Dr Skye (Rachel) Charry
Associate Professor - School of Law
Email: rsaund22@une.edu.au
Twitter: @SkyeSaunders13
Biography
Dr Skye Saunders is an Associate Professor in the School of Law at the University of New England and is a recognised expert in the field of sex discrimination law. Skye has been researching, presenting and consulting on issues of workplace sexual harassment for more than a decade. Her work 'Whispers from the Bush- The Workplace Sexual Harassment of Australian Rural Women' (2015) is the first Australian research on the complex issue of sexual harassment in rural and remote workplaces. In 2017 the Victorian Women's Trust produced a short documentary film called 'Grace Under Fire' which is based on Skye's research on sexual harassment in rural workplaces. In both 2018 and 2019, Skye was a delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62 and CSW63) in New York with the YWCA Australia. Skye was also recently awarded the Chancellor’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award (University of Canberra). Skye also practises law as Special Counsel on Sex Discrimination matters, is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Australian National University College of Law and is the Vice President of the YWCA Canberra. She is currently researching for her new book project, 'Defying Gravity- Rising Above Sex Discrimination in the Workplace'.
In her work, Skye strives to ignite the inherent empathy and perception in both men and women as a central part of her mission to disrupt sex discrimination in the workplace. Examples of her recent keynotes and public interviews include:
2018 and 2019: Invited delegate for YWCA Australia to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, New York
2018 and 2019: Invited Chair of National ‘No More Harm Conference’ (Melbourne 2018, Gold Coast 2019)
2018: Invited to deliver Vice Chancellor’s annual Don Aitken Lecture, University of Canberra, 15 November, 2018
2018: Invited Keynote: #UsToo Sexual Harassment Luncheon- RRR Network Aust, Westin Hotel, Perth 31 Oct 2018
2018: Invited Speaker, National Council of Women Australia Conference, QT Hotel Canberra, 17 October, 2018
2018: Invited Speaker, National Farmer’s Federation Annual Conference, AIS Arena, Canberra, 16th October 2018
2018: Invited to publicly interview Professor Gillian Triggs, Former President of the Aust Human Rights Commission as part of the ANU ‘In Conversation’ series, Australian National University Coombs Theatre, 10th October 2018
2018: Guest Author, Canberra Writer’s Festival, 26th August 2018
2018: Invited Speaker, Australian Women in Agriculture Conference, Shepparton, 17-18th August 2018
2017: Invited to interview Dr Anne Summers AO on her work ‘The Women’s Manifesto’ and other works, ‘In Conversation With’ Series, University of Canberra, 10th May, 2017
Qualifications
LLB (University of Canberra), Grad Dip Legal Practice (Merit) (ANU), PhD (University of Canberra), Legal Practioner (NSW)
Teaching Areas
Legal Professional Skills
Legal Systems and Methods
Sex Discrimination Law, Gender and Law
Legal Ethics.
Primary Research Area/s
Rural Issues; Sex Discrimination Law; Gender LawResearch Interests
Skye has a special interest in sex discrimination law, particularly workplace sexual harassment. Her monograph ‘Whispers from the Bush- The Workplace Sexual Harassment of Australian Rural Women’, is the first Australian research on the topic of sexual harassment in the relatively isolated rural context: (http://www.federationpress.com.au/bookstore/book.asp?isbn=9781760020385)
Publications
- Saunders,Whispers from the Bush- The Workplace Sexual Harassment of Australian Rural Women, (2015) Federation Press
Book Chapters
- Saunders & Easteal, ‘I Just Think It All Comes Down to How A Girl Behaves As to How She is Treated’: Sexual Harassment ‘Survival’ Behaviours and Workplace Thinking in Rural Australia’ (2013) in Easteal (ed) Justice Connections, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Pages 106-128
Journal Articles
- Easteal, P., & Saunders, S. (2019). Revisiting vicarious liability in sexual harassment cases heard under the Sex Discrimination Act. Alternative Law Journal, 1-7.
- Saunders & Easteal, ‘The Nature, Pervasiveness and Manifestations of Sexual Harassment in Rural Australia: Does ‘Masculinity’ of Workplace Make A Difference?’ (2013), Women’s Studies International Forum, vol. 40 pp 121-13
- Saunders & Easteal, “Fit in or F#$@ off": The (Non) Disclosure of Sexual Harassment in Rural Workplaces” (2012) International Journal of Rural Law and Policy, Special Edition
- Saunders, Blurred Lines- The Intersections of Gendered Harm in Rural Australia’ (2018) Domestic Violence Report, vol. 23, no 5 pp 69-70 (and to be reproduced in Family and Intimate Partner Quarterly at the editor’s request in early 2019
- Easteal & Saunders 'Interpreting Vicarious Liability with a Broad Brush in Sexual Harassment Case’, 2008, Alternative Law Journal, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 75-79
- Saunders, Calling Time on Sexual Harassment, Saunders (2018) LegalDate, vol 30, no. 4
- Easteal, Saunders & Judd, 'Sexual Harassment on Trial: The DJs Case’ 2011, Alternative Law Journal, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 230-235
- Saunders & Easteal, Reporting Sexual Harassment in Rural Workplaces, (2012) LegalDate, vol. 24, no. 3, pp 4-6
Memberships
Law Society of New South Wales (Registered Legal Practitioner)
YWCA Canberra (Vice President)
Australian National University (Honorary Associate Professor)
ACT Ministerial Advisory Council (Member)
