Biography
I am an innovative academic with the ability and ambition to grow in a professional environment. I have Successfully delivered and implemented 9 complex, interdisciplinary international and domestic research and consultancy projects/ contracts (appx A$2mil); working with Australian and international government, academics, governmental agencies, and industry partners. I have identified and designed many different research project opportunities related to societal impact with the key aim to find innovative solutions through employment, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and the like. I am an academic who thinks outside the box and believes that solutions to most of our social issues are around us, but it is a matter of identifying and co-designing it with the people experiencing the issues, the community, the governments, the industry, and the academics and working collaboratively to make change happen.
For all my projects, I have developed and maintained strong and positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Australian and Queensland governments, Indian and Laos Govt associated organisations, Academics, community, and industry partners. I have received the Griffith Business School PVC Research Excellence Award for a mid-career researcher (2021) and recognised for my work as a finalist in the India Australia Business and Community Awards (IABCA 2020-21).
I have served in various leadership and engagement roles, I am an active discussant on important relevant topics e.g., Expert panel discussing challenges of women during the pandemic -Universidad Privada Boliviana and La Trobe Asia and Griffith Asia Institute; panel member for discussing pathways for homeless women and women experiencing Domestic and family violence -Queensland Government.
I have been recognised and selected for Academic WIL Program (2022), Ethos in Research Leadership (2019), and the Women in Leadership programs Griffith Business School, Griffith University (2017).
Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a strong work ethic and commitment, and ability to build strong relationships, strategic thinking, adept complex problem-solving skills, and deep engagement with internal and external stakeholders. I am a strong advocate for gender equity and finding solutions through projects to build and empower disadvantaged groups. Being bilingual and bicultural, is complemented by my life experiences of growing up, studying, and working in India and Australia.
Read more on Dhara's profileCareer highlights
2015-22 Successfully delivered and implemented 9 complex, interdisciplinary international and domestic research and consultancy projects/ contracts (appx A$2 mil) in a timely manner, managing risks/ governance.
2015-22 Successfully leveraged partnerships and relationships with various stakeholders (Australian/ international government, academics, governmental agencies, and industry).
2015-22 Speaker on critical issues regularly invited by the government and community (e.g., Inclusive growth in G20, homelessness, women’s employment challenges).
2021 Recipient of the Griffith Business School PVC Research Excellence Award for mid-career researcher, 2021.
2021 Specialist lecturer and mentor for gender inclusion in Laos, Government Funded.
2020-21 Recognition for my work in the social impact space as a finalist in the India Australi Business and Community Awards (IABCA 2020-21).
2017 Expert Special Partnership Award Category for student-centeredness for the Community Internship in India from Griffith University.
Research interests
Human Resource Management
International HRM
Cross Cultural Management
Expatriation
Entrepreneurship
Women
Gender Issues
Older Women
Indian Women
Affiliations
Academy of International Business (AIB) and AIB Oceania member
European Academy of Management (EURAM) member
Work Organisation and Wellbeing Centre at Griffith University
Griffith Asia Institute at Griffith University
Teaching interests
International Business
International HRM
International Management
Leadership
Diversity and inclusion
Entrepreneurship
Global Mindset and Citizenship
Knowledge areas
Human Resource Management, Inclusive Leadership, Gender, Inclusion and Diversity, Social Innovation, Entreprenuership, Older Women, Gender Issues, Indian women, Cross-Cultural Management, Expatriation, Self-Efficacy, Self Determination, International HRM
Media appearances
https://youtu.be/qd9btHLiM6M
https://lnkd.in/drz4HBie
https://youtu.be/DTnfDmJbz3w?si=0PVqzA27jv3knIbx
https://youtu.be/923qdGBlNno
https://youtu.be/ayfRvv4fIMw?si=Ah5PucIHCtaeBOiC
https://soundcloud.com/user-236146801/episode-13-the-gender-card-in-underemployment-homelessness-in-women-over-50?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
https://enlighten.griffith.edu.au/everyday-sexism-gender-discrimination-sexual-harassment-in-australian-university-systems/
https://www.griffith.edu.au/engage/professional-learning/content-centre/over-the-working-hill-at-45
https://news.griffith.edu.au/2020/05/06/griffith-program-helping-women-over-50-develop-successful-businesses/
https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/griffith-indian-innovators-program-participant-recognised-by-forbes-for-creating-a-journey-of-hope/
https://blogs.griffith.edu.au/bsi-connection/2021/06/25/international-small-business-summit-a-forum-of-discussion-of-critical-issues/
