Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Samanthi J. Gunawardana is a Senior Lecturer in Gender and Development in the School of Social Science in the Faculty of Arts.
From 2013-2022, Samanthi was the Course Director for the Master of International Development Practice. She was a Steering Committee member of the Monash Gender, Peace and Security Centre (2016-2023) and is on the Steering Committee of the Monash Global Peace and Security Centre.
She has a PhD in Economics and Commerce from The University of Melbourne. Prior to joining Monash University, she was a Lecturer in Employment Relations at Griffith University, and an Instructor in Labour Studies at the Pennsylvania State University. Samanthi was the 2009-2010 Visiting Professor of International Studies at Trinity College in Connecticut, and in 2006 she was a Visiting International Fellow at Cornell University.
Samanthi’s research examines the impact of development policy on employment systems, labour, and livelihoods among rural women in South Asia, particularly emphasising gender, labour, and the impact of conflict in Sri Lanka. Key topics explored include export processing zone employment systems, agrarian labour, the impact of conflict, freedom of association, labour organizing, labour migration, microfinance and debt, entrepreneurship, and connections between the political economy of households and development policy. Her current research examines the possibilities for decentering and decolonising cross-border partnerships, alliances, and collaborations.
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):
Research area keywords
- International Political Economy
- Gender
- Labour Force
- Developing countries
- Worker's Rights
- Human Rights
- Decolonisation
- Ethical Sourcing
- Feminist political economy
- Livelihoods
- Sri Lanka
- Economic security
- Employment relations
- Entrepreneurship
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 4 Finished
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Strengthening Young Women's Leadership through Formal Education
Lee-Koo, K. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)) & Gunawardana, S. (Chief Investigator (CI))
World YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association)
23/01/23 → 28/02/25
Project: Research
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Research Internship Faculty of Arts with Uniting Vic Tas
Gunawardana, S. (Supervisor) & De Silva, N. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
19/12/22 → 15/05/23
Project: Research
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Gendered Impacts of SME Policy Responses to Covid-19 in South East Asia: Examples from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam
Datt, G. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Islam, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Gunawardana, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lee, W.-S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bayudan-Dacuycuy, C. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Fillaili, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Viet Cuong, N. (Partner Investigator (PI))
20/04/21 → 30/04/22
Project: Research
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Inclusive Economies and Enduring Peace: The Transformative Role of Social Reproduction
True, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Gunawardana, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Johnston, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Rai, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Pratt, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Elias, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Lingham, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/08/19 → 31/07/21
Project: Research
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Exogenous crises and Australia's development policy
Gordon, E., Gunawardana, S. J. & Lowe, L., 2024, Australian Politics at a Crossroads: Prospects for Change. Bonotti, M. & Miragliotta, N. (eds.). 1st ed. Abingdon UK: Routledge, p. 162-176 15 p. (Routledge Advances in International Relations and Global Politics).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
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Covid-19 and the international political economy of everyday life: An introduction to the special issue
Brasset, J., Chodor, T., Elias, J., Gunawardana, S., Kremers, R., Nikolaidis, G., Rethal, L. & Richardson, B., 2023, In: Reinvention: an International Journal of Undergraduate Research. 16, 2, 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Other › peer-review
Open Access -
Labour and work: Roundtable: Is increased automation the solution to global labour exploitation?
Alford, M., Anner, M., Gunawardana, S. & Godfrey, S., May 2023, Global Political Economy. Phllips, N. (ed.). Oxford UK: Oxford University Press, p. 301-308 8 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
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Microfinance promises women a future instead it traps them in debt
De Silva, N. & Gunawardana, S., 2023, Melbourne Vic Australia : 360info.Research output: Other contribution › Other
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‘Even though I get a loan, my husband controls it’: rhetoric versus reality of empowering Bangladeshi women through microfinance programs
Shohel, T. A., Niner, S. & Gunawardana, S. J., Aug 2023, In: European Journal of Development Research. 35, 4, p. 794-819 26 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile13 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Australian International Political Economy Network Richard Higgott Journal Article Prize
Gunawardana, S. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Faculty of Arts Citation for Excellence in Post-Graduate Coursework Teaching
Gunawardana, S. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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13th Australian International Political Economy Workshop
Gunawardana, S. (Speaker)
2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Inaugural Victor Melder Lecture: Histories of Sri Lankan Migration to Australia
Gunawardana, S. (Performer)
Apr 2022Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Healthy Planet, Healthy Communities: Acting with evidence, equity and inclusion for a resilient future, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) National Conference 2022
Gunawardana, S. (Speaker) & Gordon, E. (Speaker)
26 Oct 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Gendered Care in Spaces of Seclusion and Exclusion in Sri Lanka and Argentina, Post-conflict care economy and depletion of women’s labour
Gunawardana, S. (Speaker) & Pereya, V. (Speaker)
2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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9th Annual Australian International Political Economy Workshop
Gunawardana, S. (Organiser)
2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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Women Bear the Brunt of Asia’s Climate Failures
Gunawardana, S. & Fernando, G.
28/12/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Gendered Depletion in Export Processing Zones
27/03/18
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Clothing. International Political Economy of Everyday Life
1/01/17
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment