Ryan Daniel

Professor Ryan Daniel has interests in music, artists' careers, creative industries, creativity, innovation, cultural policy and continuous improvement and leadership in higher education arts environments. After completing a Bachelor of Music Honours degree in 1994 (Class I and University Medal), Professor Daniel completed a Master of Music degree on scholarship at the University of Cape Town where he studied with the renowned chamber musician Lamar Crowson. Following a short period in Manchester where he worked with a leading Beethoven scholar, Dr Barry Cooper, Ryan returned to commence an academic career at James Cook University, completing his PhD in 2005.

Professor Daniel was appointed as Foundation Head of School of Creative Arts at JCU from 2007-2011. In 2011 he was awarded the Career Development Association of Australia ‘Research Award’ for the best article by an Australian author published in the Australian Journal of Career Development in 2010. He has over 50 peer reviewed publications, with many in leading international journals including the International Journal of Cultural Policy, Studies in Higher Education, Creative Industries, British Journal of Music Education, Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, CoDesign, Arts and Humanities in Higher Education and Music Education Research. Professor Daniel has achieved significant awards for his teaching, including twice winner of the JCU Vice Chancellor’s citation for teaching excellence (2004, 2006), as well as a national ALTC citation (2010). In both 2018 and 2020 he was awarded the Graduate Research School "Supervisory Panel of the Year" award with his colleagues. He is a reviewer for a range of journals and book publishing houses as well as grants assessor for Arts Queensland.

Professor Daniel is currently Chief Academic Officer at Excelsia College in Sydney, in addition to Adjunct Professor at James Cook University. His most recent monograph is "Global Crisis and the Creative Industries" published by Routledge (2024).