Dr Natalie Galea

Natalie Galea is a leading interdisciplinary researcher in gender justice, business and human rights. Her primary research interests are in 1) gender equality in male dominated sectors and 2) gender violence in sport. 

Natalie's research is focused on the structural and institutional barriers to gender justice. Her PhD research focused on the mechanisms that maintain and reinforce male dominance in the Australian construction sector. 

Natalie cut her teeth on an Australian Industry Linkage research project that examined why gender diversity policies in the Australian Construction sector were failing to attract, retain and progress women construction professionals. 

Natalie is committed to accessible knowledge transfer beyond academia. She works extensively with industry exchanging knowledge, capacity building and influencing policy development in the area of gender justice. She is a leading voice in the Australian Construction sector and has been invited to speak about my research and conduct workshops for industry groups and advisory committees, government policy bodies, schools and to individual companies. Natalie has used her research to contribute to the public debate on gender equality in the workplace and human rights in sport. Natalie has had her opinion pieces published in The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC and The Australian. She has commentated 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.

Natalie is an Australian Olympian competing in the 1996 Olympic Games in the sport of Judo. She was the Australian judo team section manager in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Natalie currently sits on the International Judo Federation Athletes Commission. She is a long standing member of the UNSW Judo Club.