queensland — winners of the 2022 Griffith Business School Industry Partner of the Year award.
Their work is closely aligned to Griffith Business School’s mission to engage with and have impact in the communities we serve, paying particular attention to our enduring relationships with Asian and Pacific countries alongside our goal of creating global students.
“Griffith Business School plays a vital role in building Queensland’s business leaders of the future, and it’s been our pleasure to support them in any way possible,” Acting CEO Richard Watson said as he accepted the award.
“At Trade and Investment Queensland we take our partnership very seriously, and we are committed to driving the growth of young people and enabling good outcomes for our clients. It’s our privilege to share our local and international insights, experience, and connections as we continue to grow regional awareness and build greater relationships for Queensland between the business communities of Australia, Asia and beyond.”
“Griffith’s core principles of excellence, ethics, and engagement resonate strongly with our own values and we are a proud sponsor of the Better Business Dinner,” a spokesperson on behalf of CBA said. “There is strong and positive collaboration with Griffith University across a diverse range of projects ranging from sustainability, student engagement, and the recently announced partnership of the development of the Academy of Excellence in Financial Crime Investigations and Compliance.”
UniSuper’s Chief Marketing and Growth Officer Dani Murrie expressed their pride in the Griffith sponsorship. “UniSuper is proud to be a long-term partner of Griffith Business School, and Griffith University’s super fund of choice,” she said.
“As the fund for Australia’s thinkers, creators and investigators, we are pleased to support Griffith Business School in their mission to nurture and shape the future of business and future generations of great thinkers. We know that anything is possible when great minds come together, and Griffith’s Business School delivers on that promise.”
Professor Byrne closed the evening calling on guests to continue to join the school in creating better business for a better world.
If you would like to join the mail list for the 2023 Better Business Dinner or find out about sponsorship opportunities, please contact us.
We were delighted to have Commonwealth Bank and UniSuper as the Better Business Dinner Silver Event partners. L to R. Professor Rosemary Stockdale, Dean (Engagement). Adam McCarthy, State Manager Advice — Qld, UniSuper. Dani Murrie, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer, UniSuper. Shane Seeto, Associate Director — Institutional Banking & Markets, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Associate Director — Institutional Banking & Markets. Professor Caitlin Byrne, Pro Vice Chancellor (Business)
In a recently published paper, a global team of scientists show that Melanesia, which is centred around New Guinea, is home to around 7% of the world’s frogs in less than 1% of the world’s land area.
“And there is no sign of discoveries slowing down – we estimate that there are likely to be over 700 frog species in the region, more the three times the number found in nearby Australia.
“New Guinea frogs show an amazing diversity of form and behaviour — some of the world’s smallest vertebrates, males with erectile noses, new species that glide through treetops using their webbed fingers, and even a species in which females are estimated to be 40 times heavier than the males.”
New Guinea is the world’s largest and highest tropical island.
Oreophryne oviprotector, by Steve Richards.
A comprehensive conservation assessment shows that by world standards, New Guinea’s frogs are in relatively good shape.
“Deadly pathogens that have devastated frog elsewhere are not currently know from New Guinea,” said Dr Deborah Bower from the University of New England, also an author on the paper.
“However, many species of frog in New Guinea have tiny distributions, this can make them very vulnerable to localised loss of forest.
“New Guinea is often considered a safe haven, but in many areas forest loss is occurring at high rate.
“We are particularly concerned about some newly documented hotspots of localised frog species, especially in the far east of New Guinea.
“Hopefully our growing awareness of this extraordinary natural wealth will enable and support locally driven conservation initiatives.”
The findings ‘Melanesia holds the world’s most diverse and intact insular amphibian fauna’ have been published in Nature Communications Biology.
Addressing how to make our future more inclusive for people with disabilities has seen Griffith University take the top spot in a new research ranking.
This year, The Australian newspaper’s Research supplement added a new feature, naming the top five universities and research institutions that are best equipped (by their research capacity and recent research achievements) to tackle Australia’s top 10 research challenges, which The Australian selected as being: climate change, renewable energy, quantum technology, indigenous research, healthy ageing, food and agriculture, cybersecurity, disability and rehabilitation, media technology, and medical technology and devices.
Griffith was named in the top five in two areas: quantum technology, and disability and rehabilitation – and is the leader in disability and rehabilitation.
“The recognition will help us to achieve our goals, which is to improve inclusive futures, and make inclusive futures for people with disability,” she said.
