Meet our People: Dr. Leanne White

Dr. Leanne White

Dr Leanne White is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing the School of International Business. Leanne began her association with the VU 30 years ago when she was undertook a Bachelor of Arts degree at Footscray Institute of Technology (FIT). Leanne was also given the honour of being awarded FIT’s inaugural Student of the Year. Her father (Ron White) also taught in some of the same buildings in the 1940s – as Footscray Technical School. Like many who enjoy a long-standing relationship with VU, Leanne has witnessed a few changes in the organisation, seen some faces come and go, and enjoyed a solid working relationship with many outstanding staff across the University.

After her BA, Leanne completed a Graduate Diploma in Education and a Bachelor of Education at La Trobe University. She later returned to Victoria University of Technology (VUT) to complete a Master of Arts degree and teach part-time. Her PhD was undertaken at Monash University and examined official and commercial nationalism at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Prior to rejoining VU and the Faculty of Business and Law in 2004, Leanne was the foundation coordinator of the Communications and Media Studies major at Monash University. During her nine years at Monash, she was responsible for establishing what became the Faculty’s flagship program at the Berwick, Clayton and Caulfield campuses. Leanne also shared her experiences of teleteaching along with other early forms of flexible learning at seminars, conferences and in publications. She was responsible for securing a significant grant which resulted in establishing the University’s online lecture system. Leanne also played a key role in negotiating the establishment of the Monash Centre in Prato, Italy.

Leanne’s research interests include: national identity, Australian popular culture, advertising, commercial nationalism, destination branding, commemorative events, and heritage tourism. She is the author of more than 30 book chapters and refereed journal articles. Her extensive expert commentary and media coverage includes: Radio Australia, The Australian, The Age, Herald Sun, The West Australian, and Campus Review.

Leanne is the co-editor of Tourism and National Identities: An International Perspective (2011), and is currently working with colleague Dr Elspeth Frew on the forthcoming edited volume: Dark Tourism and Place Identity: Marketing, Managing and Interpreting Dark Places (2013), and with co-editors Dr Matt Harvey and Dr Warwick Frost on Wine and Identity: Heritage, Branding and Terroir (2014). All three books are Routledge publications.

In her spare time Leanne enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening, photography, reading and travel. Find out more about Leanne’s publications at the Victoria University Institutional Repository.