Professor Lisa Magnani is Head of the Department of Economics. An experienced labour economist, her research focuses on labour markets and how economic inequality can impact on things like societal cohesion, employment and wages and environmental sustainability.

In honour of Gender Equity Week we asked Professor Magnani why there continues to be relatively few female academics in economics?

Professor Magnani: “There’s something in common between the toxic environments reported by many women working in economics, and the decline in interest in economics degrees, as discussed by Dr Jacqui Dwyer at her speech at the RBA last May.

“To some extent it’s grounded on a biased perception of individual merit and scholarly quality. Economics as a discipline that is generally slow in responding to societal challenges, reluctant to reflect the diversity of positions with respect to these societal challenges, and dogmatic with respect to what constitutes “serious economics”.

10 questions

1) The thing I find most rewarding in my role is…
Creating a sense of a common goal.

2) This year I want to…
Sit back and relax… (just kidding!)

3) The bravest thing I’ve done is…
Leave the known for the unknown. I’ve done it more than once!

4) My mother/father always told me…
“I buoni vincono sempre… alla fine.” (The good always wins…. in the end)

5) My guilty pleasure is…
Sneaking a read of the Italian paper La Repubblica during Executive Group meetings.

6) A place that’s special to me is…
La Perouse, where I live – a place of conflictual histories, potent nature and personal memories.

7) I’m scared of…
Heartless people.

8) My hidden talent is…
House cleaning.

9) Something I’ve never done but wanted to try is…
Travel across a desert.

10) A moment I’ll always remember is…

When my then-young kids settled (without fights) for an ordinary tabby kitten, when more beautiful ones were available. They made a great choice ­– our beautiful cat Tigre.