Leigh Straw

Dr Leigh Straw is an Associate Professor of History at The University of Notre Dame Australia, based at the Fremantle Campus. She specializes in Australian, European, and modern U.S. history, with a focus on crime studies. Her research explores themes such as gender, social history, and criminal justice, reflected in her authored biographies and true crime books. Leigh has been recognized for her work with the Margaret Medcalf Award (2018 and 2022) and an ABIA longlisting. She teaches and supervises in undergraduate and postgraduate programs and has presented on ABC Radio National's Geoffrey Bolton Memorial Lecture. Her current project involves a book on the Kennedys.

Leigh's research interests span true crime narratives, historical trauma, and the intersection of gender with crime and law enforcement. Her books include The Ballroom Murder (2022), The Petticoat Parade (2021), and biographies of figures like Dulcie Markham and Lillian Armfield. She actively engages with public history through media appearances and lectures.

• Awards: 2022 & 2018 Margaret Medcalf Award, ABIA Longlist (2016)
• Media: ABC 'Conversations' program, Geoffrey Bolton Memorial Lecture (2020)

Leigh’s work bridges academic and public audiences, emphasizing accessible historical storytelling. She contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on crime, memory, and social change.