Dr. Sharon Bell

Biography

Sharon Bell is an Emeritus Professor with over twenty-five years of leadership experience in the Australian higher education sector. She has held significant positions including Interim Dean of the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific and has contributed to the University of Wollongong and the University of Western Sydney. Professor Bell is recognized for her advocacy of gender equity in tertiary education, having been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in January 2019. Her research focuses on the position of women in the workforce, particularly in the sciences, and includes post-graduate studies in Sri Lanka regarding the incorporation of women into the wage labor force. Bell has played vital roles in cultural diplomacy, enhancing academic cooperation in Indonesia, China, and India. Noted for her thought leadership, she has been a keynote speaker at national conferences and has actively participated in initiatives aimed at ensuring that no community is left behind in higher education engagement. She has a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Sydney and has led multiple significant research projects, including a notable report on women in science in Australia.

Research Interests