Associate Professor Sue Williamson
Sue Williamson is an Associate Professor of Human Resource Management in the School of Business at UNSW, Canberra.
Research Interests
Sue Williamson specialises in two main areas of research – gender equality in the workplace, and public sector human resources and industrial relations. Sue is combining these two areas and for the past few years has been examining how various public sector agencies implement gender equality initiatives. Recent research includes examining merit in the public sector, how public sector employees worked from home, including analysing the gendered impacts of remote and hybrid working. Sue also examined the most recent round of collective bargaining in the Australian public service. Sue and colleagues are currently examining productivity and hybrid working in the public sector. Sue has also trained public servants on how to conduct gender analysis and gender impact assessments.
Sue has partnered with various state government and Australian Government agencies on projects aimed at progressing workplace gender equality. Please email Sue if you would like to discuss a possible research partnership.
Current Research Projects
Working from home and hybrid work in the public service
Gender equality in the public service
Teaching Areas
Undergraduate and post-graduate human resource management; post-graduate diversity management.
Note: Photo credit - Alexandra Orme Photography
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
2024 Winner of the Journal of Industrial Relations Fran Hayes award for a major contribution to research on equity in industrial relations. Awarded for the article ‘Regulating for gender equality in the Australian Public Service: Extending Dickens’ tripod of regulation’, Journal of Industrial Relations, 65:3, 274-296.
2024 Winner of the O'Leary prize for excellence in scholarship in gender and public administration, for Williamson, S, Taylor, H and Weeratunga, V. (2023) “Working from home during COVID-19: What does this mean for the ideal worker norm?”, Gender, Work and Organization, 31: 2.
2023 Winner of the 2022 Sam Richardson Prize, for Foley, M, Cooper, R, Colley, L and Williamson, S (2022). 'Best person or best mix? How public sector managers understand the merit principle', Australian Journal of Public Administration, 83:3, 401-418.
2023 Shortlisted for Nevile-Plowman Best Article Prize for Williamson, S, Colley, L and Foley, M (2022) Public servants working from home: Exploring managers’ changing allowance decisions in a COVID-19 context, Economic and Labour Relations Review, 33:1, 37-55.
2021 Rosemary O'Leary Award for best article published in 2020 on women and public administration, awarded by the International Research Society for Public Management. Co-authors - A/Prof Linda Colley and Dr Meraiah Foley.
2017 ACT Telstra Business Woman of the Year Finalist (Academic and Public Sector).
Media
2025
Williamson, S and May, B (2025) Is there a right to work from home? Human Rights Defender, Explainer: Is there a right to work from home? | Australian Human Rights Institute.
Williamson, S (2025) Queensland’s ‘Merit Plus’ revolution signals a new era for public sector hiring, The Mandarin, https://www.themandarin.com.au/288240-queenslands-merit-plus-revolution-signals-a-new-era-for-public-sector-hiring/, 14 March.
Williamson, S (2025) In the In the war on diversity, merit takes a hit, Canberra Times, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8911181/opinion-merit-and-diversity-are-compatible-in-public-sector-hiring/, 10 March.
ABC Canberra (2025) Working from Home, 5 March.
2CC (2025) Working from Home, 5 March.
Williamson, S (2025) Forcing Public Servants Back into the Office is a Risky Move, The Mandarin, https://www.themandarin.com.au/287824-forcing-public-servants-back-into-the-office-is-a-risky-move/, 4 March.
Williamson, S (2025) Calls to wind back 'woke' workforces are hysterical and incredibly shortsighted, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8878392/opinion-the-myth-of-meritocracy-challenges-in-reaching-equality/?cs=14329, January 29.
Williamson, S. (2025) And the diversity pendulum swings back…The Mandarin, https://www.themandarin.com.au/285211-and-the-diversity-pendulum-swings-back/, January 24.
2024
ABC Newcastle, Gender equity in the public sector, 17 October.