“We can do that if we’re recognised as a place that can achieve. So I think it’s incredible, I’m so pleased.”
The Australian’s Research supplement also named the top Australian researchers and research institutions in 250 fields of research over eight disciplines, with the aim of highlighting the excellence and relevance of Australia’s research effort.
The selection was made objectively based on the number of citations given by peers to research published in top journals.
Griffith researchers were the top researcher in six fields and Griffith University was the top institution in six fields.
“This is also a recognition for the field of microfluidics that enables faster and more accurate diagnosis of diseases,” he said.
“Microfluidics technology allows for precise handling of small amount of samples and reagents.
“I’m currently working on advancing this technology beyond the state of the art, integrating microfluidics into flexible wearable and implantable devices. This new research field is called micro elastofluidics.”
Griffith proudly launches its Reconciliation Statement, reaffirming its commitment to reconciliation and coming together to create a brighter future that benefits all.
The University’s Reconciliation Statement has been released on National Sorry Day, 26 May, in the lead up to National Reconciliation Week 2022, which is a time of reflection and learning about our shared history, cultures and achievements, and the role everyone can play in the reconciliation of this nation.
The Reconciliation Statement challenges each of us, and Griffith as an institution, to embed reconciliation into all that we do — to make Griffith a better place to learn, to teach, to conduct research and to work with pride, dignity and respect.
Griffith Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans said Griffith acknowledged the integral contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, knowledges and experiences in its learning and teaching, research and engagement.
“The Griffith Reconciliation Statement says to a global audience that we are more than mere words and rhetoric. Rather, we commit to real outcomes and positive change,” Professor Evans said.
“Reconciliation is key to the way we live the Griffith values, and as we move along a path of inclusion, equality and understanding, we recognise reconciliation is a shared process and we each have a role to play.”
“We hold ourselves accountable to the belief that reconciliation is everybody’s business.”
Pro Vice Chancellor (Indigenous) Professor Cindy Shannon
Griffith campuses are located within one of the largest and fastest growing Indigenous populations in Australia.
Professor Cindy Shannon, Pro Vice Chancellor (Indigenous), said the University was uniquely placed to be a leading institution for reconciliation, recognising its role in promoting understanding of the rich history and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this country.
“At Griffith we believe that true reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples is built on relationships of respect that honour both our similarities and our differences,” Professor Shannon said.“The process of developing the statement was itself a reflection of reconciliation.
“It was a coming together of a Reconciliation Statement Steering Committee, with community, staff and student representation, and the Griffith’s Elders and First Peoples Knowledge Holders Advisory Board.”
Professor Scott Harrison, Chair of the Reconciliation Statement Steering Committee and Pro Vice Chancellor (Arts Education Law), emphasised the statement was just the beginning of the University’s reconciliation process.
“Reconciliation embraces all aspects of our work, learning and teaching, research and engagement. There is an ongoing educative process for all of us to reconcile as we have been for some time and as we continue to do,” Professor Harrison said.
The statement is also accompanied by a series of new creative resources using the artwork Together painted by proud Kalkadoon man, and former Griffith staff member, Sid Domic.
‘Together’ by Sid Domic
Learn more about Griffith’s strong commitment to reconciliation here.
National Reconciliation Week–27 May to 3 June–is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” is a challenge to all Australians to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.
A number of events will be held across all campuses including the Reconciliation Statement Launch Walk and Talk, Film Screening, Market Day and a music concert.
‘Together’ by Sid Domic
Griffith University researchers will head to Lamington National Park to recreate a 20-year-old study investigating the effects of climate change on insects.
Dr Louise Ashton
Adjunct Research Fellow Louise Ashton, who also works at the University of Hong Kong, and Professor Emeritus Roger Kitching collected a raft of historical data sets in 2006/07 to assess the diversity and distributions of insects in Queensland’s rainforests.
“Insects are an essential part of our ecosystem and Lamington is the perfect location to study them as it’s a hotspot of biodiversity,” Dr Ashton said.
“We’ll be re-creating our research from 2006/07 to reassess the elevational distribution of plants, birds, ants, moths, spiders, mites, springtails, beetles and environmental factors the microclimate in the forest canopy and at ground level.
Professor Emeritus Roger Kitching
“Not only will we be studying the diversity and distributions of insects after a 1°C warming has occurred, but we will also assess if there has been a general decline in insects — results that has been observed in many other parts of the world.”
