HBC Staff

Venerable Dr Juewei

Director, Humanistic Buddhism Centre; Head of Program, Applied Buddhist Studies and Humanistic Buddhism, Nan Tien Institute

Venerable Dr Juewei holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies, a Master of Arts in Buddhist studies, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering. Juewei began her career as an applied R&D engineer in Artificial Intelligence systems in the 1980s, however made her decision to join the Fo Guang Shan order when she realised that she could be of the best service to humanity through promoting humanistic values in an increasingly divided world. Juewei is now Head of Program for Applied Buddhist Studies and Humanistic Buddhism, Director of the Humanistic Buddhism Centre, and Senior Lecturer at Nan Tien Institute in Australia, where she teaches subjects supported by her research.

Dr Michael Murphy

Dr Murphy is editor of the journal Studies on Humanistic Buddhism and researcher at the Humanistic Buddhism Centre.

Joseph Frawley

Joseph is a research assistant at the Project Engagement Coordinator at the Humanistic Buddhism Centre. He is a graduate of Australian National University and Nan Tien Institute.

Dr Sioh-Yang Tan

Sioh-Yang is a research assistant at the Humanistic Buddhism Centre. Tan’s research interest lies in Humanistic Buddhism, transnational flow in Buddhist organisations and modern applications of Buddhist teachings.

HBC Advisory Committee

Rodney Vickers, Chair

Rod has spent 25 years as a teacher and researcher. He has extensive experience in academic leadership, including time as Head of School and Associate Dean – Teaching and Learning. As Dean of Studies, Rod sees his role as implementing the values of Nan Tien Institute and assuring academic standards as required by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.

Professor Alistair Noble

President, Nan Tien Institute

Professor Alistair Noble, appointed President of Nan Tien Institute (NTI) in 2025, is a creative and strategic leader whose executive experience spans the breadth of Australian higher education, including public (The Australian National University/ANU), private (Australian Institute of Music/AIM), and regional (University of New England/UNE) environments. He recently served as Head of School and Professor of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) at UNE (2020-2025). Previous roles have included Executive Dean at AIM (2018–2020) and Associate Dean at ANU (2010–2013).

Venerable Dr Juewei

Director, Humanistic Buddhism Centre; Head of Program, Applied Buddhist Studies and Humanistic Buddhism, Nan Tien Institute

Sylvia Neubacher

Head of Program, Mental Health, Nan Tien Institute

Sylvia holds a Master of Counselling, and diverse post graduate degrees in counselling, human services, family therapy, teaching and learning. With extensive experience in counseling and supervision as well as leadership roles in higher education, she combines her expertise with a profound interest in the contemplative traditions, particularly Buddhist mindfulness practice and Buddhist psychology which inform her work. Emphasising humanistic principles such as integrity, authenticity and empathy, Sylvia fosters a compassionate and safe space for colleagues, students and clients. Her unique approach combines academic and contemplative methods aiming not only to make learning relevant and applicable but also achievable and transformative.

Dr Nadine Levy

Head of Program, Health and Social Wellbeing, Nan Tien Institute

Dr Levy holds a PhD in sociology and Honours degrees in both law and gender studies. Her research investigates women’s lived experience across a range of social sites, including health, therapeutic landscapes and spiritual movements. Her PhD examined the themes of belonging, emotions and social connection in the context of Intentional Communities in late modern society. Nadine is a committed Buddhist practitioner and is currently completing teacher training in the Insight meditation tradition. As such, she has a particular interest in Buddhist sociology / a sociology of Buddhism and the ways these two paradigms can enliven each another.

Dr Toby Mendelson

Lecturer, Applied Buddhist Studies, Nan Tien Institute

Dr Toby Mendelson graduated from The University of Melbourne in 2014, completing a PhD on the intersection between Nagarjuna and contemporary political philosophy. He then co-founded Arete House an independent institution specialising in teaching philosophy and the contemplative arts (Asian and western) to the general public. He has also continued to teach widely across the disciplines of philosophy, sociology and Buddhism at Melbourne, WSU, Monash and Deakin.

Dr Elizabeth McDougal

Lecturer, Applied Buddhist Studies, Nan Tien Institute

Dr McDougal holds a PhD from University of Sydney and an MA (Indian Philosophy) from Banaras Hindu University. Dr McDougal trained as a Buddhist nun in India and on the Tibetan Plateau for seventeen years. She has taught in the Primary Ethics program (NSW), is a Tibetan-to-English translator for the teachings of a lineage of contemplative nuns and is the co-founder of Gebchak Rigpa Harsey. Dr McDougal is inspired by the transformative learning systems of pre-modern Buddhist traditions and is passionate about adapting contemplative pedagogy in creative ways.

Associate Professor Nicholas Van Dam

Director, Contemplative Studies Centre, The University of Melbourne

Associate Professor Nicholas Van Dam is the inaugural Director of the Contemplative Studies Centre, The University of Melbourne. Nicholas is a highly regarded global leader in contemplative research and practice with a strong commitment to interdisciplinary dialogue and empirical rigour. His research explores the ways that meditation and mindfulness practices can support wellbeing, in pursuit of a better understanding of the human condition. He completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University at Albany, SUNY (USA), and previously worked at New York University, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, and the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Lewis Lancaster

Adjunct Professor, Nan Tien Institute

Emeritus Professor Lewis Lancaster is one of the most renowned Buddhist Studies scholars in the world. His academic and professional qualifications are extensive and have largely revolved around theology and linguistics. He has taught at the University of California, Berkeley for 33 years. He held the D.H. Chen Distinguished Professor in Buddhist Studies chair and is now Professor Emeritus. In 1991, he helped to form the program for the University of the West, started at Hsilai Temple in Los Angeles and he is still an adjunct Professor. In 2006 he was appointed President of the University. He has been Adjunct Professor for Applied Buddhist Studies and Humanistic Buddhism at the Nan Tien Institute since 2013.

Venerable Miao Guang

Deputy Chancellor, Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism

Ven. Miao Guang is the Personal English Interpreter to the founder of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order — Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who has been teaching and spreading the Dharma across all five continents of the world for over five decades. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Department of Asian Studies, University of New South Wales, and went on to complete her Master in Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University, focusing on the studies of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism, Buddhism in the 21st century, Buddhist textual translation, and Humanistic Buddhism. She is currently serving at the FGS Institute of Humanistic Buddhism as Deputy Chancellor for International Affairs, which focuses on research and studies of Humanistic Buddhism, localisation, and acculturation of Fo Guang Shan temples around the world.

Gawaine Powell Davies

Chair, Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils and Buddhist Council of NSW

Gawaine is Chair of the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils and the Buddhist Council of NSW. He has practised in the Insight / Western / Secular Buddhist traditions for the past 20 years and is a recognised teacher within the Insight tradition. Before his retirement he was a Director of the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity at the University of NSW. He is on the Board of Nan Tien Institute and has done occasional teaching within the Humanistic Buddhist program.