Dr Mairead O' Connor

Dr. Mairead O'Connor is an accomplished information systems researcher and academic with a PhD that specialised in software development teams, remote work, and agile methodologies. She has supervised a number of honours student research on Virtual Reality Technology in information systems development (ISD) teams as well as agile ISD workers post-COVID-19. Through extensive engagement with industry project partners such as Dell EMC and Fidelity Investments, her research is informed by real-world experience and practical application, and has been published in prestigious academic outlets including the International Conference on Information Systems and the Information and Management Journal. 

Currently, Dr. O'Connor's research explores gender intersectionality theory in the context of ISD. The practical implications of this research include the development of more inclusive and equitable ISD methods, which can lead to the creation of technology that meets the needs of diverse user groups. The research implications include advancing knowledge and understanding of gender and intersectionality in the field of IS, and identifying best practices and strategies for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in technology development. She also has ongoing projects in the area of Sports Digitalisation, Remote Work, Virtual Reality, and the MetaVerse.

In addition to her research contributions, Dr. O'Connor is also a highly skilled educator with extensive experience teaching and designing courses. She teaches Business Analysis and Agile Product Management at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She is committed to engaging her students in real-world problem-solving and has brought the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to her classroom, where she guided her students to solve a WWF problem using the Sandbox model. This approach allows students to explore, experiment, and learn by tackling real-world challenges. She has also designed courses on Business Process Management for Suncorp, and she also designs and teaches courses on Sports Digitalisation for professional sports teams.

Dr. O'Connor is committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity in the field of information systems. She is a Diversity and Inclusion Award winner, based on her work with minority groups in Tech. She also currently serves as the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion School Representative, demonstrating her dedication to creating a welcoming and inclusive learning and research environment. In addition, Dr. O'Connor is the Bachelor of Commerce (Information Systems) Stream Coordinator, where she oversees the Information Systems major of the Bachelor of Commerce degree. 

Dr O' Connor also contributes to the Wall Street Journal and advises the United Nations Women.