Dr Natalie Galea

Senior Research Fellow

Biography

Natalie's research focuses on gender equality and human rights in the Australian construction sector, and human rights and athlete abuse in elite sport.

Natalie works closely with industry. Her most recent research examines the effects of a five-day working week on construction workers and their family. Natalie has undertaken research into why gender equality and diversity policies in the Australian Construction sector fail to attract, retain, and progress women construction professionals. She has examined the structural and institutional mechanisms that maintain and reinforce male dominance in the Australian construction sector. Natalie has studied the barriers to inclusion of LGBTQ+ workers in the Australian Construction sector.

Natalie is a founding member of the 'Dignity by Design - Framework for Dignity in the Built Environment' international coalition with IHRB (UK), Rafto Foundation (Norway) and Raoul Wallenberg Institute (Sweden) which aims to mitigate risked to human rights in the built environment lifecycle. She is an adjunct senior lecturer at the Australian Human Rights Institute at UNSW.

Natalie's other research focus is human rights in elite sport including athlete's understanding of their human rights, and the prevalence and consequences of athlete abuse. Natalie is academic lead for the Sports Equity Lab (USA).

Natalie has used her research to advocate for gender justice in the workplace and human rights in sport. She has had her opinion pieces published in The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC and The Australian and her research has featured in a range of international and Australian media and social media outlets.

Prior to her PhD, Natalie worked for almost two decades in the construction sector for construction contractors. She managed construction sites and delivered building and infrastructure projects in Australia and the Middle East and North Africa.

Featured projects

Disciplines

Construction

Research directions

Design and Creative Research Future Cities Healthy Communities and Infrastructure

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