Williamson, S (2024) https://www.themandarin.com.au/252348-non-hybrid-workplaces-limit-autonomy-and-flexibility-breed-resentment/
Williamson, S (2024) Milestone gender pay gap metrics show we still have a way to go, https://www.themandarin.com.au/249028-milestone-gender-pay-gap-metrics-show-we-still-have-a-way-to-go/, 21 June.
https://apolitical.co/solution-articles/en/work-or-home-navigating-hybrid-working-arrangements, 29 May.
ABC Canberra, Breakfast, Inquiry into Unpaid Work, https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/canberra-breakfast/breakfast/103650714, at 2:23:05.
Williamson, S, Taylor, H, Jogulu, U and Lundy, J (2024) APS working from home is here to stay. So how do we make it work?, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8577799/working-from-home-is-here-to-stay-how-do-we-make-it-work/?cs=14329, 3 April.
ABC Canberra, Mornings, Hybrid Working, 3 April, https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/canberra-mornings/mornings/103647584, at 1:18:00.
Williamson, S, Taylor, H, Jogulu, U and Lundy, J (2024) Hybrid working in the APS: From productivity to performance to outcomes, https://www.themandarin.com.au/242994-hybrid-working-in-the-aps-from-productivity-to-performance-to-outcomes/, 2 April.
ABC News Radio, Hybrid working and productivity, 1 March.
ABS Canberra Breakfast, Right to disconnect - https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/canberra-breakfast/breakfast/103434982 at 1:37:55, 12 Feb.
LISTNR podcast – How to get a promotion - https://omny.fm/shows/the-briefing-podcast/how-to-get-a-promotion-in-2024, 9 Jan.
2023
ABC Sydney, 4 Day Working weeks, 20 December.
ABC Canberra, Bullying and Harassment, SOSR report, 30 November.
Williamson, S, Taylor, H and Weeratunga, H (2023) https://www.themandarin.com.au/233771-what-does-working-from-home-mean-for-harmful-worker-stereotypes/, The Mandarin, 2 November.
Unconscious Bias in the Workplace, https://2mce.org/podcast/conversations-for-a-brave-new-world_october/, 5 October.
ABC Canberra, Anna Vidot, 4 day working weeks, 14 September. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/canberra-drive/canberra-drive/102835256 At: 2:19:15.
Williamson, S and Roles, C (2023) APS bargaining requires more than just improved terms and conditions of employment, The Mandarin, 11 September.
ABC News 24 'Return to office' push could undo gains for people with disability - ABC News, 26 July.
Williamson, S, Taylor, H and Weeratunga, H (2023), Working from home has worked for people with disability. The back-to-the-office push could wind back gains (theconversation.com), 25 July.
Williamson, S (2023) This APS bargaining process could change the game long term, Canberra Times, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8278979/this-aps-bargaining-process-could-change-the-game-long-term/?cs=14329, 24 July.
ABC Canberra, Anna Vidot, Casual employees, 24 July.
Williamson, S (2023) APS bargaining is more than just improvements to flexible work (themandarin.com.au).
3AW, APS Maternity Leave Act, 22 June, https://www.3aw.com.au/push-to-introduce-a-new-type-of-leave-for-public-servants/.
ABC Canberra, Anna Vidot, Hot-desking, 19 June.
Williamson, S and Roles, C (2023) APS can become an exemplar of good practice in flexible work shift, Canberra Times, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8176300/flexible-work-a-must-for-aps-to-be-a-competitive-employer/?cs=14350, 1 May.
2CC, Working from Home, 26 April.
ABC South East, Working from Home, 26 April.
ABC Canberra, Alice Matthews, Open Plan Offices, 24 April.
ABC Canberra, Anna Vidot, Clocking Off, 21 April.
Williamson, S (2023) Three Ways to Legislate for Gender Equality in the APS, The Mandarin, https://www.themandarin.com.au/217689-three-ways-to-legislate-for-gender-equality-in-the-aps/, 18 April.
Biogen - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/biogen-_biogen-hybrid-working-part-three-activity-7049519230177705984-r5aV?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios, 10 April.
ABC Canberra, Anna Vidot, https://www.abc.net.au/canberra/programs/drive/right-to-disconnect-from-work/102126136, 21 March.
