Dr Sarah Maddison is a Lecturer in the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of New South Wales. She graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney in 1998 with the University Medal in Social Inquiry. In 2004 she graduated with a PhD from the University of Sydney and in 2006 her doctoral thesis was awarded the Australian Sociological Association's Jean Martin Award for the best thesis in the social sciences 2004-2005. Sarah sits on the Board of Directors of the Australia Institute, an independent think tank, and provides media commentary for the Women's Electoral Lobby and more broadly on issues in Australian politics.

Sarah has published widely in the areas of young women and feminist activism, social movements, non-government organisations and democracy. Her first book Activist Wisdom: Practical Knowledge and Creative Tension in Social Movements (with Sean Scalmer) addresses important questions concerning the ways that activists manage tension and conflict in social movements. More recently she has edited (with Clive Hamilton) the collection Silencing Dissent, (2007). She has also completed the focused audits on women and sexual minorities for the Democratic Audit of Australia (http://democratic.audit.anu.edu.au). Sarah is currently working on a major book project (to be published in 2008) on Australian Indigenous politics and activism.