From Newsrooms to Academia: A Hybrid Career Path
Moore’s trajectory defies traditional categorization. After early roles at ABC Television and as a documentary maker, he transitioned into academia while maintaining active journalism ties. This dual perspective informs his unique approach:
- 1990s-2000s: Investigative education reporting for Brisbane Times
- 2009-Present: Head of Communications at Monash University’s School of Media
- 2012-2025: Lead researcher on ARC-funded cultural innovation projects
Defining Works: Three Pillars of Public Scholarship
- OFFICE HOURS: Catrina Hamilton-Drager This 2025 Brisbane Times profile exemplifies Moore’s ability to humanize complex scientific work. Through physicist Catrina Hamilton-Drager’s research on young stellar systems, Moore explores the intersection of academic rigor and public science communication. The piece meticulously traces her team’s 18-year study of KH 15D, using observational astronomy to demonstrate how scientific breakthroughs emerge through sustained collaboration.
- Conviction Politics Moore’s decade-long research into Australia’s convict-era democracy, funded by the Australian Research Council, redefined historical narratives. His digital humanities project maps how transported radicals shaped colonial governance structures, blending archival research with geospatial analysis. The work has informed three museum exhibitions and parliamentary education programs.
- One Of A Kind Making Things Happen This memoir-business hybrid distills Moore’s philosophy of "applied creativity." Through case studies from his media and academic careers, he argues for interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving. The book’s conversational tone masks sophisticated analysis of Australia’s cultural policy landscape.
Strategic Pitching Insights
1. Contextualize Education Innovations Historically
Moore consistently frames contemporary education issues through historical lenses. His analysis of COVID-era remote learning (Brisbane Times, 2023) drew parallels to 19th-century correspondence schools. Effective pitches should demonstrate awareness of how new technologies continue or disrupt educational traditions.
2. Surface Underrepresented Cultural Narratives
The Conviction Politics project highlights Moore’s interest in marginalized historical actors. His 2024 series on Indigenous knowledge systems in STEM education shows this applied to current issues. Pitches should identify similar untold stories with contemporary relevance.
3. Bridge Academic and Public Discourse
As both practitioner and scholar, Moore values research with real-world applications. His award-winning documentary on Australia’s bohemian tradition (ABC, 2018) exemplifies this. Successful pitches will show how academic insights can inform public policy or cultural understanding.
Awards and Recognition
- 2023 Australian Media Innovation Award Recognized for developing Monash University’s Media Futures Lab, which partners journalists with AI researchers. The judging panel noted its "transformative approach to preserving investigative rigor in digital ecosystems."
- 2021 Prime Minister’s History Prize (Shortlist) His digital archive "Rebel Voices 1788-1868" preserved 5,000+ documents from transported radicals. Historian Clare Wright praised it as "democratizing access to Australia’s foundation stories."
