Mark Balnaves University of Newcastle, UK

Mark Balnaves is Professor and Senior Research Fellow in New Media at Curtin University.  He is located with the Department of Internet Studies within the School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts.  His Fellowship focuses on the role of new media, especially social networking tools, in enhancing the link between citizens and governments.

Professor Balnaves conducted for Telstra Multimedia Australia’s first major adoption and diffusion study of broadband possibilities in Gungahlin, ACT (at a time when the phrases 'narrowband' and 'broadband' were not in the popular lexicon).  This study contributed to the formation of Telstra’s Bigpond.  The studies also contributed to the established of ACTEW’s TransACT, Canberra’s broadband provider. His current work at Curtin University is on e-governance and the role of new media in enhancing the link between citizens and government.  His publications are in audience research, theories of media and the role of the Internet in the public sphere.