Nilla Wen

Nilla Wen is a higher education professional with experience across research development, industry engagement, and international collaboration.

Nilla is currently seconded as a Research Development Manager in Research Development and Support, where she supports major grant activity and strategic research initiatives, working with researchers and professional staff across the university to develop competitive funding proposals and sustainable research programs.

Prior to her secondment, Nilla led a range of initiatives in Higher Degree by Research (HDR) engagement and partnerships. This included delivering exceptional outcomes under the National Industry PhD Program, supporting multiple successful grant applications, and contributing to the development and strengthening of the University’s HDR industry engagement program. 

She provides advice on policy and governance, supports stakeholder engagement, and contributes to the development of strategic agreements and funding arrangements that underpin research training and collaboration.

Nilla is interested in collaborative approaches to research development, researcher capability building, and continuous improvement across research training and engagement activities.

Nilla is also the National Co‑Chair (2026–2027) of the Australian HDR Industry Engagement Community of Practice, a sector‑wide network representing all Australian universities. In this role, she supports collaboration and knowledge‑sharing across the sector to strengthen connections between academia and industry.