Meet Dr Thili

Dr Thili Wijesinghe is an Education Designer within the Education Design, Quality, and Standards Division at James Cook University and a proud Fellow of The Cairns Institute. Originally from Sri Lanka, Thili brings a deep, cross-cultural perspective to her work, shaped by experiences in regions profoundly impacted by both climate change and colonial histories. Her research is grounded in a commitment to reimagining education as a force for justice, sustainability, and collective wellbeing—particularly within the unique ecological and cultural landscapes of Northern Australia and the Tropics.

Thili’s work is inherently interdisciplinary, spanning English Literature, Journalism, International Relations, and Education. This diverse foundation enables her to explore the big questions of our time: How can education empower communities to navigate planetary challenges? How might we centre Indigenous knowledge systems, local wisdom, and the arts to imagine regenerative futures?

Positioned at the intersection of sustainability, social justice, and transformative learning, Thili’s current research investigates the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, particularly as it relates to environmental responsibility and equity. She is exploring how emerging technologies like generative AI might reshape assessment design, knowledge production, and academic integrity, while also considering the potential of creative, arts-based methods to engage students and communities in critical conversations about climate change, adaptation, and care for place.

Thili is deeply committed to place-based pedagogy, working to ensure that learning experiences within the university context are responsive to the lived realities of the Tropics and Northern Australia, and are designed in partnership with the diverse communities who call this region home. Her practice is guided by a belief that education must not only inform but also transform—creating spaces where learners can grapple with the complexities of the present while collectively imagining more just, inclusive, and ecologically attuned futures.

Nationally, Thili serves on the Executive Committees of both the Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) as a committee member and the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) as an ordinary member. She also co-convenes the Environmental Sustainability in Education Special Interest Group (AARE), contributing to national conversations about the future of education in a rapidly changing world.

As part of The Cairns Institute community, Thili is excited to collaborate with researchers, educators, and local knowledge holders who are working at the forefront of sustainability, inclusion, and regional resilience.

She is based on Nguma Bada campus and always happy to connect with others. She can be reached at thilinika.wijesinghe@jcu.edu.au