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Meet the Team!
Get to know the members of the NASC 2026 Committee
CHAIRPERSON
Alexandra Sim
she/her
University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Arts (Classics & Ancient World Studies); Diploma of Ancient Greek - Third year
I currently work part-time with Dr Vincent Clark Archaeology, and have participated in multiple international projects, most recently at the “La Biagiola” International School of Archaeology (B.I.S.A.) in Italy and the Athens Classical Archaeology School in Greece. I also regularly volunteer at the Hellenic Museum in Melbourne and am the former President of Melbourne University’s Classics and Archaeology Society (MUCLASS). My interests are strongly centred on classical archaeology and archaeological theory, and I hope to pursue future research through a Master’s of Archaeological Science. I am particularly interested in radiometric analysis and the development of dating techniques used on stone artefacts.
VICE-CHAIRPERSON
she/her
Brooke Walsh
The University of Queensland
Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology)
I am currently in my third year of Archaeology at the University of Queensland. I have undertaken fieldwork in both Australia and Mongolia. My primary interests include zooarchaeology and historical archaeology. I enjoy learning about past food ways and preparation practices, and I hope to continue on to do future research in this area.
SECRETARY
Morticia Dutton
she/they
Flinders University
Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology and History)
My research primarily will include genocide and the impact in Cyprus. I will be doing my honours and hopefully PHD on this topic. Personally, I love to read both fiction and non fiction novels, and I crochet! Feel free to come have a chat to me at the conference!
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
he/him
Brynn Achilles
University of Queensland
Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology and Ancient History) - Third Year
I absolutely love most aspects of archaeology but bioarchaeology and zooarchaeology are what interest me the most! Aside from archaeology, I have a great love for ancient history and the myths tied to past societies. The coolest thing about me is my surname and is partially the reason as to why I'm in this field!
GENERAL COMMITTEE
James Kretschmer
he/him
Flinders University
Bachelor of Archaeology - Second Year
My main focus in archaeology is ancient Mediterranean and Mesopotamian civilizations; however, I love learning about all of history. I'm particularly interested in religion, mythology, and folklore, and how these beliefs and stories shape a culture's understanding of the world. In July/June 2025, I volunteered for my first dig in Malta, which was an incredible experience and reinforced my decision to become an archaeologist. I'm itching to get out and dig again.
GENERAL COMMITTEE
she/her
Lily Bails
Macquarie University
Masters of Ancient History - First Year
My main research focus is centred on Central Asia, in particular the ancient cultures of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia. I have participated in field work in rural Mongolia and have studied at the University of Calgary in Canada, and hope to work in research and academics with topics concentrated on the region of Central Asia. I am particularly fascinated with how ancient cultures interacted with each other throughout time and the implications of these cultural interactions through a modern anthropological lens. In my free time I love travelling and volunteering!
EVENTS COORDINATION TEAM
EVENTS COORDINATOR
Holly Reid
she/her
University of Queensland
Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology)
I’m a third-year archaeology undergraduate at The University of Queensland (UQ), with a research interest in bioarchaeology and zooarchaeology, specifically through the lens of bone histology. I am also a senior research assistant on an ARC Future Fellowship project investigating the social and temporal dynamics of human bone loss at UQ. Currently, I am using histo-morphological methods to distinguish between human and animal bone by identifying key differences in their bone microstructure, contributing to a more accurate identification of highly fragmented archaeological assemblages within Australia.
GENERAL COMMITTEE
she/her
Sasha Denman
Macquarie University
Bachelor of Ancient History
My research passions lie in Aboriginal archaeology and history, a field in which I aspire to have a career after university. I hope to work directly with Aboriginal Elders and the community, researching their history through the cultural guidelines that they desire to follow. My experience volunteering at the World Archaeology Congress (WAC-10) in 2025 gave me a deeper appreciation for these events, as they allow people to connect and find a clear direction for their careers.
GENERAL COMMITTEE
Jessica Chipperfield
she/her
University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Arts (Ancient World Studies & English and Theatre Studies); Diploma in Latin - Third year
My research interest is primarily in Rome and the close literary analysis of Latin text. I think that engaging with both archaeological and literary (be they spoken or written) records is vital to improving our understanding of the ancient past. I’ve been the Education Officer of the Melbourne University Classics and Archaeology Society since the beginning of 2025 and I love telling everyone who will listen about how great ancient history is. In my spare time I like reading YA and middle grade fiction (it is Percy Jackson’s fault that I’m doing this degree).
GENERAL COMMITTEE
she/her
Grace Reeve
University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Ancient World Studies
I am a BA (Hons.) student majoring in Ancient World Studies. My thesis involves the examination of interactions between Greeks and Egyptians during the Ptolemaic period through the domestic material record. I have excavated in Calabria, Italy, and have also studied archaeology briefly in Greece. I also work as an archaeologist here in Melbourne, excavating and processing artefacts from both Colonial and Indigenous sites.
TREASURY TEAM
TREASURER
Jalen Green
she/her
Australian National University
Bachelor of Archaeological Practice/Bachelor of Science (Biological Anthropology)
I will be an archaeobotany Honours student in 2026. My current research focuses on identifying the anatomy of Dioscorea spp. to explore the potential for species-level identification in charred assemblages. More broadly, I’m interested in the identification of USOs (underground storage organs) in tropical regions and Australia. Beyond research, I’ve been actively involved in student societies, serving two years as Treasurer of ANU ABACUS and two years as President of the ANU Biology Society.
GENERAL COMMITTEE
she/her
Zara Warwarek
University of Queensland
Bachelor of Science
I'm an archaeology student pursuing a Bachelor of Science, passionate about uncovering the past and understanding human history through science. Whether it's analyzing artifacts, exploring ancient sites, or studying cultural evolution, I’m driven by curiosity and a love for discovery.
GENERAL COMMITTEE
Piper Johns
they/them
University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Arts (Ancient World Studies & History)
My research focus is primarily within the ancient world's religious development, particularly within the shift from paganism to monotheism. I love engaging with primary sources, especially in the case of personal letters and items, painting a picture of the lives of people far before us. I've completed an Internship at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, and I've loved every second of exploring history in both ancient and modern times. As a hobby I enjoy playing historical simulators, which originally sparked my interest in the field. I hope to further explore both ancient and modern history, and conduct my own research in the future.
GENERAL COMMITTEE
he/him
Phillip Mack
University of Queensland
Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology) - second year
My research interest is in Persian history such as the Achaemenid Empire and Medes people. For how expansive and influential these empires were written to be like by Ancient Greek accounts, we don't see as many of their own accounts and influence on culture nowadays as we do with the Greeks, I want to learn more about this largely overlooked part of human history. I've been a part of the National Archaeology Student Conference team as a member of the Treasurer Department and I'm looking to get more involved in Archaeology going into my later years at Uni.