Dr Asher Flynn is a Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Professor of Criminology in the School of Social Sciences at Monash University and a Chief Investigator on the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (CEVAW), where she leads the technology-facilitated violence workstream and is Deputy Lead of Research & Ethics Training. Asher is an award-winning researcher in policy and prevention concerning gendered, sexual and technology-facilitated violence and has shaped almost a decade of research, theory and measurement of these global phenomena. Across her career, she has generated over $45 million in research funding, and has published eight books and over 120 articles, scholarly book chapters, reports and media/opinion pieces. Her research informed the introduction of federal and state laws on image-based sexual abuse across Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. She is the recipient of a number of prestigious national and international research fellowships and is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Criminology. Asher is a member of the United Nations’ Advisory Group to co-create a shared research agenda to end technology-facilitated gender-based violence and is the only Australia member of Meta’s Global Women’s Safety Board. In 2024, Asher was appointed by the Gender Equality Ambassador and Secretary General for the Generation Equality Forum to the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs of France expert panel on technology-facilitated gender based violence. Asher has advised the Australian Office of the eSafety Commissioner, the United Nations, Meta and Bumble on policy and prevention of technology-facilitated violence. 

In addition to her Chief Investigator role in CEVAW, Asher is currently the Lead Chief Investigator on an Australian Research Council Discovery Project examining sexualised deepfake abuse across Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Asher was the first researcher from the Faculty of Arts to be awarded the Monash University Vice-Chancellor’s Research Impact Award for her research on image-based abuse and gender-based violence. She has received a range of other awards (research, education and leadership) from the University and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology including Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning,  teaching excellence, New Scholar Prize, Excellence in Research by Early Career Researchers and an Emerging Research Fellowship.

You can follow Asher on LinkedIn

Current research projects:

• (2024-2030) Centre for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (led by Prof Jacqui True). This Centre of Excellence is funded by the Australian Research Council (CE230100004).
• (2025-2026) eSafety Train the Trainer Program (with Dr Emma Quilty and Tarannum Baigh). This project is funded by the eSafety Commission.
• (2023-2027) Sexualised Deepfakes: Predictors, Consequences, Responses and Prevention (with Prof Anastasia Powell, Prof Asia Eaton and Assoc/Prof Adrian J Scott). This Discovery Project is funded by the Australian Research Council (DP230100241).
• (2020-2026) Preventing Sexual Assault on Campus: Women's Empowerment and Safety through Education and Action (with Dr Leesa Hooker, Jess Ison, Prof Angela Taft, Dr Kirstey Forsdike, Elli Darwinkel and Fiona Marshall). This project is funded by La Trobe University.

Recently completed projects:

• (2022-2024) Technology-Facilitated Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Perpetration, Responses and Prevention (with Prof Anastasia Powell and Dr Lisa Wheildon). This project was funded by Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety and DSS.
• (2022-2024) Technology-Facilitated Coercive Control: Mapping Women's Pathways to Safety and Justice (with Prof Anastasia Powell, Karen Bentley and Dr Lisa Wheildon). This project was funded by the Criminology Research Council (CRG20/21-22).
• (2020-2024) Deepfakes: Preventing and Disrupting AI-Facilitated Abuse (with Assoc/Prof Campbell Wilson and Prof Jonathan Clough). This project was funded by the Data Futures Institute.
• (2020-2024) Body Warn Cameras: Examining the Merits of Body Warn Camera Technologies in Domestic and Family Violence Cases (with Dr Mary Iliadis, Assoc/Prof Danielle Tyson, Dr Zarina Vakhitova and Assoc/Prof Bridget Harris). This project was funded by the Australian Criminology Research Council (CRG35/2021). 
• (2023) Delivering Research into Australian User Experiences with Control Features on Social Media Services and Dating Platforms (with Assoc/Prof Brady Robards, Assoc/Prof Bridget Harris, Dr Zarina Vahikotva and Dr Lisa Wheildon). This project was funded by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
• (2020-2023) Technology-Facilitated Abuse: Extent, Nature and Responses in the Australian Community (with Prof Anastasia Powell and Sophie Hindes). This project was funded by Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety and DSS.
• (2019-2023) Preventing Image-Based Cybercrime in Australia: The Role of Bystanders (with Assoc/Prof Adrian Scott and Dr Elena Cama). This project was funded by the Australian Criminology Research Council (CRG02/19-20).
• (2020-2021) Expert review of Respectful Relationships Education material (led by Dr Naomi Pfitzner). This project was funded by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment. 
• (2020-2021) National stocktake of Respectful Relationships Education programs and resources(led by Dr Naomi Pfitzner). This project was funded by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment 
• (2021) National Plan Consultation Project (led by the Monash Family Violence Prevention Centre). This project was funded by DSS.
• (2017-2021) Revenge Pornography: The prevalence and nature of non-consensual imagery and the implications for law reform (led by Prof Nicola Henry). This Discovery Project was funded by the Australian Research Council (DP170101433).
• (2019-2020) Institute for Research on Image-Based Abuse (with Dr Sarah Whitney). This project was funded by a Monash University and Pennsylvania State University Research Grant.
• (2019-2020) Overlooked or Just Ignored? Victims and Plea Negotiations (with Emeritus Prof Arie Freiberg). This project was funded by Monash University and the Victorian Department of Justice.
• (2015-2017) Responding to Revenge Pornography: The scope, nature and impact of Australian Criminal Laws (led by Prof Nicola Henry). This project was funded by the Criminology Research Council (CRG08/15-16).
• (2014-2016) Negotiated Guilty Pleas: An Empirical Analysis (with Emeritus Prof Arie Freiberg). This project was funded by the Criminology Research Council (CRG 51/13-14).
• (2014-2016) Access to Justice and Legal Aid: A Comparative Analysis of Systems in Australia and the United Kingdom (with Prof Jackie Hodgson). This project was funded by the Warwick/Monash Alliance.

