Brian Stoddart

Brian Stoddart, emeritus professor at La Trobe University, where he served as vice-chancellor, is now an international consultant on higher education reform - work which took him to Syria immediately before the current disturbances.

He is also an online columnist for Global Policy Journal, produced by the London School of Economics, is a regular contributor to news sites like The Conversation and a long-time contributor to radio and the press.

His latest book (available on Kindle, Kobo, Nook and iBooks) is A House in Damascus. It records his experiences of living and working in the Old City of Damascus immediately before the present conflict.