Four UNSW academics elected to Academy of Social Sciences

The researchers were elected for their work advancing refugee wellbeing, tackling gendered violence, driving housing reform and redefining psychological science.

Four UNSW Sydney experts have been elected 2025 Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) for their outstanding contributions to their fields.

Professors Hal Pawson and Jan Breckenridge from UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture, and Professors Benjamin Newell and Angela Nickerson from UNSW Science, were among 22 researchers announced as members of the ASSA.

Dean of Arts, Design & Architecture Professor Claire Annesley and Dean of Science Professor Sven Rogge congratulated the newly elected Fellows.

“We are very proud of their achievements, which reflect the outstanding research culture at UNSW, where we work across the full spectrum of research – from fundamental discovery to delivery of tangible benefits for society,” Prof. Annesley said.

“Jan and Hal are among Australia’s top experts making practical improvements in the fields of gendered violence and housing policy respectively, and are constantly pushing for a greater quality of life for millions of Australians.”

Prof. Rogge said the new Fellows were addressing some of society’s biggest challenges. “Ben’s work is exemplary in its interdisciplinarity and dedication to the application of psychological science to financial, environmental, forensic, medical and broader policy contexts. Angela’s contributions to supporting refugees in Australia through her outstanding research, advocacy, policy and community work have been instrumental in advancing the understanding and support of refugee mental health.”

Tackling gendered violence

Professor Jan Breckenridge understands the very real and significant suffering of victims of abuse and trauma. An expert in gendered violence, she’s been elected a Fellow of the ASSA for making the world safer for women and children through research and policy development.

Prof. Breckenridge is the Head of the School of Social Sciences and Co-Convener of the UNSW Gendered Violence Research Network (GVRN), where she leads research to respond to and prevent gendered violence. “Gendered violence is one of the most prevalent human rights violations affecting our world today. It includes domestic, family and sexual violence experienced by adults, children and young people, and although it occurs across all population groups, studies clearly show that women and children are disproportionately affected,” she said.

One of Prof. Breckenridge’s career highlights was leading the GVRN’s ‘Gendered Violence and Organisations’ program. The initiative provides a suite of expert services including advice, training and e-learning resources to government, private and third sector organisations on best practice policies to respond to family violence.

Prof. Breckenridge said she was incredibly humbled to be elected a Fellow of the ASSA.

“I am honoured by the recognition of my lifelong commitment to addressing gendered violence. I am very grateful for the generous support of my terrific colleagues for their nomination and assistance with the application.”

Driving better policy amid Australia’s housing crisis

As Australia grapples with a housing crisis, Emeritus Professor Hal Pawson has become a familiar name among policymakers, politicians and the media.

Elected to the ASSA for driving better housing and urban renewal planning and policy, Prof. Pawson has dedicated his career to policy-focused housing research, informing contemporary debates about governance and strategy, private rental housing, social and affordable housing and urban renewal. 

He said it was an enormous honour to be elected to the ASSA.

“My election highlights the importance of housing studies, a practical and interdisciplinary field spanning economics, political science, sociology, social policy and law,” he said.

Prof. Pawson, who is associate director at the UNSW City Futures Research Centre, has made a major contribution to housing research and policy in the UK and Australia, co-authoring four books and more than 20 additional book chapters, 50 refereed journal articles and 130 research reports. 

Applying psychological science to major social challenges

Professor Benjamin Newell was elected to the Academy for promoting the application of psychological science to major societal challenges. 

Prof. Newell is an expert in cognitive psychology, focusing on understanding how people think, make choices and form judgments. He takes a multi-disciplinary approach to his research, furthering understanding of the unconscious mind’s role in decision-making, psychological responses to climate change and human responses to exploration and safety.

Prof. Newell said he was honoured to be elected a Fellow of the ASSA. “Changing human behaviour is central to many of society’s biggest challenges and so furthering our understanding of why people do what they do is essential if we are to make progress,” he said.

As founding director of the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response, Prof. Newell leads teams of behavioural scientists, climate experts, economists, accountants and legal scholars from UNSW’s faculties of Science, Business and Law & Justice. Since 2017 he has served as Academic Advisor to the Behavioural Economics Team within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Advancing refugee mental health and wellbeing

Professor Angela Nickerson has devoted her career to supporting the wellbeing of displaced people, and providing evidence-based policy to improve their lives. She has been elected a Fellow of the ASSA for influencing policy and practice to improve outcomes for refugees.

As the Director of the Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program at the School of Psychology, she leads teams that focus on the mental health of people from refugee backgrounds.

“There are more than 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, and less than 1% of refugees and asylum-seekers are permanently resettled. We need the best possible scientific evidence to support those who have fled persecution and war to overcome the psychological impact of these experiences and thrive in their new homes,” she said.

“I have been very fortunate to work with thousands of refugees in Australia, Indonesia and other countries. Refugee communities have overcome enormous adversity and yet are highly resilient. Our greatest achievement has been working with refugee communities to develop new strategies that promote good mental health following exposure to trauma and displacement.”

She said she was proud to be elected a 2025 Fellow.

“This great honour reflects the contributions of the many researchers, students, clinicians and refugees with whom I am grateful to have collaborated with over the past two decades.”