PhD & Masters by Research Supervision Areas

• Technology-facilitated violence and abuse (including online harassment and gender-based violence)
• AI-facilitated abuse (including "deepfakes")
• Image-based abuse ("revenge pornography")
• Digital crime
• Gender-based violence
• Rape and sexual violence
• Access to Justice
• Plea Negotiations
• Victim-survivors' Rights
• Law Reform

Current Supervisions

• Doctorate by research: 'Online sexual harassment: Attitudes and perpetration - A comparison between Australia and the United States'

Candidate: Sara Agostino

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Main), Dr Zarina Vakhitova (Associate) and Assoc/Prof Bridget Harris (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'Digital Entrapment: Intimate surveillance abuse in a hyperconnected society' 

Candidate: Sungshin (Luna) Bae

Supervisors: Assoc/Prof Bridget Harris (Main), Dr Ellen Cho (Associate) and VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'Institutions, Norms and Discretion: Essays in Political and Behavioural Economics

Candidate: Tarannum Baigh

Supervisors: Assoc/Prof Paulo Santos (Main), Dr Ricardo Dahis (Associate) and VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Associate)

• Doctorate by research: 'Understanding gender-based violence in higher education institutions: Examining Australian University responses to the Code'

Candidate: Kayla Carrea

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Main) and VC Distinguished Prof Jacqui True (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'Feminist Movements for Change: Collective Action in Shifting Harmful Social Norms and Addressing GBV'

Candidate: Priya Dhanani

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Main) and VC Distinguished Prof Jacqui True (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'A gendered and stakeholder informed approach to preventing and addressing deepfakes' 

Candidate: Holly Gray

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Main) and Prof Jonathan Clough (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'Institutional Analysis of Violence Against Women in Indonesia'.

Candidate: Hana Hanifah

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Jacqui True (Main) and VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'Understanding women's agency: Female genital mutiliation in Indonesia and Malaysia'

Candidate: Nadira Irdiana

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Jacqui True (Main), Dr Faroo Akbari (Associate) and VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'Women's experiences of plea negotiations'

Candidate: Monique Maffa

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Main), Emeritus Prof Arie Freiberg (Associate) and Dr Kate Burns (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'Can Feminism End Wars? A Comparative Study of Mexico and Colombia'

Candidate: Daniela Philipson Garcia

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Jacqui True (Main), VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Associate) and Dr Umair Khalil (Associate, external).

• Doctorate by research: 'Pornography, Attitudes and Education: An Intersectional Approach to Non-Consensual Sexualised Deepfake Prevention'.

Candidate: Ruby Sciberras

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Main) and Prof Steven Roberts (Associate)

• Doctorate by research: 'Technology-facilitated gender-based violence experiences among international students in Australian universities'

Candidate: Aimen Siddiqui

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn(Main) and Dr Emma Quilty (Associate).

Completed Supervisions

• Doctorate by research: 'Consent to Bodily Harm' (awarded 2026)

Dr Nadia David

Supervisors: Prof Liz Campbell (Main) and VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Associate)

• Doctorate by research: 'The Genealogy of a Gendered P/CVE Program' (awarded 2026)

Dr Clara Riberio-Assumpção

Supervisors: VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (main) and VC Distinguished Prof Jacqui True (Associate)

• Doctorate by research: 'Gender, Loneliness and Online Hate: Comparing how Masculinities and Femininities are Constructed in Internet Forums discussing Dating Failures and Loneliness' (awarded 2026)

Dr Josh Thornburn

Supervisors: Assoc/Prof Brady Robards (Main), VC Distinguished Prof Asher Flynn (Associate) and Dr Emily Van der Nagel (Associate).

