Dr Sarah O’Shea is both a Distinguished Professor and  Dean, Graduate Research at Charles Sturt University as well as holding an Honorary Professorial position with the University of Wollongong. Driven by a commitment to systemic change, Professor O’Shea continues to influence the future of education—bridging research, leadership, and practice to ensure opportunity for all. As a member of the ARC, College of Experts, a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), an Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow (ALTF), and a Churchill Fellow, Sarah’s contributions have earned recognition at the highest levels.

As a nationally and internationally recognised educator and researcher, Sarah has worked across education sectors for nearly 30 years. She has held numerous university leadership positions, which have directly informed changes across the Australian higher education sector, particularly in the field of student access and participation. This work has been used to inform both government policy and also teaching practices, with regular invitations to contribute expertise to government panels, peak bodies, professional associations as well as educational providers.

Professor O’Shea has led academic and professional teams with responsibility for budgets up to $10 million, as well as managing her own diverse and active international research grant agenda. Sarah’s particular expertise in educational inclusion and equity issues has resulted in invitations to present keynotes, symposia, and workshops globally as well as providing contributions across media including print, television and radio. She is a prolific writer, with over 120 publications including books, book chapters, scholarly journal articles, media articles and commissioned reports produced in the last decade.

Since 2009, Sarah has obtained over $4 million dollars in research funding, all of which explores educational equity in the HE environment. As Director of National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education, Sarah provided national leadership in higher education equity policy research, coordinating a program of nationally and internationally significant research. She has experience leading interdisciplinary teams including both academic researchers and professional staff as well as developing close links with a diversity of stakeholders including the Australian Federal Department of Education, university leaders, community groups and leading equity experts and researchers. Sarah managed budgets across the Centre that included an operational budget of $4.5 million as well as a $1.5 million Fellowship program and a competitive grant program worth $900,000.

During her career, Sarah has also received numerous awards for teaching excellence including a national Australian Award for University Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2012), her work has been recognised as one of UOW 40 Research Impacts and in 2016 she was recognised as one of UOW's Women of Impact. Sarah is also an Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow, in 2017 she was both recognised as a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Authority (AdvanceUK) and awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to engage in study internationally, details of the fellowship are here.

Sarah has a significant international research profile, she was awarded the Society for Research in Higher Education (UK) Accolade for contribution to research and has worked with UK partners to investigate key equity issues.  In January 2023, Sarah was awarded a prestigious IAS Fellowship to extend research collaborations with the University of Surrey.  She is regularly invited to both host and participate in face to face (pre-2020) and also, online activities targeted across sectors including education, community and NFP organisations. Her expertise in both written and verbal communication provides Sarah with skills in translating complex ideas and arguments into understandable and accessible formats for a range of audiences and individuals.