Over the last two years, there has been increased discussion on the decline of insects globally, and climate change is already affecting distribution shifts with some species moving to higher elevations and latitudes.
The researchers predict that key species of insects that were restricted to particular elevations (and, therefore, climates) 20 years ago will have moved upwards to avoid the increasing temperature trend.
At the highest elevations — in Lamington’s celebrated Antarctic beech forests — moving up is not an option and it is quite possible local extinctions will have occurred.
Professor Emeritus Roger Kitching said the team would use a number of methods to test distribution shifts in insect species.
“For the moths, we will use modified light traps as in the original study plots for three nights in each of 20 locations from 300m to 1100m above sea level location,” he said.
“Our colleagues from the Queensland Museum will join us to survey ants in the same locations. We use a modified compound bow to shoot canopy lines and sample insect assemblages in the canopy as well as deploying traps in the understorey.
“Automatic data loggers will be used to collect microclimate temperature and humidity data in the canopy and understory over a 12-month period which will help us pin point climatic changes since we last surveyed the area.”
The Griffith research team will be at Lamington National Park for about three-weeks and hope to be able to report on the findings after a second survey round in March 2023.
Griffith University researchers, an undergraduate scholar and even a group of students journalists in Vanuatu will address inaction and offer practical pathways to help meet the targets set out in the Paris Agreement at this year’s Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, or COP27, in Egypt.
The 27th United Nations Climate Change conference will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh from November 6-18. The conference sees countries come together to take action on towards achieving the world’s collective climate goals as agreed under the Paris Agreement and the Convention.
This year, Griffith researchers in tourism, climate adaptation and climate science will attend and present key reports and take part in discussions with leaders in climate action and policy from countries around the world.
GRIFFITH AT COP27
Dr Johanna Nalau, an IPCC Lead Author and climate adaptation scientist, will attend and speak on Tuesday, Nov 8, 13.00-14.30(Saturday, Nov 8, 10.00-11.30 AEDT) – IPCC event: findings relevant to assessing adaptation needs (Working Group II).
Prof Susanne Becken.
Professor Susanne Becken, a sustainable tourism expert from the Griffith Institute for Tourism, will attend and present the Tourism Panel on Climate Change Foundation Document on Thursday, Nov 10, 14.20-15.20(Thursday, Nov 10, 11.20-00.20 AEDT).
Tourism makes an incredibly powerful and positive contribution to human development; however, it is timely to connect fragmented efforts and accelerate cohesive sector climate action for advanced mitigation and adaptation in the decades ahead. TPCC brings together thought leaders from around the world to respond to this clarion call.
TPCC is an independent science-based network of globally leading tourism and climate experts, supported by the Sustainable Tourism Global Centre, committed to changing the way we think about climate change and tourism and mobilizing knowledge to accelerate climate action in tourism.
The Land Gap Report finds over 1 billion hectares of land is implied in countries Net-Zero or NDC pledges, more than can be assumed available. Ensuring biodiversity, food security, land rights and other ecosystem services can see land contribute to climate mitigation without creating a ‘land gap’.
Griffith Honours College undergraduate Angus Brawley, an electrical engineering student specialising in renewables and microgrids) is one of four students awarded the Global Voices scholarship to attend COP27.Angus will attend COP27 fromNovember 13.
GRIFFITH IN THE PACIFIC
In conjunction with theGriffith Climate Action Beacon, Griffith journalism and science students alongside Griffith academics will again visit communities in Vanuatu – in Port Vila and on Tanna — from November 4-20 with the goal of improving the translation and communication of climate change from the perspectives of people from small island nations who are seeing the impacts literally before their eyes.
The students willmeet with local media organisations including BuZZ FM, The Daily Post and Vanuatu Broadcasting, and meet with local and national politicians and senior bureaucrats.
It has been the ongoing mismatch between ‘science’ and ‘communication'(including news media and journalism) that has impacted the quality of public debate and discussion.In addition, the climate change impacts and responses across nations – and in our region – will be shared and exchanged in a meaningful and impactful – in person experience.
In the ongoing saga of Elon Musk’s on-again, off-again acquisition of Twitter, the master plan seems now to be emerging months later.
When the acquisition was first mooted in April 2022, observers thought it strange that Musk should want to buy a social media platform. His offer of USD $44 billion was generous to say the least. Twitter’s board saw it as a hostile takeover and came back with a poison pill type-strategy designed to subvert the takeover. Eleven days later the board had a change of heart and voted unanimously to accept the buyout offer. The sale would put Musk in ultimate control over changes he wanted to make to Twitter.
