Biography and expertise
Biography
Barbara is a Human Geographer with over 25 years in academia, focused on global inequality and sustainable development. Her teaching and research centre on social justice for disadvantaged communities. She has held leadership roles at several universities, including Dean and Head of School positions, and is passionate about mentoring colleagues to enhance teaching and research outcomes.
Barbara's work contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals
Research
Barbara’s research focuses on community and strategic planning, NGO roles in development and advocacy, impact assessment, and sustainable development—including food security, forest management, and climate change. Her current work evaluates programs supporting humanitarian arrivals and people experiencing homelessness in regional Australia.
Community engagement
Deputy Chair, Emmanuel Anglican College, Ballina (from 2020)
Research and Higher Degrees Committee, Australian College of Theology (2011-2021)
Member of Academic Board, Excelsior College, Sydney (from 2021)
Prior service includes as Non Executive Director, Oxfam Australia.
Supervision
Barbara has supervised 30 postgraduate research candidates, whose fieldwork spanned ten countries. Many continue as active researchers and academics.
Teaching
Barbara's teaching focused on global inequity, international development, community development planning, sustainable futures and the earth in crisis, sustainability development and research methods.
Other
Barbara has received numerous academic awards, including a Research Fellowship at Oxford (2009) and SCU’s Vice Chancellor’s Impact Award for Social Justice (2019) for collaborative work with Anglicare North Coast. She has also been recognised for excellence in teaching and research supervision. An online toolkit developed with colleagues for Anglicare North Coast received a national award for excellence.