Dr Vanessa McDermott
Senior Lecturer

Dr Vanessa McDermott

PhD in Sociology, from The Australian National University (ANU) - Conceptualising Legitimacy, Moral Panics and Performance Enhancing Drugs: Crisis? Whose Crisis?

First Class Honours (Sociology) from ANU - Court in the Middle – Gender Relations, the Family Court and Child Support Agency.

Bachelor of Arts, ANU (Development Studies and Sociology).

UNSW Canberra
School of Business

I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Business at UNSW, Canberra.

I take a sociological view to investigate decision-making in governance and regulatory frameworks in public and corporate environments, with a focus on reumeration schemes, organisational safety and the associated impact for individuals and groups. A key theme across my research is critically assessing the way that governance and regulatory frameworks, such as regulations, codes of conduct or other types of frameworks, can have unintended outcomes. I use the concept of 'risk shifting' to research how, or whether governance frameworks can inadvertently divert risk and the responsibility for managing that risk to individuals, groups or communities who are not well placed to bear the burden of those risks. I've used this approach to look at the impact of regulatory responses for worker safety in civil construction, and for athletes subject to anti-doping policies in elite sport, as well as community safety and urban development. I also conduct evaluations of programs or other initiatives in both the Australian public service and the corporate sector.

I received my PhD in sociology from the Australian National University (ANU). Prior to joining UNSW Canberra in 2020, I was a Research Fellow in the Energy Pipeline Cooperative Research Centre at ANU and later at RMIT.