Now it emerges that an “everything app” with Twitter centre stage was probably the plan all along. The yet-to-be-named app will be along the lines of WeChat, the phenomenally successful Chinese instant messaging, social media, and mobile payment app first released in 2011. WeChat become the world’s largest standalone mobile app in 2018, with over one billion monthly active users.
The ‘everything app’
It is not clear yet what features ‘the everything’ app will have, but it seems likely that Musk will look at the WeChat model and come up with his own, improved version with which to compete with the likes of Meta and Alphabet.
A successful everything app will be worth considerably more than Twitter alone. If all goes to plan, it will give Musk a deep pool of equity that can be borrowed against to fund other projects such as his SpaceX Mars colonisation plan and sustainable energy technologies.
Musk has stated several times that he wants to turn Twitter into a forum that people from both sides of the political spectrum can participate in. This is in keeping with the US Constitution’s First Amendment that guarantees freedom of speech. “Congress shall make no law… abridging freedom of speech.”
How the thorny problem of moderating the excesses of extremist views from both side of the political spectrum is not clear. This means reversing the bans on some Twitter accounts. But where to draw the line between allowable opinion and extremist views? Not an easy problem to solve.
What comes next?
Musk wants to create open-source algorithms that govern how the platform works. Open source means any interested party can take a look ‘under the hood’ at how it all works. Attempts at manipulation or influence can be identified and concerns raised. Some of Twitter’s current algorithms are already open source, but not all.
One benefit will be that the platform will become a safer place for vulnerable users, including women, LGBTIQ individuals, people of colour and ethnic minorities.
An updated Twitter is also likely to feature an ‘edit button’, considered by many as long overdue. A poll of Twitter users found 74% of voters wanted an edit button allowing users to amend a post after posting.
Twitter bots have been a contentious issue. In fact, it was the former management’s contention that only 5% of accounts were bots (not real people) that stalled the acquisition process. Musk maintained the figure was considerably higher and that the Twitter board misled him on this point. Musk will seek to eliminate all bots, not just the “bad” ones that is currently the policy.
And finally, there is likely to be a two-tier membership. The free subscription will continue, but with a paid premium level that gives the subscriber as yet undisclosed additional benefits.
Interesting times ahead for a re-vamped Twitter and a Swiss army knife everything app to rival the highly successful Chinese WeChat and take on the likes of Meta and Alphabet.
Author
Dr. David Tuffley is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics and CyberSecurity at Griffith University’s School of Information & Communication Technology. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. David is a high-profile Griffith academic who appears regularly on local, national and international media “tech-splaining” the social impact of technology. David’s articles published in The Conversation and republished in newspapers like the Washington Post and Chicago Tribune. His work has been translated into German, Chinese, Indonesian and Japanese.
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A Griffith researcher’s significant contributions to the development of sensing technology has attracted a prestigious fellowship.
Professor Huijun Zhao, Director of Griffith’s Centre for Clean Energy and Catalysis, was among the 21 recipients of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) 2022 Fellowships.
ATSE President Hugh Bradlow presented Professor Zhao and the new Fellows at a ceremony in Sydney, and said the new Fellows were shaping Australia’s technology-powered, human-driven future.
“Elected by their peers, ATSE Fellows are leaders in applied science, technology and engineering and we celebrate their exceptional professional contributions to Australian STEM innovation,” Professor Bradlow said.
“While the 2022 new Fellows span multiple critical industries, we are pleased to welcome so many at the forefront of tackling climate change. They are creating better batteries to support renewable energy supplies, increasing efficiency and flexibility of solar cells and panels, and sustainable mining practices.”
Professor Zhao has made significant contributions to the development of electrocatalysis, photoelectrocatalysis and thermocatalysis principles, and nanostructured catalysts for important reactions of solar energy conversion, batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen generation, nitrogen-fixation, biomass-derived platform compounds upgrading, environmental remediation, bactericidal and sensing applications.
He has discovered a suite of photoelectrocatalysis-based sensing principles, and successfully transformed these discoveries into commercial instruments that have brought a paradigm shift for aquatic organic pollutants monitoring/assessment practice.
Professor Huijun Zhao.
Professor Zhao also established an array of catalyst activation principles to unlock the catalytic powers of nonprecious materials that address the shortfalls of catalysts for important catalysis reactions.
He has developed innovative chemical, microbiological and nano-technological approaches to understanding pollutants in aquatic environments and soils.
