Dr. Ilana Finefter-Rosenbluh

Ilana is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Monash University, Australia. Before joining Monash University, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow and research affiliate with the Justice in Schools project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has been a Visiting Scholar at the University of Oxford and the University College London in 2024.

A school counsellor by training, Ilana works at the intersection of assessment, educational ethics, and student voice. In doing so, she draws upon interdisciplinary scholarship as well as her extensive work experience counselling and teaching in different international public and private schools. She is currently working on projects examining the ethical use of student voice data and community activism to improve educational experiences and create more equitable environments for all. Ilana’s work in these areas has been supported by various national organisations, including the Trawalla Foundation, the Besen Family Foundation, and the Loti and Victor Smorgon Family Foundation.  

Ilana has worked with a range of institutions and professional organisations, including the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, the Australian Council for Student Voice, the Australian Council for Educational Research, the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, the Social and Citizenship Education Association of Australia, Social Education Victoria, and Social Ventures Australia. In 2022, she was awarded the Monash University, Faculty of Education Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research Engagement and Impact.

Ilana has several well-received pieces in The Conversation and her work was covered by numerous media outlets, including ABC News, The Herald Sun, The Guardian, and SBS World News. She is the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Student Voice, which is a unique peer-reviewed, open access e-journal publishing on the ways in which educators and students co-lead schools and communities to address pressing problems in contemporary society. The journal is designed to provide a safe space for educators, students, scholars, educational leaders, and community members to share everyday practices and create opportunities for social-educational improvement.