Professor Eileen Baldry AO

Eileen Baldry AO (BA, DipEd, MWP, PhD, FASSA) is Emeritus Professor of Criminology at UNSW Sydney. Professor Baldry has held senior leadership positions in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, serving as Interim Dean, Associate Dean Education and Deputy Dean and is the first female Deputy Vice-Chancellor at UNSW.  In 2021, Eileen was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to tertiary education, to criminology and social welfare policy, and as an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion”.

Professor Baldry has taught social policy, social development and criminology over the past 30 years. Her research and publications focus on social justice and include mental health and cognitive disability in the criminal justice system; criminalised women and Indigenous Australian women and youth; education, training and employment for prisoners and ex-prisoners; homelessness and transition from prison; Indigenous justice; Indigenous social work; community development and social housing; and disability services.

Professor Baldry has been and is a Chief Investigator on numerous Australian Research Council (ARC), NH&MRC, AHURI and other grants over the past 25 years, contributes to Commissions and Inquiries and has published over 130 peer reviewed books, articles and reports.

She has been involved in a voluntary capacity with a number of development and justice community organisations. Professor Baldry has served as Chair of a number of homelessness and justice related committees and is currently Chair of the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission’s Advisory Board. During her time as Deputy Chair of the Disability Council NSW, Eileen advised the Minister and public authorities on emerging issues relating to people with disability.

As Co-Chair of Universities Australia Executive Women Group (UAEW) 2019-2020, Eileen led this national group in providing strategic advice and high-level guidance to Australian Universities on improving the representation of women, both academic and professional, at executive levels of university leadership and governance.

Professor Baldry is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and of the Royal Society of NSW, was awarded the NSW Justice Medal in 2009 and in 2016 was named in the AFR/Westpac 100 most influential women in Australia.

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