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COVID-19 experts available for comment

UNSW has a wide range of experts available for comment on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published on the 25 May 2020 by UNSW Media
Artist impression of the COVID-19 virus. Image: Shutterstock.
Artist impression of the COVID-19 virus. Image: Shutterstock.

The following UNSW experts are available for media interviews this week. For more COVID-19 commentary and content, visit the UNSW Newsroom.

Business

For media enquiries contact Dawn Lo on 0433 018 180 or dawn.lo@unsw.edu.au. 

  • Professor of Practice Jennie Granger from the School of Taxation and Business Law is available to comment on tax reforms to help Australia pay its national debt post-coronavirus.
  • JW Nevile Fellow Tim Harcourt from the School of Economics is available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on globalisation, technology and outsourcing of jobs. 
  • Dr Yenni Tim from the School of Information Systems and Technology Management is available to comment on how to protect yourself from cyber threats in a pandemic.
  • Associate Professor Nitika Garg from the School of Marketing is available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on consumer behaviour (e.g panic buying). 
  • Banking and Finance Associate Professor James Doran can comment on the impact on finance, the share market and investors.
  • Economics Professor Richard Holden can comment on the impact on the global economy.
  • Taxation and Business Law Professor Pamela Hanrahan can comment on the Australian Government’s business relief package, corporate law and capital markets law changes, and the impact on superannuation.

Centre for Social Impact social policy experts 

For media enquiries contact Nicola Hannigan on 0407 075 307 or n.hannigan@unsw.edu.au.

  • Dr Cobi Calyx can comment on disaster response and recovery, science communication and health promotion.
  • Associate Professor Gemma Carey can comment on disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
  • Chris Hartley can comment on housing, homelessness and social housing policy.
  • Professor Kristy Muir can comment on disadvantage, poverty, social cohesion, homelessness and housing, government policy, wage subsidies, Universal Basic Income (UBI) and leadership.
  • Dr Megan Weier can comment on measuring social progress, wellbeing and access to pharmaceuticals.

Built Environment

For media enquiries contact Ben Knight on 0422 651 085 or b.knight@unsw.edu.au.

  • Urban design expert Dr Mike Harris can comment on temporary changes to street design (such as pop-up cycleways and widening of footpaths).
  • Rental housing and housing affordability expert Dr Chris Martin from UNSW City Futures Research Centre can discuss tenancy law and renters' rights.
  • Architecture Professor David Sanderson is available to discuss urban resilience.
  • Associate Professor Paul Osmond can discuss the importance of green spaces during COVID-19.

Law

For media enquiries contact Ben Knight on 0422 651 085 or b.knight@unsw.edu.au.

  • Law Professor Graham Greenleaf can discuss the relevance of data privacy laws in relation to the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Criminology Professor Eileen Baldry can discuss the government’s early conditional release of NSW prisoners to stop the virus spreading in prisons.
  • Family law expert Dr Noam Peleg can discuss the impact of COVID-19 on parenting arrangements.
  • Human rights expert Scientia Professor Louise Chappell can talk about human rights under COVID-19. Contact Gabrielle Dunlevy on 0423 972 801. 
  • Professor Jane McAdam, Director of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, can discuss the impact on refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced people.

Arts and Social Sciences

For media enquiries contact Ben Knight on 0422 651 085 or b.knight@unsw.edu.au.

  • Experimental Arts Professor Jill Bennett is available to comment on creative, trauma-informed responses to distress and older peoples’ experiences.
  • Political media expert Honorary Associate Professor David McKnight can talk about the lessons of the epidemic for small government.
  • Social researcher Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan can discuss animal cruelty in Asian wet markets and the move to ban trade in wild animal meat, and the effects of COVID-19 crisis on companion animals.
  • International and food security expert Dr Monika Barthwal-Datta can discuss panic buying and food security.
  • Political Science and International Relations Professor Fengshi Wu from UNSW Arts & Social Sciences can discuss societal responses in relation to China in the COVID-19 era.
  • Global Health and Development Professor Anthony Zwi can comment on global health and policy responses.
  • Social policy and governance expert Associate Professor Bingqin Li can discuss social distancing and lockdowns.
  • Professor Deborah Lupton from UNSW's Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Research Centre can discuss people's use of digital health and their views on health data privacy. 

Health and Science

For media enquiries contact Isabelle Dubach on 0432 307 244 or i.dubach@unsw.edu.au.

  • Biosecurity expert Professor Raina MacIntyre, Kirby Institute at UNSW Medicine
  • Professor Anthony Kelleher, Director of the Kirby Institute at UNSW Medicine, leads the Institute's development of COVID-19 immunotherapies. The Kirby Institute is conducting various COVID-19 research projects, including cohort studies, clinical trials, treatment studies, modelling, surveillance and intervention studies.
  • Epidemiologist Professor John Kaldor, Public Health Interventions Research Group Head, Kirby Institute at UNSW Medicine
  • Professor Greg Dore, Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program Head, Kirby Institute at UNSW Medicine, can discuss COVID-19 testing and types of tests.
  • Infection control expert Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, UNSW Medicine
  • Virologist Professor Bill Rawlinson, UNSW Medicine
  • Virologist Dr Sacha Stelzer-Braid, UNSW Medicine
  • Virologist Professor Peter White, UNSW Science (unavailable Thursday morning)
  • Social Scientist Dr Holly Seale, UNSW Medicine, can discuss social/behavioural responses (such as social distancing, face masks, vaccinations, infection control) and strategies to promote acceptance/engagement.
  • Dr Adrienne Withall, UNSW Medicine, can discuss mental health and wellbeing in relation to ageing.
  • Epidemiologist Dr Abrar Chughtai, UNSW Medicine, can discuss prevention and control of COVID-19 through the use of masks and respirators.
  • Pharmacist and Health Management expert Dr Ramesh Walpola, UNSW Medicine, can discuss community pharmacy services in relation to COVID-19.
  • Professor Richard Buckland, UNSW Engineering, can discuss cybersecurity, the Australian Government's contact tracing app and staying digitally connected.
  • Associate Professor of Food Microbiology Julian Cox, UNSW Engineering, can discuss safe food hygiene practices.