Barbara is a Human Geographer, a researcher, teacher and has served in three universities as an academic, including in management roles as Dean of Graduate Studies, Head of School of Arts and Sciences and Dean and Head of School of Arts and Social Sciences. An engaged researcher, Barbara's research interests include the policies and practices of NGOs active in community development to improve lives and livelihoods, both internationally and within Australia communities. This encompasses the impacts of development assistance programs, of advocacy activity and of sustainable community based tourism initiatives. Social justice is an abiding theme of Barbara's research, currently focused on the lived experiences of refugee and migrant women in regional communities and on evaluation of services designed to support rough sleepers.