• Doctorate by research 'Social Media as a Catalyst for Youth Violence' (awarded 2025)

Dr Hannah Klose

Supervisors: Prof Asher Flynn (Main) and Dr Kate Burns (Associate)

• Doctorate by research: 'Family Violence in the Age of Technology' (awarded 2024)

Dr Andi Brown

Supervisors: Prof Asher Flynn (Main) and Assoc/Prof Lennon Chang (associate, external)

• Doctorate by research: 'The Role of Minority Groups' Agency in Post-Conflict Peace Building Societies' (awarded 2023)

Dr Richard Fosu

Supervisors: Dr Eleanor Gordon (Main) and Prof Asher Flynn (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'Rapes That Are Not Crimes: Feminist Debates, Average Guys and Why Novels Don’t Deal With Them' (awarded 2023)

Dr Giulia Mastrantoni

Supervisors: Prof Jarrod Hayes (Main), Prof Asher Flynn (Associate) and Dr Michelle Smith (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'Australian School Leaver and First-Year University Students' Understandings of Consent' (awarded 2023)

Dr Katherine Schofield

Supervisors: Professor Asher Flynn (Main) and Dr Faith Gordon (Associate, external)

• Doctorate by research: 'Sharing Experiences of Violence as Prevention Strategy' (awarded 2022)

Dr Lisa Whieldon

Supervisors: Prof Asher Flynn (Main), Prof Jacqui True (Associate) and Abby Wild (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: '"A man's home is his castle and mine is a cage": Pathways to remedy and access to justice for economic partner abuse in Victoria' (awarded 2020)

Dr Madeleine Ulbrick

Supervisors: Prof Asher Flynn (Main) & Prof Jude McCulloch (Associate).

• Doctorate by Research: ‘Cognitive and Psychological Factors present in Australian Violent Offenders’ (awarded 2019)

Dr Laura Anderson

Supervisors: Dr Jennifer Pilgrim (Main), Prof Asher Flynn (Associate) Prof Olaf Drummer (Associate).

• Doctorate by Research: '"Yes Means Yes": Narratives of Consent in Victorian Rape Trials' (awarded 2019)

Dr Rachel Burgin

Supervisors: Prof Asher Flynn (Main) and Prof Jude McCulloch (Associate)

• Doctorate by Research: 'Justice Reinvestment: Reimagining Criminal Justice Policy' (awarded 2018)

Dr Kate Burns

Supervisors: Prof Asher Flynn (Main) and Dr Claire Spivakovsky (Associate).

• Doctorate by Research: 'Accessing Victims' Rights within the Adversarial Process: The Viability of Legal Representation for Victims in the Prosecution Process' (awarded 2017)

Dr Mary Iliadis

Supervisors: Prof Asher Flynn (Main) and Prof Jude McCulloch (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'Exploring Community Perceptions of Victoria Police: A Case Study of the Monash Local Government Area, Melbourne' (awarded 2017)

Dr Allegra Schermuly

Supervisors: Prof Helen Forbes-Mewett (Main) and Prof Asher Flynn (Associate).

• Doctorate by research: 'An Examination of Post-release treatment programs and support services for released prisoners with Alcohol Use Disorders in Victoria' (awarded 2016)

Dr Christina Kirtley

Supervisors: Prof Asher Flynn (Main) and Prof Sharon Pickering (Associate).

• Technology-facilitated violence and abuse (including online harrassment)
• AI-facilitated abuse (including "deepfakes")
• Image-based abuse ("revenge pornography")
• Digital crime
• Gendered violence
• Rape and sexual violence
• Access to Justice
• Legal Aid
• Victims' Rights
• Law Reform
• Plea negotiations
• Prosecutorial discretion

APG5088: International and Comparative Criminal Justice Policy - This intensively delivered unit in the Masters of Public Policy.

This unit will explore comparative criminal justice systems and policies in Australia and internationally. This unit will focus on the politics of criminal justice policy making, system reforms, policy mobilities and policy levers. This unit will explore Australian and international case studies, with a specific focus on the US, demonstrating the way that policy is implemented in different jurisdictions. This unit will explore policy ‘successes’ and policy ‘failures’ and will have a practical application to the current policy environment.

Asher’s research initiates and develops collaborations with expertise from industry and diverse disciplines, to deliver outcomes with relevance and impact. Her research involves in-depth consultation with those directly affected by, and those working within, the law, thus the findings translate into applied research that facilitates policy change and impact.

Asher contributes in advisory roles to a range of peak legal and government bodies in Australia, and her work is regularly cited in government reports and inquiries. Asher's research has also led to changes in law reform, including most recently, her work on image-based sexual abuse with Associate Professors Nicola Henry and Anastasia Powell, which shaped the introduction of the Crimes Amendment (Revenge Porn) Bill (ACT) and the Crimes Amendment (Intimate Images) Bill (NSW). Asher and Associate Professor Henry were invited to NSW Parliament by NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman to observe the reading of the bill and to attend and speak at a function at Parliament House in honour of those who had contributed to the development of this important legislative change. Asher has been invited to make submissions to numerous government enquiries and has presented evidence at various government committee hearings.

Asher also assisted the Victorian State Office of Public Prosecutions in implementing and developing policies for the Evidence Act 2009 (Vic) and Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic), which constituted the largest legal reforms to the criminal justice system in 50 years. Her industry impact was recognised in a 2015 Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council report, Guilty Pleas in the Higher Courts: Rates, Timing and Discounts which acknowledged her work and expertise on plea negotiations.

Outside academia, Asher’s research informs public debate through an ongoing, sustained engagement with the media, across television; radio (including The Conversation Hour with Jon Faine; The Radio National Breakfast Show; The Law Report), newspapers, opinion pieces (The Age) and The Conversation.

Asher was elected the Victorian Representative on the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Executive Committee in 2017.