Working from Home: Tips for Managers – Biogen, Working from Home and Workplace Culture – Biogen, https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7034337145582493696/, 16 March
Williamson, S (2023) Breaking down barriers that create the gendered digital divide in the public sector, The Mandarin, https://www.themandarin.com.au/213831-reducing-the-gendered-digital-divide-in-the-australian-public-sector/, 8 March.
Working from Home and Workplace Culture – Biogen, https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7034337145582493696/, 22 Feb
Williamson, S (2023) “Will the APS Become a Model Employer? Canberra Times, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8072480/will-the-aps-become-a-model-employer/, 6 Feb.
ABC Canberra, Georgia Styne, eating at work, 19 January.
Working from Home and Workplace Culture – Biogen, http://bitly.ws/yY6s, 16 January. 2 parts.
2022
Williamson, S (2022) “Smashing the Barriers Faced by Senior Public Sector Leaders”, The Mandarin, https://www.themandarin.com.au/205866-smashing-the-barriers-faced-by-female-public-sector-leaders/, 23 November 2022.
ABC Canberra, Anna Vidot, 4 November.
ABC Canberra, Breakfast, 8 November.
2SER-fm, Yours, Mine and Femme? Starts at 6.35, 26 October, https://2ser.com/ep-4-she-flation-queer-representation-in-sport/.
ABC TV News, ACT, 6 October.
ABC TV News, Vic, 5 September.
ABC Canberra, Breakfast, 5 September.
ABC Canberra, Anna Vidot, 2 September.
Williamson, S (2022) The Broderick report: Overcoming power imbalances, entitlement and privilege, https://www.themandarin.com.au/197022-the-broderick-report-overcoming-power-imbalances-entitlement-and-privilege/, 15 August.
ABC Canberra, Anna Vidot, 15 July.
RN, ‘Finding Your Flow in Hybrid Work”, This Working Life¸ https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/this-working-life/finding-your-flow-in-hybrid-work/13912268, 5 June.
ABC Canberra, Breakfast, 2 June.
ABC TV News, 1 June, national.
Williamson, S, Pearce, A (2022) How should hybrid working be regulated in the public sector? https://www.themandarin.com.au/188241-how-should-hybrid-working-be-regulated-in-the-public-sector/, 5 May.
Williamson, S (2022) Hybrid working could promote equality, harness untapped potential in labour market, Canberra Times, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7680104/working-from-home-can-make-more-improvements-for-aps-workplaces/, 5 April.
Williamson, S (2022) Women are Still Angry - even as the public sector shows the way, The Mandarin, https://www.themandarin.com.au/183516-women-are-still-angry-even-as-the-public-sector-shows-the-way-forward/, 8 March.
WIN News, 16 February.
2GB, Sydney, 16 February.
ABC Illawarra, breakfast, 16 February.
ABC Canberra, Afternoons with Anna Vidot, 15 February.
https://www.themandarin.com.au/181296-who-to-believe-about-productivity-employees-or-managers/
2021
Williamson, S (2021) Is a New Era in Public Sector Gender Equality Upon Us? The Mandarin, https://www.themandarin.com.au/177351-is-a-new-era-in-public-sector-gender-equality-upon-us/, 8 December.
IPAA Work with Purpose podcast – productivity and working from home: https://www.act.ipaa.org.au/workwithpurpose, 6 December.
Williamson, S (2021) Does Working from Home Increase or Decrease Productivity? The Mandarin, https://www.themandarin.com.au/176471-does-working-from-home-increase-or-decrease-productivity/, 29 November.
Williamson, S (2021) From hot-desking to hotelling: The next wave of flexibility in the APS? https://www.governmentnews.com.au/type_contributors/from-hot-desking-to-hotelling-the-next-wave-of-flexibility-in-the-aps/, 18 November.
ABC Breakfast interview with Lish Fejer, 4 Nov.
ABC Canberra radio with Anna Vidot, 11 Oct.
Williamson, S (2021) Public service can lead the way with flexible work arrangements, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7462589/public-service-can-lead-the-way-with-flexible-work-arrangements/?cs=14246, 11 October.
Williamson, S (2021) Explainer: what is a ‘positive duty’ to prevent workplace sexual harassment and why is it so important? 8 September.
Williamson, S (2021) Training in respect at workplaces needs sustained, long-term effort, 3 August.
Williamson, S and Pearce, A (2021) What’s Next for Flexible Working Arrangements in the Public Sector? The Mandarin, 7 July.
Williamson, S and Colley, L (2021) The Public Sector to Report on Gender Equality, The Mandarin, 9 April.
ABC Canberra, Drive with Anna Vidot, Respect@Work report, 8 April.
2SER-fm, The Daily, Andrew Laming’s Empathy Training – Can you teach someone to empathise?, 8 April.
UNSW BusinessThink, Empathy Training, https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/articles/empathy-training-politicians, 30 March.
SBS Radio, Empathy training, 30 March.
ABC Central West Radio, Breakfast, Empathy training, 30 March.
ABC-TV, News Channel, Empathy training, 30 March.
Williamson, S (2021): Andrew Laming: Why Empathy Training is Unlikely to Work”, The Conversation, 29 March.
Williamson, S (2021) Assessing the effects of COVID on work and gender equality, Canberra Times, https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7171237/assessing-the-effects-of-covid-on-work-and-gender-equality/, 18 March.
2SER-fm, The Daily, The Impact of the Pandemic on Working Women, 5 March
2SER-fm, Drive, Hybrid Workplaces – The key to gender equality?, 11 March.
Williamson, S and Colley, L (2021) What’s to celebrate on IWD 2021, with its ‘he said/she said’ backdrop to sexual harassment and assault? The Mandarin, https://www.themandarin.com.au/150732-he-said-she-said-backdrop-to-sexual-harassment/, 8 March.
ABC Canberra, ‘Clocking off’ with Anna Vidot, 5 March, gender equality.
2020
2CC, 20 October, Leon Delaney, Working from Home.
Williamson S, and Colley, L (2020) Will the Work from Home Genie Go Back into the Bottle?, Canberra Times, 9 October.
ABC Canberra Breakfast, Working from Home, 30 September.
Radio National breakfast, Working from Home, 30 September. https://www.abc.net.au/radio/newsradio/govt:-public-sector-should-return-to-office/12716250
Williamson, S and Colley, L (2020) Flexible Working and the Pandemic: More than just working from home, The Mandarin, 30 September.
Colley, L and Williamson, S (2020) “With Management Resistance Overcome, Working from Home may be Here to Stay, The Conversation, 24 August.
2CC, 23 August, Ian Meikle and Rod Henshaw.
ABC Canberra, 17 August, with Paula Kruger, discussing working from home (at 2:43:05).
2CC, 17 August.
Public servants, pets and working hours during the pandemic — survey results, The Mandarin, 18 Aug.
Communicating with Trust: Tips for Managers, Apolitical, 16 June.
ABC Canberra, 40th Anniversary of the removal of the age bar in the APS: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/canberra/programs/drive/drive/12191192, 4 May.
Forging a New Pathway to Progress Gender Equality in Australia, The Mandarin, 25 February.
A Disturbing Understanding of Gender Equality, The Mandarin, 29 January.
2019
Backlash, Gender Fatigue and Organisational Change, The Power to Persuade, 25 November.
Where are the Women? A Gender Analysis of the APS Review, The Mandarin, 16 September.
Canberra, Panel member on ‘Clocking Off’ with Anna Vidot, ABC Canberra, 30 August.
Canberra, Interview with Anna Vidot, ABC Canberra on ‘Gender Equality in the Public Sector’, 22 July.
Time for a New Generation of APS Gender Equality Policies, The Mandarin, 19 July.
Will the Coalition’s Approach to Gender Equality Actually Improve Women’s Lives?, The Conversation, May 2019.
Backlash and Gender Fatigue. Why Progress on Gender Equality has Slowed, The Conversation, 8 March.
Maintaining the Public Service’s Momentum for Gender Equality, The Mandarin, 6 March.
My Teaching
ZBUS8103 Strategic Human Resources