Personal profile
Biography
Fernanda is a Research Fellow in the Health & Social Portfolio, where she applies behavioural science to financial wellbeing, social inclusion and sustainable finance.
Since joining BehaviourWorks Australia (BWA) in 2019, Fernanda has contributed to projects with a range of partners across industry and the community sector.
Her research focuses on:
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Improving quality of life by strengthening financial wellbeing and building confidence in retirement
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Increasing social inclusion by supporting individuals and groups to fully participate in society
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Advancing sustainable finance by enabling inclusive transitions to a low carbon, resilient economy
To address these challenges, she is interested in developing and testing behavioural interventions that respond to the different needs of audience segments, to generate evidence that can guide the design of policies and relevant initiatives.
Fernanda holds a PhD in Psychology from Monash University, where she explored the cognitive and neural mechanisms of different types of decision-making, including decision making under uncertainty and effort-based choices. Before joining BWA, she worked as a Research Consultant in the market research sector, applying behavioural insights to consumer behaviour and decision-making.
Education/Academic qualification
Psychology, Doctor of Philosophy, Cognitive Control in Youth Obesity, MONASH UNIVERSITY
Award Date: 17 Mar 2017
External positions
Research Consultant, Forethought Pty Ltd (trading as Forethought Research)
1 Mar 2017 → 17 May 2019
Research area keywords
- Behaviour Change
- Cognitive Assessment
- Environment and Sustainability
- Policy studies in education/training and work
- Marketing Science
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Understanding cyber security behaviours at Monash University
Wright, B. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Gomes Da Mata, F. (Chief Investigator (CI))
25/11/25 → 31/10/26
Project: Research
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Mapping Green Consumer Finance for Housing Equity in Australia
Hadfield, P. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Cui, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ge, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Gomes Da Mata, F. (Chief Investigator (CI))
11/06/25 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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Reading engagement study on Australian adults
Wright, B. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Lennox, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Gomes Da Mata, F. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Silva, G. (Project Manager)
17/06/25 → 31/10/25
Project: Research
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Increasing recreational reading rates amongst Australians
Wright, B. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Lennox, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Gomes Da Mata, F. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/06/24 → 31/10/24
Project: Research
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Family Peace (Phase 2) Kindness and Conflict Survey
Wright, B. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Hatty, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Gomes Da Mata, F. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/12/23 → 31/07/24
Project: Research
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Understanding Australian Readers: Behavioural Insights Into Recreational Reading
Wright, B., Lennox, A. & Mata, F., Feb 2025, Melbourne Vic Australia: BehaviourWorks Australia. 92 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report › Research
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A Behavioural Approach to ReefClean: Prioritisation Report
Borg, K., Mata, F., Klemm, C. & Boulet, M., Aug 2024, Melbourne Vic Australia: BehaviourWorks Australia. 23 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report (Non-Public) › Research
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Developing and Testing a Household Resilience Survey for the Corangamite, Colac Otway and Surf Coast Shires: Final Report
Wright, B., Mata, F., Kunstler, B., Keating, A., Abrahams, J., Cross, S., Fisher, J. & Krishna, R. N., Nov 2024, Melbourne Vic Australia: BehaviourWorks Australia. 44 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report (Non-Public) › Research
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Kindness and Conflict Baseline Survey Results: Final Report
Hatty, M., Wright, B. & Mata, F., Jun 2024, Melbourne Vic Australia: BehaviourWorks Australia. 53 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report (Non-Public) › Research
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Researching your target audience: Why do people do what they do?
Goodwin, D., Borg, K., Mata, F., Boulet, M. & Kneebone, S., 2024, Inspiring Change: How to Influence Behaviour for a Better World. Smith, L., Curtis, J., Bragge, P. & Kellner, P. (eds.). 1st ed. Melbourne Vic Australia: Monash University Publishing, p. 115-132 18 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other
Prizes
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Thesis nomination for the Monash University Mollie Holman Doctoral Medal, Vice Chancellor's Commendation for Thesis Excellence andDean's Award for Thesis Excellence
Gomes Da Mata, F. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Press/Media
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How to set your 2024 financial goals, and tips to achieve them
31/01/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature