NTI Lecturer Series

Alistair Noble is the President of the Nan Tien Institute and a pianist, composer, and musicologist. With an academic leadership career spanning the University of New England, the Australian Institute of Music, and The Australian National University, he blends strategic thinking with creative practice. An international authority on post-tonal music analysis, Alistair’s scholarly insights are matched by innovative performances and composition. His work is driven by the conviction that the Arts, Humanities, and Social Science disciplines, as fields of research and education, are essential for understanding and transforming our world.

Dr Levy holds a PhD in sociology and Honours degrees in both law and gender studies. Her research investigates women’s lived experience across a range of social sites, including health, therapeutic landscapes and spiritual movements. More recently, she has explored compassionate pedagogy, critical approaches to mindfulness and therapy culture. Nadine’s approach to teaching is student-centred, reflective and grounded in critical theory. For the past decade she has taught in law, gender studies, sociology and, most recently, criminology.

Sylvia Neubacher is the Head of Mental Health at the Nan Tien Institute. She holds a Master of Counselling, and diverse post graduate degrees in counselling, human services, family therapy, teaching and learning. With extensive experience in counseling and supervision as well as leadership roles in higher education, she combines her expertise with a profound interest in the contemplative traditions, particularly Buddhist mindfulness practice and Buddhist psychology which inform her work.

Dr Toby Mendelson graduated from The University of Melbourne in 2014, completing a PhD on the intersection between Nagarjuna and contemporary political philosophy. He then co-founded Arete House an independent institution specialising in teaching philosophy and the contemplative arts (Asian and western) to the general public. He has also continued to teach widely across the disciplines of philosophy, sociology and Buddhism at Melbourne, WSU, Monash and Deakin.