Tess Lea

Professor Tess Lea is the Head of the School of Communication, Society and Culture at Macquarie University, and holds an adjunct position at the University of Adelaide. She leads research at the Global Indigenous Futures Research Centre and the Housing and Urban Research Centre. Her work focuses on organizational ethnography, policy and bureaucracy studies, and Indigenous endurance under settler colonialism. Lea has contributed to education, housing, climate mitigation, and mobility research, with over 90 publications and multiple research projects addressing remote community viability and infrastructure needs.

Education: PhD in Anthropology from the University of Sydney (1998–2003).

Research Interests: Her interdisciplinary approach examines policy ecosystems, Indigenous social policy, and the intersections of infrastructure, climate, and mobility. Recent work explores housing sustainability, e-bike adoption during pandemics, and peer influences on e-cigarette use. She emphasizes decolonial frameworks and systemic policy analysis.

Projects: Active projects include 'Building sustainability in regional Australia' (2023–2025) and 'Staying on Country: Infrastructure Needs for Remote Community Viability' (2022–2024). Completed projects include studies on Indigenous housing maintenance and traffic congestion innovation.

Advising & Grants: While no advisees are listed, Lea has secured funding for multidisciplinary projects addressing climate resilience and Indigenous rights. Her grants focus on bridging policy, infrastructure, and cultural sustainability.

Labs/Teams: Active in cross-disciplinary teams at Global Indigenous Futures and Housing and Urban Research Centres, focusing on policy innovation and community-led solutions.