Academy President, Professor Kate Darian-Smith, said, ‘The appointment of all new Fellows to the Academy is a recognition of their remarkable contributions to the social sciences as researchers, policy leaders and public intellectuals. We are incredibly proud to welcome them to the Academy.’
‘This year’s cohort exemplifies the Academy’s mission to support and amplify the voices of social science researchers working on the critical issues facing Australia and the world.’
The Academy’s rigorous election process ensures that only those who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship and impact are invited to join as Fellows. They are leaders in research, educators and public intellectuals who are shaping policy, enhancing public understanding and contributing to meaningful change.
A video profiling the newly elected Fellows and featuring interviews with Professor John Williams AM and Professor Anika Gauja is available here.
Photos of all new Fellows are available here.
Media contact: Vanessa Barratt, Communications Director: 0450 018 752
The newly elected Fellows for 2025 are:
Australian Capital Territory
Professor Michelle Ryan
Gender equity pioneer
Coined the term ‘glass cliff’ along with research partner Professor Alex Haslam
Professor and Director, Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, and Professor of Diversity, The Australian National University
Dr Steven Kennedy PSM
Public service and policy leader
Major contributions to Australian economy society and policy knowledge
Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Professor Helen Keane
Addiction and substance use sociologist and thought leader
Fighting drug and alcohol addiction stigma
Professor, Research School of Social Sciences, ANU
New South Wales
Professor Alex Broom
International leader in health, illness and care
Person-centred approach to the social, political and economic aspects of health and care
Director, Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies and Professor School of Social Sciences, The University of Sydney
Professor Benjamin Newell
Decision-making and psychological science expert
Promoting the application of psychological science to major societal challenges
Director, UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response
Professor, School of Psychology UNSW
Professor Angela Nickerson
Refugee mental health researcher and advocate
Influencing policy and practice to improve outcomes for refugees
Professor, School of Psychology, UNSW
Leadership Fellow, National Health and Medical Research Council
Professor Hal Pawson
Housing policy researcher and advocate
Driving better housing and urban renewal planning and policy
Professor of Housing Research and Policy, School of Built Environment, UNSW Sydney
Professor Anika Gauja
Political scientist and research sector leader
Internationally recognised contributions to knowledge of representative democracies
Executive Director, Australian Research Council
Professor Adeline Delavande
Health behaviours expert
Improving health, education and economic outcomes through knowledge of individual decision making
Professor of Economics, University of Technology
Professor Jan Breckenridge
Gender-based violence expert
Making the world safer for women and children through research and policy development
Head of School, School of Social Sciences, University of NSW
Antony Green AO (Honorary Fellow)
Psephologist, data scientist and journalist
Major contribution to public understanding of democracy and elections
Election Analyst, ABC
Queensland
Professor Helen Ross
Human-environment relationships and policy expert
Among the first social scientists to contribute to environmental management and sustainable development in Australia
Professor Emeritus, School of Agriculture & Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland
Adjunct Professor, University of Manitoba
South Australia
Professor John Williams
Australian law and public policy leader
Significant contribution to the national and international understanding of Australian constitutional law and legal history
Provost/Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Adelaide
Victoria
Professor Christine Bigby
Social work and disability scholar and changemaker
Improving social inclusion of adults with intellectual disabilities
Director, Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University
Professor Yuming Guo
Global environmental and climate health expert
Understanding the impact of air pollution and climate change on human health
Head, Climate & Air Quality Research Unit (CARE Unit), Monash University
Professor, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University
Professor Josephine Barraket AM
Social enterprise and innovation expert
Creating a fairer world through social equity and social change research
Director, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, The University of Melbourne
Professor of Policy Studies, School of Social and Political Studies, The University of Melbourne
Professor Mark Wang
China studies expert and leader
Outstanding contribution to knowledge about China, the geographical study of China and Chinese geography
Director, Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies, The University of Melbourne
Professor, School of Geography Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Professor Michelle Brown
Workplace performance and reward management pioneer
Enhancing public understanding of pay communications at work
Professor, Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Melbourne
Professor Guay Lim
Macroeconomics and forecasting expert
Contributions to Australian macroeconomic forecasting and policy models
Professorial Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne
Western Australia
Professor Loretta Baldassar
Transnational families, ageing and migration expert
Advancing migration and ageing public policy
Vice Chancellor’s Professorial Research Fellow, Edith Cowan University
Professor Stephen Houghton
Educational psychology and special education expert
Improving outcomes for children and adolescents with developmental and disruptive behaviour disorders and
Director, Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Clinic, The University of Western Australia
Professor, The Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia
Professor Farida Fozdar
Migrant settlement, racism and nationalism expert
Promotion of cross-cultural understanding
Dean, Global Futures (Humanities), Curtin University