https://blogs.griffith.edu.au/bsi-connection/2020/11/11/griffith-researcher-selected-as-india-australia-business-and-community-awards-finalist/
https://blogs.griffith.edu.au/asiainsights/asia-stories-women-and-their-career-journeys-india-and-australia/
https://www.couriermail.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CMWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.couriermail.com.au%2Fquestnews%2Flogan%2Fsisters-support-business-and-griffith-university-turning-lives-around-for-women-over-50%2Fnews-story%2F735c4af168d0df9535a425c667a4dcef&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPA-Segment-2-NOSCORE
https://news.griffith.edu.au/2020/04/29/griffith-indian-innovators-program-participant-recognised-by-forbes-for-creating-a-journey-of-hope/
https://news.griffith.edu.au/2019/12/04/destination-north-queensland-intercultural-interactions-between-indian-and-indigenous-queensland-entrepreneurs/
https://news.griffith.edu.au/2020/03/17/work-life-interface-experiences-of-indian-it-women-repatriates/
https://news.griffith.edu.au/2019/02/15/india-queensland-partnership-internationalising-indian-women-entrepreneurs/
https://news.griffith.edu.au/2020/02/03/going-global-india/
https://news.griffith.edu.au/2017/02/13/university-launches-internship-to-help-indias-slum-communities/
https://news.griffith.edu.au/2016/11/30/first-of-its-kind-internship/
Awards
Griffith Business School Pro Vice Chancelor Researcher Excelence Awards, Grifith University, Grifith Busines School, 2021
Griffith Business School Mid Career Researchers Small Grant Scheme, 2022
New Researchers Grant, Grifith Busines School, 2017
Projects
2023 – 2023 Co-Lead – Building capacity through climate-resilient development and gender-inclusive entrepreneurship in Mongolia- Australia Awards Fellowship (A$ 315,131) DFAT Australian Govt Funding. The fellowship aims to build the capacity of fellows to advance climate-resilient development with a particular focus on gender equity. TPartnerships Griffith University and University of Southern Queensland and Independent Research Institute of Mongolia. Outcomes- Successful completion of the project.
2022 – Ongoing Program Lead – Unpacking the unemployment paradox for Indigenous women – Co-creating and co-designing solutions with the community leaders and women (A$10,000) Griffith Business School funding. Collaboration with an Indigenous academic and an Indigenous Elder from the Logan community.
2021 – Ongoing Co-Lead – Academic Women’s Experiences of Australian University Workplaces: an investigation into contemporary experiences of sexism, discrimination, and disadvantage (A$5000), Griffith Gender Equity Research Network funding. Collaboration between Interdisciplinary academics from around Griffith University.
2022 – 2023 Program Co-Lead – Inclusive Leadership Mekong Region and Laos Alumni (A$415,270) Tetra Tech DFAT Australian Govt Funding, to develop inclusive leadership capabilities (particularly women) of diverse participants from both the public and private sectors in the Mekong Region. Collaboration with a Griffith Business School Colleague. Outcomes- Successful Completion.
2022 – 2022 Program Lead – Human Resource Leadership and Future of Work in the Mekong Region (A$578,677) Tetra Tech DFAT, Australian Govt Funding, to develop HR Leadership and the future of work strategies for Senior Leaders from the ministries, public and private sector in the five Mekong Countries. Outcomes- Successful Completion.
2019 – 2021 Project Lead – Sisters Support Business Together(A$772,200), Study funded by the Australian Government and partnership with Queensland Government. The project aimed to improve outcomes for women over 50 years who were at risk of poverty and homelessness by empowering them through skill development, mentoring, coaching, support, small grants. Collaboration- interdisciplinary colleagues, departments, industry, and local government agencies. Outcomes- Successful Completion over 70% improved participant outcomes.
2019 – 2020 Project Lead – Going Global – Enhancing the intercultural business capabilities of Women Entrepreneurs (Indigenous and Indian) (A$97,910), a project funded by Queensland Government. Two-phase study to empower and build international employability, entrepreneurial, cross-cultural, and innovation skills for Indian and Queensland Indigenous women social entrepreneurs. Collaboration between Griffith Business School colleague, A/Prof (Central Queensland University), gen[in] consortium, FICCI FLO, and Young Indians CII (Indian Governmental). Outcomes- Successful Completion.
2017 – 2018 Project Lead – Indian IT (A$9492) Griffith Business School. funding. The study aimed to understand the factors that affect IT women’s decisions about expatriating, career prioritising and role identities on the work-life balance and its impact on their career progression. Collaboration between colleagues from the University of Queensland, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, and me. Outcomes- Successful Completion.
2017 – 2018 Project Lead – The other half of the picture: the experiences and perspectives of expatriates and their spouses on an international assignment in China (A$5000) Griffith Asia Institute funding. Collaboration between colleagues from Business School, University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology.