COVID-19 experts available for comment

UNSW has a wide range of experts available for media interviews on the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic

Face masks and hand sanitiser have become ubiquitous with the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic.

Health and Science

For all media enquiries contact Lachlan Gilbert, lachlan.gilbert@unsw.edu.au or 0404 192 367:

  • Biosecurity expert Professor Raina MacIntyre, Kirby Institute at UNSW Medicine
  • Infection control expert Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, UNSW Medicine
  • Virologist Professor Bill Rawlinson, UNSW Medicine
  • Virologist Dr Sacha Stelzer-Braid, UNSW Medicine
  • Virologist Professor Peter White, UNSW Science
  • Epidemiologist Associate Professor Margo Barr, UNSW Medicine (available Monday and Thursday afternoons), can discuss community concern during pandemics, social isolation and equity of health services
  • Epidemiologist Dr Abrar Chughtai from UNSW Medicine can comment on prevention and control of COVID-19 (particularly on the use of masks and respirators)
  • Neuropsychiatrist Professor Julian Trollor from UNSW Medicine can comment on the healthcare needs of people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities in relation to COVID-19
  • Social Scientist Dr Holly Seale from UNSW Medicine can comment on social/behavioural responses to Covid19 (such as social distancing, face masks, vaccinations, infection control) and strategies to promote acceptance/engagement

Business

  • JW Nevile Fellow Tim Harcourt from the School of Economics is available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on international trade, globalisation and the Australian and global economy. Contact Dawn Lo, dawn.lo@unsw.edu.au or 0433 018 180.
  • Scientia Professor John Piggott from the Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR) is available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on retirement and pension economics, public finance and finance. Contact Dawn Lo, dawn.lo@unsw.edu.au or 0433 018 180.
  • Associate Professor Frank den Hartog from the School of Engineering and Information Technology is available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on cybersecurity. Contact Dawn Lo, dawn.lo@unsw.edu.au or 0433 018 180.
  • Associate Professor Nitika Garg from the School of Marketing is available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on consumer behaviour (e.g., panic buying). Contact Dawn Lo, dawn.lo@unsw.edu.au or 0433 018 180.
  • Professor Pamela Hanrahan, Deputy Head of the School of Taxation and Business Law, is available to discuss the Federal Government’s relief package for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Contact Ebony Stansfielde.stansfield@unsw.edu.au or 0434 904 669.
  • Associate Professor James Doran, Deputy Head of the School of Banking and Finance, is available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on finance, the sharemarket and investors. Contact Ebony Stansfielde.stansfield@unsw.edu.au or 0434 904 669.
  • Senior Research Fellow Nigel Stapledon, from the Centre for Applied Economic Research (CAER), is available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on housing. Contact Dawn Lo, dawn.lo@unsw.edu.au or 0433 018 180.
  • Professor Richard Holden from the School of Economics is available to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy. Contact Ebony Stansfield, e.stansfield@unsw.edu.au or 0434 904 669.
  • Lecturer Yenni Tim from the School of Information Systems and Technology Management is available to discuss the increase in phishing attacks on businesses and individuals. Contact Dawn Lodawn.lo@unsw.edu.au or 0433 018 180.

Law/Arts/Social Sciences/Built Environment

  • Professor George Williams from UNSW Law can discuss lockdowns and enforcement of self-isolation. Contact Emi Berry, e.berry@unsw.edu.au or 0413 803 873.
  • Professor Natalie Klein from UNSW Law can discuss the NSW Police investigation into the Ruby Princess disembarkation as well as cruise ships in general and law during the COVID-19 outbreak. Contact Emi Berry, e.berry@unsw.edu.au or 0413 803 873.
  • Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan from UNSW Arts and Social Sciences can discuss the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on companion animals. Contact Emi Berry, e.berry@unsw.edu.au or 0413 803 873.
  • Dr Chris Martin from the UNSW City Futures Research Centre can discuss tenancy law and renters’ rights. Contact Ben Knight, b.knight@unsw.edu.au or 0422 651 085.
  • Professor David Sanderson from UNSW Built Environment can discuss urban resilience. Contact Ben Knight, b.knight@unsw.edu.au or 0422 651 085.
  • Professor Anthony Zwi from UNSW Arts and Social Sciences can comment on global health and policy responses in relation to COVID-19. Contact Rachel Gray, rachel.gray1@unsw.edu.au or 0411 987 771.
  • Dr Monika Barthwal-Datta from UNSW Arts and Social Sciences can discuss panic buying in light of COVID-19. Contact Rachel Gray, rachel.gray1@unsw.edu.au or 0411 987 771.
  • Scientia Professor Jill Bennett from UNSW Art and Design can comment on creative, trauma-informed responses to distress and older people’s experiences. Contact: Kay Harrison, kay.harrison@unsw.edu.au, 0402 602 722 or Diane Nazaroff, diane.nazaroff@unsw.edu.au, 0432 307 880.
  • Dr Sophie Lewis, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Research in Health, can comment on loneliness. Contact: Kay Harrison, kay.harrison@unsw.edu.au, 0402 602 722 or Diane Nazaroff, diane.nazaroff@unsw.edu.au, 0432 307 880.
  • Dr Kyllie Cripps, UNSW Scientia Fellow and Pallawa woman, can comment on the impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous communities in relation to family and domestic violence. Contact: Kay Harrison, kay.harrison@unsw.edu.au, 0402 602 722 or Diane Nazaroff, diane.nazaroff@unsw.edu.au, 0432 307 880.
  • Associate Professor Bingqin Li from UNSW Arts and Social Sciences can discuss social distancing and lockdowns. Contact Rachel Gray, rachel.gray1@unsw.edu.au or 0411 987 771.
  • Scientia Professor Louise Chappell from the Human Rights Institute can discuss human rights under COVID-19. Contact Gabrielle Dunlevy, g.dunlevy@unsw.edu.au or 0423 972 801.
  • Professor Fengshi Wu from UNSW Arts and Social Sciences can discuss societal responses in relation to China in the COVID-19 era. Contact Rachel Gray, rachel.gray1@unsw.edu.au on 0411 987 771.
  • Professor Guy Goodwin-Gill from the Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW can discuss the impact of COVID-19 on refugees around the world. Contact Emi Berry, e.berry@unsw.edu.au, 0413 803 873.