Gemma Read

Associate Professor Gemma Read serves as the Director of the Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science and leads the Transport and Infrastructure theme within the Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast's School of Health. With over 15 years of experience since 2006 in transportation human factors, she has held roles in both academia and government sectors.

Her educational qualifications include a PhD and Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology from Monash University, and a combined Bachelor of Laws and Behavioural Science from La Trobe University.

Gemma specializes in applying complexity and systems theory to enhance safety, particularly in transportation domains (road, rail, maritime, aviation). Her research spans human factors and ergonomics, sociotechnical systems, systems thinking, accident analysis, and safety regulation, with a strong focus on translating research into practical applications.

Her distinguished contributions have earned her multiple awards:

• Early Career Research Excellence Award (2018, University of the Sunshine Coast)
• Vice Chancellor and President's Medal for Excellence in Research (Early Career Researcher) (2017, University of the Sunshine Coast)
• Mollie Hollman Doctoral Medal for best thesis (2015, Monash University)
• 3 Minute Thesis Competition Winner (2014, Monash Injury Research Institute)
• HFES Student Travel Honorarium (2012, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society)
• Best Paper Award (2012, Australian Aviation Psychology Association)
• Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) (2011–2014, Australian Research Council)
• APS Prize for Psychology (2009, Australian Psychological Society)
• Women in Transport Scholarship (2009, Victorian Department of Transport)

Gemma secured an Australian Research Council DECRA fellowship in 2021 and actively supervises higher degree research students. Current projects include human factors in transport safety applications, rail level crossing safety, human factors and automation, accident analysis, and sociotechnical systems analysis and design.

As Director of the Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science, she fosters interdisciplinary research to address complex safety challenges in transportation and infrastructure.