Phone
+61 2 5114 5685
Location
Building 27, Room 317, School of Business, UNSW Canberra
  • Books | 2017
    Algeo C; Connor J; Owen J; Linger H; McDermott V, 2017, Developing Government Policy Capability Policy Work, Project Management, and Knowledge Practices
    Books | 2015
    2015, The War on Drugs in Sport Moral Panics and Organizational Legitimacy, Routledge
  • Journal articles | 2022
    2022, 'Passionate projects: practitioner reflections on emotion management', International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 15, pp. 865 - 885, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-08-2021-0208
    Journal articles | 2020
    2020, 'Opportunities for improving construction health and safety using real-time H&S management innovations: a socio-technical-economic perspective', International Journal of Construction Management, 20, pp. 534 - 554, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2018.1490866
    Journal articles | 2018
    2018, 'Constructing safety: investigating senior executive long-term incentive plans and safety objectives in the construction sector', Construction Management and Economics, 36, pp. 276 - 290, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2017.1381752
    Journal articles | 2018
    2018, 'Risk shifting and disorganization in multi-tier contracting chains: The implications for public safety', Safety Science, 106, pp. 263 - 272, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2016.11.018
    Journal articles | 2018
    2018, 'Shifting risk to the frontline: case studies in different contract working environments', Journal of Risk Research, 21, pp. 1502 - 1516, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2017.1313764
    Journal articles | 2018
    2018, 'Working in the crowded underground: One call services as a boundary object', Safety Science, 110, pp. 69 - 79, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2017.09.019
    Journal articles | 2017
    2017, '"We're still hitting things": The effectiveness of third-party processes for PIPELINE strike prevention', Journal of Pipeline Engineering, 16, pp. 33 - 43, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000395838600003&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
    Journal articles | 2013
    Connor J; McDermott V, 2013, 'Service teaching and the sociological critique: Lessons from a military academy', Journal of Sociology, 49, pp. 501 - 514, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1440783313504061
    Journal articles | 2013
    Henne K; Koh B; McDermott V, 2013, 'Coherence of drug policy in sports: Illicit inclusions and illegal inconsistencies', Performance Enhancement and Health, 2, pp. 48 - 55, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2013.05.003
    Journal articles | 2013
    Henne K; Koh B; McDermott V, 2013, 'Commentary: Rethinking WADA: What exactly are we reconsidering?', Performance Enhancement and Health, 2, pp. 58 - 59, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2013.08.003
    Journal articles | 2009
    2009, 'The case for a social science of drugs in sport', Sport In Society (Formerly Culture, Sport, Society), 12(3), pp. 276 - 295, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17430430802673635
  • Reports | 2022
    Connor J; McDermott V; Henne K; Foenander J; Borg J, 2022, The Legitimacy of the Fight Against Doping in Sport: Stakeholder Perceptions
    Reports | 2022
    O'Neill S; Glennie M; Farmer J; Caponecchia C; Blackman D; McDermott V; Huron V; Rooney J, 2022, Measuring for a mentally healthy workplace: a practical guide for small business and sole traders, National Mental Health Commission, Sydney, NSW, 2, https://beta.mentallyhealthyworkplaces.gov.au/explore-resources/measuring-mentally-healthy-workplaces-practical-guide-small-business-and-sole
    Reports | 2022
    O'Neill S; Glennie M; Farmer J; Caponecchia C; McDermott V; Blackman D; Rooney J; Huron V, 2022, Measuring for a mentally healthy workplace: a practical guide for medium to large organisations, https://beta.mentallyhealthyworkplaces.gov.au/explore-resources/measuring-mentally-healthy-workplaces-practical-guide-medium-large-organisations
    Reports | 2021
    2021, A Program Logic to Progress Gender Inclusion and Capability in the Australian Defence Force
    Reports | 2021
    2021, Benchmarking Gender Equality in the Australian Defence Force, Department of Defence, Canberra
    Reports | 2021
    2021, Progressing Gender Inclusion in the ADF
    Conference Papers | 2017
    2017, 'Corporate Governance, Incentive Schemes, and Safety Performance in the Construction Industry', in Chan PW; Neilson CJ (ed.), Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM), Cambridge, UK, pp. 380 - 388, presented at 33rd Annual ARCOM Conference, Cambridge, UK, 04 September 2017 - 06 September 2017
    Conference Papers | 2017
    2017, 'Fringe Benefits? Planning, Building and the Development of Community in a Neo-Liberal Landscape', Cambrdige, UK, presented at 33rd Annual Conference Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM), Cambrdige, UK, 04 September 2017 - 06 September 2017
    Conference Papers | 2017
    2017, 'Opportunities for Improving Construction Health and Safety Using Real-Time H&S Management Innovations', in Zou PXW; Sanjayan J; Alam M; Xu X (eds.), Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate Conference, CRIOCM 2017 Organising Committee, Advanced Technology Centre, Swinburne University, Australia, pp. 1179 - 1188, presented at International Conference on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, Advanced Technology Centre, Swinburne University, Australia, 20 November 2017 - 23 November 2017
    Conference Papers | 2016
    2016, ''We're still hitting things': The effectiveness of third party processes for pipeline strike prevention', in Proceedings of the Biennial International Pipeline Conference, IPC, http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/IPC2016-64070
    Conference Papers | 2016
    2016, 'Using Participatory Video to Understand Subcontracted Construction Workers' Safety Rule Violations', in Chan PW; Neilson CJ (ed.), Proceedings of the 32nd Annual ARCOM Conference: Construction Work and the Worker, ARCOM, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Manchester, UK, pp. 457 - 466, presented at 32nd Annual ARCOM Conference: Construction Work and the Worker, Manchester, UK, 05 September 2016 - 07 September 2016, https://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/archive/2016-ARCOM-Full-Proceedings-Vol-1.pdf
    Conference Papers | 2015
    2015, 'What is risk? Construction activity near hazardous infrastructure', in Raidén A; Aboagye-Nimo E (ed.), Proceedings of 31st Annual ARCOM Conference, ARCOM, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Lincoln, UK, pp. 105 - 114, presented at 31st Annual Conference of Researchers in Construction Management, Lincoln, UK, 07 September 2015 - 09 September 2015, http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25820/1/221650_PubSub3434_Raiden.pdf
    Conference Papers | 2014
    2014, 'Legitimacy and Consensus in Moral Panic Theory', in The Annual Conference of The Australian Sociological Association, University of South Australia, Adelaide, presented at Annual Conference of The Australian Sociological Association, ‘Challenging Identities, Institutions and Communities,, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 24 November 2014 - 27 November 2014
    Conference Papers | 2013
    McDermott V; Henne K; Connor JM, 2013, 'Legitimating the fight? Questions about cross-cultural perspectives on anti-doping strategies in the Pacific', in Osbaldiston N; Strong C; Forbes-Mewett H (eds.), Legitimating the fight? Questions about cross-cultural perspectives on anti-doping strategies in the Pacific, Reflections, Intersections and Aspirations 50 years of Australian Sociology, Monash University, presented at Reflections, Intersections and Aspirations 50 years of Australian Sociology, Monash University, 25 November 2013 - 28 November 2013
    Conference Papers | 2012
    2012, 'Legitimating the Fight against Drugs in Sport: The Australian Government and the Australian Football League', in The Annual Conference of The Australian Sociological Association 2012, ‘Emerging and Enduring Inequalities’, The Australian Sociological Association (TASA), The University of Queensland, presented at Annual conference of The Australian Sociological Association 2012, ‘Emerging and Enduring Inequalities,’, The University of Queensland, 26 November 2012 - 29 November 2012

Connor, J., Williamson, S. and McDermott, V. 2021 Defence Gender Research Program, Australian Department of Defence (completed).

