My work on increasing the sustainability and resilience of coral reef fisheries is motivated by a love of problem solving… the joy I get from bringing together different disciplines to look at a common issues, and the strong desire to leave the planet in a better state for my two boys.
I get so much pleasure from helping others…develop their thinking. At a time when it can feel that thinking is under threat…the art of building concepts is something that we should cherish and protect as social scientists.
In our first issue for 2026, congratulations to Fellows receiving Australian Day Honours, plus a wealth of opportunities for Fellows to become more involved with the Academy. View the February 2026 newsletter
Pre-Budget Submission 2026-27 On 30 January 2026, the Academy made a submission to the 2026–27 Federal Budget. The submission made five recommendations to create opportunity and equity in education, strengthen the research ecosystem and address key challenges facing Australia. Click on ‘download’ to read the submission in full.
Academy Fellows recognised with 2026 Order of Australia honours
Submission to the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Education and Employment inquiry into the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025. The Academy strongly supports the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (the…
I try to focus at the intersection between things that need doing and things that I’m good at; most of these are in the cultural dimensions of environmental issues, including climate change.
My career has largely focussed on the use and production of quality information and insights, drawing upon the best available evidence.
I am passionate about exploring the role of Indigenous business in facilitating self-determination.
Professor Rosemary Sheehan Affiliation: Monash UniversityDiscipline: Social workYear elected: 2021 What initially drew you to your field of study? My professional qualification is as a social worker, and I was influenced by growing up in Canberra at a time when there was considerable migration, especially men arriving after working on the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric…
Submission to the National Skills Taxonomy Update: Building a System which Puts People and Skills First The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia made a submission responding to the National Skills Taxonomy (NST) Update Discussion Paper: Building a system that puts skills and people first. The Discussion Paper adopts a skills-first approach and explores…
My research focuses on how to obtain accurate and detailed information from people about events to assist decision-making.
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia expresses its deepest condolences following the horrific terrorist attack on the Australian Jewish community attending the Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach in Sydney. We mourn the lives lost and stand in solidarity with Fellows and all others who have been affected by this senseless…
Submission to the House Standing Committee on Education inquiry into Building Asia Capability in Australia The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia made a submission to the House Standing Committee on Education inquiry into Building Asia Capability in Australia. A strong and sustained Asia capability is fundamental to Australia’s national interests. It underpins social…
Professor Adrian Barnett Affiliation: QUT (Queensland University of Technology)Discipline: Econometric and statistical methodsYear elected: 2021 What initially drew you to your field of study? Some bad luck. I wanted to study English, but only got a D in my A-level. My best A-level was a B in mathematics/statistics, so I decided to study statistics at…
I teach and research Indigenous knowledges, decolonisation, racism, anti-racism, cultural safety and related topics.
Submission to the 2026 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap Issues Paper Survey This submission responds to a survey on the 2026 National Research Infrastructure (NRI) Roadmap Issues Paper and the priority areas and the investments needed to safeguard Australia’s future sovereign research capabilities. The Academy’s submission focuses on the priorities identified in its Decadal Plan for…
In this issue, annual events shine in black and gold, congratulations to Fellows on end-of-year achievements, and new Strategic Plan ready for release. Click to read newsletter.
The length of the working day and the challenges of work-life balance are pressing issues for many Australians, as well as lively matters of public controversy. While the winning of the eight-hour day is celebrated as a past industrial achievement, contemporary discussions of working hours often overlook its rich history. Tracing 150 years of campaigns…
2025 Gala Dinner | Monday 17 November | 6.00 – 10.00pmThe Sydney Opera House, Sydney | Dress Code: Cocktail The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia warmly invites you to join us for our 2025 Gala Dinner. The dinner will be held in the Yallamundi Rooms at The Sydney Opera House in Sydney on…
2025 New Fellows Presentations | Monday 17 November | 1:30pm – 04.00pmFrancis Conference Room | Vibe Hotel Sydney Each year, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia elects the most distinguished social scientists in Australia as Fellows. These New Fellows will join the ranks of over 700 of Australia’s leading researchers and professionals across…
Academic, author and activist Professor Marcia Langton AO FASSA FTSE has been awarded the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia’s Rechnitz Memorial Award – a new award created to recognise excellence in research leadership and advancement of knowledge of Indigenous society, culture and language A descendant of the Yiman and Bidjara nations, Marcia has…
This book, extensively revised and updated in its second edition, presents a comprehensive overview of housing policy in Australia over the last quarter century. At a time of widespread concern about declining housing system performance, it investigates the many dimensions of housing affordability and housing wealth inequality, together with government actions affecting these outcomes. The…
Conceived in 1950, the Colombo Plan for Co-operative Development in South and Southeast Asia was a unique experiment in foreign relations. Meeting annually across what we now know as the ‘Indo-Pacific’, talented administrators facilitated foreign aid provision, and promoted development fuelled state-making, internationalism and experimental regionalism across postwar Asia. David Lowe argues that this new…