July 25, 2023

UOW expert commentary (25 July)

UOW academics provide expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing and breaking news stories

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Wildfires in Greece

Associate Professor Owen Price is available to interview about wildfires in Greece. Associate Professor Price is the Director of the Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires at UOW. His research focuses on bushfire risk and the impact on human health, houses and the environment.

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How to deal with a Machiavellian boss

Dr Nelly Liyanagamage and Professor Mario Fernando can discuss what it’s like to work for a Machiavellian boss. In an article for The Conversation they write: 

“Working for a Machiavellian boss is likely to be infuriating, stressful and bad for your mental health. By understanding what drives this personality, and how it differs from the other “dark personality traits”, you can limit the fallout.”

 Dr Liyanagamage is a Visiting Research Associate in the Faculty of Business and Law. Her research focuses on relational leadership theory, Machiavellian leadership, qualitative methodologies, and emotions in the workplace. Dr Fernando is a Professor of Management in the School of Business and the Director of the Centre for Cross-Cultural Management at UOW.

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ABS data release - Labour Force Statistics (Thursday 27 July)

Associate Professor Martin O’Brien is available for interview about the ABS Labour Force Statistics which will be released on Thursday 22 June. He can discuss employment, unemployment, underemployment, participation and hours worked in January 2023 from the monthly Labour Force Survey. Associate Professor O’Brien is an economist and the Director of the Centre for Human and Social Capital Research. His research interests include segmented labour market theory, econometrics, older worker employment issues and hidden unemployment. 

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Inquiry into food security

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture has commenced an inquiry into food security in Australia. Professor Karen Charlton says Australia’s current food system is contributing to climate change and malnutrition in all its forms. Professor Charlton says:

“Food insecurity is associated with poor mental and physical health with approximately 800,000 adults per year experiencing food insecurity nationally, a number that is expected to rise in 2023 and beyond. It also impacts on employment, and educational opportunity, particularly for children.”

Professor Charlton is a research dietician in the School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences.

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Measuring What Matters report

Associate Professor Tam Ha is available for interviews about the Commonwealth Treasury’s wellbeing framework outlined in the Measuring What Matters statement. Associate Professor Ha is an expert in public health and says socio-economic factors such as income, employment, housing and education are the highest contributing influences on a person's health, making up about 40 per cent of their overall health and well-being outcomes. Associate Professor Ha is from the School of Health and Society.

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UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the University of Wollongong.