Olga OleinikovaView profile
Associate Professor
Dr. Olga Oleinikova is an Associate Professor and Director of the Social Impact Technologies and Democracy Research Hub (SITADHub) within the School of Communication at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia. Internationally recognized for her contributions to research and social impact, she has been named among Forbes Top 40 Global Ukrainians and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia. She was also a finalist for the Australian Council of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) Future Leader Award. Her educational background includes a PhD in Sociology from the University of Sydney (2016), with prestigious research fellowships at Oxford University's European Studies Centre (2018-2019), Charles University in Prague (2023-2024), and the WZB Berlin Social Science Center (2015). Dr. Oleinikova's research focuses on migration studies (particularly Eastern European migration to Australia), democracy studies, diaspora politics, and social impact technologies. Her work examines life strategies of migrants navigating displacement, democratic performance in Ukraine and Europe, and the intersection of technology and democracy. She has developed a theoretical framework distinguishing between 'achievement life strategies' and 'survival life strategies' among migrants from crisis regimes. Her publication portfolio includes several acclaimed works, with her most recent book 'New Eastern European Migration to Australia: From Ukraine, Czech Republic and Hungary' (Palgrave, 2023) examining new migration patterns. Her research demonstrates consistent focus on Eastern European migration, diaspora politics, and democratic development, with increasing attention to technology's role in democratic processes. Forbes Top 40 Global Ukrainians Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia CHASS Future Leader Award Finalist Visa People's Choice Award Anthill 30 Under 30 Winner Dr. Oleinikova has secured over $3 million in funding for social and commercial initiatives. She serves on several nonprofit boards, acts as an advisor to the Australia-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, and mentors through the 1991 Open Data Incubator and Future Schools Australia. She founded the SITAD Visiting Fellowship Program, supporting Ukrainian early-career researchers and postgraduate students. Her media reach is substantial, with expert commentary featured in BBC News, Bloomberg, ABC News, CNA, The Conversation, Politico, SBS, and KyivPost, reaching an estimated 9.1 million people. She has delivered more than 30 keynote and invited talks at leading institutions worldwide. SITADHub, which she founded and directs, is a dynamic networked research center with 170 associates across 16 countries actively researching democracy, human-computer interaction, and global mobility, with a focus on Ukraine and broader Eastern Europe. The hub conducts unique research and maintains university partnerships throughout Europe and the Asia Pacific, including with WZB Berlin Social Science Research Centre, University of Oxford, and University of Sydney.











