Dr. Sonia Palmieri

Biography

Associate Professor Sonia Palmieri is the Head of the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Coral Bell School of Asia and Pacific Affairs, College of Asia and the Pacific at The Australian National University. Her research interests focus on the socio-cultural conditions that legitimize women's leadership within political institutions and parliaments. She has made significant contributions to the theorization and practice of gender-sensitive parliaments, producing academic publications and practitioner-focused toolkits. With over 15 years of experience working in academic, development, and parliamentary institutions, she has held positions within the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, the United Nations Development Program in Hanoi, and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in New York. In addition, she has been involved with the Australian Parliament and has engaged with current and aspiring women in politics across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and notably the Pacific. Her work includes designing and evaluating development programs for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Palmieri holds a BA (Hons) and a PhD from The University of Queensland.

Research Interests

Experience