Professor Zhao’s sensing tools enabled dramatic improvement in water quality monitoring. His PeCOD®sensing technology has been patented worldwide and recommended by Health Canada’s Drinking Water Guidelines for monitoring organic matter in drinking water.
Working with major Australian water utilities and state government, Professor Zhao has also developed new analytical tools for efficient wastewater source control and management.
Irene Bartlett has had a long, illustrious career as a vocal coach, teacher, and mentor to generations of singers across the globe.
Since beginning her academic career at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University in 1996, Irene has been an ever present, if humble and largely hidden figure, behind the careers of generations of talented singers.
Throughout her nearly three decades of service, she has worked with hundreds of singers including national and international recording artists and performers such as Dami Im, Katie Noonan, Kristin Berardi and Elly Hoyt to name a few.
Most recently she was engaged to work with Austin Butler the star of Baz Lurhmann’s latest biopic “Elvis”.
After word of Irene’s expertise reached the ears of Musical Director, Elliot Wheeler, who has worked with Lurhmann on previous films, she was singled out as a singing voice coach who could help Austin to prepare for one of the most demanding roles a singer could ever undertake — the embodiment of the iconic voice of Elvis Presley.
As Irene explains, she travelled to Village Roadshow Studios on either Friday afternoon or Saturdays, as needed “so that I could maintain my everyday lecture/teaching workload at the Con”.
Irene’s role was as the singing voice coach within the creative team who helped Austin craft the speaking voice, diction, and mannerisms of Elvis to bring the larger-than-life character of ‘The King’ to the screen.
“I was one of a number of specialists working with Austin, under the direction of a fantastic Musical Director, Elliott Wheeler” she said.
“My brief was focused on developing Austin’s singing voice technique – to build his vocal stamina to meet the demands of replicating the changing sound, tone and timbre of Elvis’ voice across the years. From the beginning, vocal health was a priority.”
“It was such a pleasure to work with Elliott who was always present to shape the focus of the singing voice training sessions to meet the needs of the production.”
In a recent interview with Headliner Magazine Elliott Wheeler described it this way. “A lot of what I did with Austin was working with a wonderful vocal coach called Irene Bartlett to give him a lot of vocal and breathing exercises, ways of looking after his voice, as well as learning how to access those different types of voices within his body in a way that was sustainable and wouldn’t injure him if he was having to sing for six to eight hours.”
Irene’s work with Austin began in late 2019. Then COVID came and threw a spanner in the works for everyone!
“The entire production was shut down for around 10 months, but throughout that time, Austin stayed in Australia and continued to work with the exercises and practice regime that I had given him. This time allowed him to focus on the processes of building his singing voice. The training sessions began again in late 2020 as production was beginning.” she said.
But how does one prepare an actor to sing in the style of one of the most recognisable voices that has ever been recorded?
Irene said the goal was never to create a carbon copy of Elvis’ voice, but to help Austin to sing the songs that generations of people knew and loved using his own unique voice whilst applying all of Elvis’ idiosyncratic vocal elements.
“Austin is a true professional. He was committed, diligent to the work needed, never shieing away from doing everything and anything that was required to get his voice to where he needed it to be. He was honestly so committed to every aspect of the character he was portraying that it was a joy to help him on his journey.”
While her work in the context of the Elvis movie might be seen as the pinnacle of her teaching career, Irene maintains that it is a love of teaching and fostering young artists that is the legacy she is most proud of.
She reflects on her remarkable career at ‘The Con’ as one “filled with memories”. She insists that she is proud of fostering wonderful local artists who may not appear in a block buster Hollywood film but continue to work as professional musicians in venues around the world.
“I am so blessed to be able to do something that I love for a living, to listen to the amazing young voices coming out of The Con — it is a privilege.
Associate Professor Irene Bartlett doing what she loves at the ANATS conference
“I am voice teacher and style coach first and foremost, and I always want to get the best out of the singers I work with to help them reach their goals. In the time I have with them, I want to help my students to build their voices so that they can make an impact in the music industry and beyond. I hope throughout my career that is what I have been able to do.” she said.
“I am proud to be part of the excellent performance training that students get at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University.
What a wonderful job I have to be able to come to work everyday and help the next generation of contemporary music singers to achieve their goals — that is what I am truly passionate about.
If you are interested in studying at the Queensland Conservatorium, one of Australia’s leading performing arts and music schools, you can find further details here.
