Sharon Beder

Sharon Beder is an environmentalist and former professor in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia.

Her research has focused on how power relationships are maintained and challenged, particularly by corporations and professions.

She has written 11 books, and many articles, book chapters and conference papers, as well as designing teaching resources and educational websites.

Beder was born in 1956 in Wellington, New Zealand, granddaughter of Jewish immigrants who had escaped from pogroms in eastern Europe before the second world war.

Beder initially trained and worked as a civil engineer in New Zealand before becoming interested in the social, political and philosophical aspects of engineering and then environmental politics.

She completed a PhD in Science and Technology Studies at the University of New South Wales in 1989 based on research into the process of engineering decision-making using a case study on the development of Sydney's sewerage system.

Before joining the University of Wollongong in 1992, Beder was Environmental Education Co-ordinator at the University of Sydney.

She has also been Chairperson of the Environmental Engineering Branch of the Institution of Engineers, Sydney, President of the Society for Social Responsibility in Engineering, and a director of the Earth Foundation Australia.

She was also included in Bulletin Magazine's "Smart 100" in 2003.

Her awards include:

Beder was included in a list of "Australia's most influential engineers", published by Engineers Australia in 2004.