Core Team
Professor Rodrigo Praino - Centre Director
Dr Rodrigo Praino is Professor of Politics and Public Policy and Director of the Jeff Bleich Centre.
He holds a PhD in Political Science and has received several prestigious fellowships, scholarships and awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship. In 2018 he became the first political scientist to win a Tall Poppy Science Award for excellence is scientific research and communication.
Professor Praino is an expert in decision-making and political behaviour, conducting research on elections, voting, and how voters make decisions in a context of low-information. His publications in this area cover a wide range of issues, including the effect of political scandals and corruption, the political behaviour of young voters, the political representation of women, and the role of candidate physical appearance.
Professor Praino is also one of few scholars in Australia engaged in research on space politics and space policy. He is particularly interested in understanding and analysing the importance of space assets for defence, economic development, international relations, and decision-making. He is a co-author of Power, State and Space: Conceptualizing, Measuring and Comparing Space Actors (Springer, 2023).
Professor Praino's research has been published by top peer-reviewed academic journals in the Social Sciences, and has attracted funding from various sources, including the Australian Research Council, SmartSat CRC, Defence, the Australian Space Agency, and UNICEF.
Board Members
Rear Admiral the Hon Kevin Scarce
AC CSC RAN (Rtd)
Kevin Scarce, born in Adelaide and educated at Elizabeth East Primary School and Elizabeth High School. He served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1968, retiring in 2004. His appointments included service on HMAS Sydney during the Vietnam War, postings in Washington and London, Commanding Officer of HMAS Cerberus and Flag appointments as Naval Training and Naval Support Commander.
Kevin specialised in military logistics and procurement, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and Head of Maritime Systems at the Defence Materiel Organisation. After retirement, as Head of the South Australian Defence Unit, he led a government team that contributed to ASC winning the contract to build air warfare destroyers in Adelaide for the Australian Defence Force.
In 2007 Kevin was appointed the 34th Governor of South Australia and served in that role until 2014.
Kevin was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1994, the Knight of Grace in the Venerable Order of Saint John in 2007, Officer of the Order of Australia (Military Division) in 2004 and a Companion of the Order of Australia (General Division) in 2008.
Kevin completed a Bachelor of Financial Administration from New England, Master of Management Economics Degree at the University of New South Wales, and a Master Degree in National Security Strategy at the US War College (National Defense University) in Washington, DC. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Flinders University in 2009 for distinguished service to the public of South Australia and an Honorary Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) from the University of New England in 2014. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
On the 29th March 2015, he was appointed as the Commissioner of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission. The Commission delivered its findings in June 2016.
He served as the 16th Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, was Chair of the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority from 2018 to 2022, Chair of Novita from 2014 to 2022, and is currently Chairman of Operation Flinders, APC Technology, Barossa Australia, Humanihut and Deputy Chairman of Seeley International and Chair of its Audit and Finance Committee.
Shaun Bonett
Shaun Bonett founded Precision Group in 1994 and serves as its CEO & MD, being principally responsible for the strategic direction of Precision in addition to playing an active role in the purchase, finance and development of all the Group's commercial property transactions.
Shaun understands the importance of diversification, which he pursued from 2003 in multiple sectors including health, finance, and technology.
In 2015, after a pitch by Prezzee co-founders, Precision became the startup's primary investor. One of several investments Precision has made outside of its core commercial property business. Precision's firm standing in the world of retail meant it was well positioned to help such an online business flourish. Precision now controls 85 per cent of Prezzee, a global state-of-the-art online engagement platform that enables users a gifting experience that incorporate the purchase of gift cards from a wide array of retailers worldwide. In 2021 Prezzee become an Australian $1billion tech 'unicorn' and is now the leading global online business for gifting.
In addition, Shaun is a Director of Exoflare, Managing Director of Lenders Direct, and the Chairman of Litigation Lending Services, a pioneer of social justice causes for minority groups.
Shaun holds a Bachelor of Arts (Major in Jurisprudence), Bachelor of Law and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of South Australia and is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Australia.
Shaun is a:
- Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors,
- Member of the Young Presidents' Organisation,
- Member of the President's Council of the Art Gallery of NSW,
- Founder of his own charity the Heartfelt Foundation that supports charities and people who no one else will help.
In 2022, The University of South Australia bestowed on Shaun an honorary doctorate for his contributions and accomplishments in the business and philanthropic sectors.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
Follow Flinders