O’Neill, S., Glennie, M., Farmer, J., Caponecchia, C., McDermott, V., Blackman, D., Rooney, J. Huron, V. 2021 Mentally Healthy Workplace Measurement and Reporting Guides, The National Work Initiative and The National Mental Health Commission (completed).

Connor, J., Henne, K. and McDermott, V. 2013 Legitimating the Fight? Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Anti-Doping Strategies in the Pacific, funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency (ongoing).

Owen, J., Connor, J., Linger, H., Algeo, C. and McDermott, V. 2012-16 The Project as a Tool of Policy Implementation: The Role of Project Management in Health, on behalf of the Project Management Institute (completed).

Hayes, J., McDermott, V. and Holdsworth, S. ‘Urban Planning for Pipelines: evidence-based recommendations for policy change to support public safety and community welfare’ (completed, at RMIT).

McDermott, V. & Hayes, J. 2016 ‘We’re still hitting things’: the effectiveness of third party processes for pipeline strike prevention, in Proceedings of the 11th International Pipeline Conference (IPC), 26 – 30 September, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Best Paper Award Runner Up.

Lingard, H., Harley, J., Pink, S., Hayes, J. and McDermott, V. 2016 Breaking the Rules: Using Video To Understand Sub-Contracted Workers' Safety-Related Rule Violations And Errors, in Proceedings of the 32nd ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September, Manchester, United Kingdom, Best International Research Paper.

McDermott, V. 2011 Conceptualising Legitimacy, Moral Panics and PEDs: Crisis? Whose Crisis?, Sports Medicine Australia, ACT Sports Research Awards, Canberra, Winner of the 2011 ACT Sports Research Award – Open Category.

Risk-shifting in the time of COVID-19: the Australian federal government response and support for family day care providers

COVID-19 raised questions about the efficacy of a neo-liberal approach to policy and regulation. In Australia, the pandemic revealed that a neo-liberal approach to early childhood care policy can exacerbate economic and health risks faced by childcare providers. There has been little research into how family day care (FDC) providers, who are registered carers providing care in their family home, balanced compliance with safety measures and the health and economic risks of COVID-19. I use the concept of 'risk-shifting' to consider the impact on FDC providers of the Australian federal governments' childcare response to the initial wave of COVID-19.

Senior Executive Attitudes to Risk: the role of  senior executive incentive schemes in corporate governance and organisational safety performance

Safety in the construction sector is an important part of organisational performance. Workplace injuries and large-scale accidents bring personal and organisational costs and expose construction companies to commercial, reputational, and legal risks. Despite research into accident causation and strategies to improve safety, little is known about the interactions of different corporate governance processes and any impact on organisational safety performance in the construction sector. This research will contribute towards addressing this gap by investigating relationships between senior executive incentive schemes and safety performance.

Legitimating the fight? Questions about Cross-cultural perspectives on anti-doping strategies in the Pacific

The fight against doping in sport requires support from governments, sporting organizations, athletes, athlete support personnel and the public. Crucial to this support is the perception that the anti-doping fight is a ‘good thing’ to do and that anti-doping polices are perceived to be legitimate. Problematically for the fight against doping there is a growing crisis of legitimacy. Doping rules and processes are continually challenged, sporting organizations, athletes and even some countries only partially buy into the anti-doping message, resources are sparse and cultural differences ignored. Further, criticisms of the value of anti-doping regulations take aim at the manner in which the anti-doping fight is undertaken. This World Anti-Doping Agency funded research project investigates cross-cultural perceptions of the legitimacy of anti-doping regulation. This research empirically examines how various actors perceive the anti-doping framework with the aim of understanding factors that build positive (or negative) perceptions of the legitimacy of anti-doping policies or procedures.

My Research Supervision

Regulating Manager Emotions in the Information Technology (IT) Workplace

How to govern projects effectively: balancing complementary yet conflicting governance mechanisms throughout the project lifecycle

 

My Teaching

I teach post-graduate project management, drawing on over a decade of experience working in or managing projects on issues as diverse as policy responses to performance enhancing drug use in elite sport, community attitudes to sustainability, safe work practices around hazardous infrastructure and evaluations of Australian federal government employment contracts, such as jobactive.

Postgraduate program - ZBUS8147: The Business of Managing Projects