DrSharlene Leroy-Dyer

Sharlene’s research specialises in centres around Closing the Gap on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage in education and employment, Indigenous scholarship, labour law, and organisational theory. Her work integrates Indigenous methodologies, frameworks and intersectional analysis to examine how policy and employment systems can support Indigenous economic sovereignty. She has contributed to critical legal studies, policy-oriented writing, and empirical research focused on Indigenous leadership and organisational transformation.

Sharlene’s scholarship bridges theory and practice, with a focus on real-world impact. She is currently engaged in collaborative research projects that explore Indigenous participation in governance, culturally safe employment, and decolonial policy reform. Her long-term goal is to influence policy and institutional design to embed Indigenous values and promote justice across economic systems.

Her PhD is in Business, having obtained her Doctor of Philosophy (Business) in 2016. The thesis title is 'Private-sector employment programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Comparative case studies'. Sharlene was the first Aboriginal person to gain a PhD in Business from the University of Newcastle.

She completed her Honours thesis in 2006, entitled 'Is mentoring an effective Human Resource strategy to redress labour market disadvantage for Indigenous Australians: A qualitative study of mentoring outcomes for Indigenous trainees at the University of Newcastle'.

Sharlene is a staunch Unionist and Activist with left wing political views.

Research Expertise Sharlene's current research areas include: Closing the Gap on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage in Education and Employment, Labour Market disadvantage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment strategies, Managing Diversity in Organisations, Employment Relations and the importance of unions, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander labour history, Indigenous Entrepreneurship / Indigenous Social Enterprise / Indigenous Leadership, Indigenous Enabling education & Indigenous HDR success.

Administrative Expertise 14 successful grants including two ARC Discover grants.