Vanessa McDermott

Senior Lecturer

I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Business at UNSW, Canberra.

I take a sociological view to investigate decision-making in governance and regulatory frameworks in public and corporate environments, with a focus on reumeration schemes, organisational safety and the associated impact for individuals and groups. A key theme across my research is critically assessing the way that governance and regulatory frameworks, such as regulations, codes of conduct or other types of frameworks, can have unintended outcomes. I use the concept of 'risk shifting' to research how, or whether governance frameworks can inadvertently divert risk and the responsibility for managing that risk to individuals, groups or communities who are not well placed to bear the burden of those risks. I've used this approach to look at the impact of regulatory responses for worker safety in civil construction, and for athletes subject to anti-doping policies in elite sport, as well as community safety and urban development. I also conduct evaluations of programs or other initiatives in both the Australian public service and the corporate sector.

I received my PhD in sociology from the Australian National University (ANU). Prior to joining UNSW Canberra in 2020, I was a Research Fellow in the Energy Pipeline Cooperative Research Centre at ANU and later at RMIT.

Books
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Algeo C; Connor J; Owen J; Linger H; McDermott V, 2017, Developing Government Policy Capability Policy Work, Project Management, and Knowledge Practices
2017
McDermott V, 2015, The War on Drugs in Sport Moral Panics and Organizational Legitimacy, Routledge
2015
Conference Papers
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Zhang RP; McDermott V, 2017, 'Corporate Governance, Incentive Schemes, and Safety Performance in the Construction Industry', in Chan PW; Neilson CJ (ed.), Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM), Cambridge, UK, pp. 380 - 388, presented at 33rd Annual ARCOM Conference, Cambridge, UK, 04 September 2017 - 06 September 2017
2017
Gunarathna G; Yang J; McDermott V; Lingard H, 2017, 'Opportunities for Improving Construction Health and Safety Using Real-Time H&S Management Innovations', in Zou PXW; Sanjayan J; Alam M; Xu X (eds.), Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate Conference, CRIOCM 2017 Organising Committee, Advanced Technology Centre, Swinburne University, Australia, pp. 1179 - 1188, presented at International Conference on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, Advanced Technology Centre, Swinburne University, Australia, 20 November 2017 - 23 November 2017
2017
McDermott V; Holdsworth S, 2017, 'Fringe Benefits? Planning, Building and the Development of Community in a Neo-Liberal Landscape', Cambrdige, UK, presented at 33rd Annual Conference Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM), Cambrdige, UK, 04 September 2017 - 06 September 2017
2017
Lindard H; Pink S; Hayes J; Harley J; McDermott V, 2016, 'Using Participatory Video to Understand Subcontracted Construction Workers' Safety Rule Violations', in Chan PW; Neilson CJ (ed.), Proceedings of the 32nd Annual ARCOM Conference: Construction Work and the Worker, ARCOM, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Manchester, UK, pp. 457 - 466, presented at 32nd Annual ARCOM Conference: Construction Work and the Worker, Manchester, UK, 05 September 2016 - 07 September 2016, https://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/archive/2016-ARCOM-Full-Proceedings-Vol-1.pdf
2016
McDermott V; Hayes J, 2016, ''We're still hitting things': The effectiveness of third party processes for pipeline strike prevention', in Proceedings of the Biennial International Pipeline Conference, IPC, http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/IPC2016-64070
2016
Hayes J; McDermott V; Lingard H, 2015, 'What is risk? Construction activity near hazardous infrastructure', in Raidén A; Aboagye-Nimo E (ed.), Proceedings of 31st Annual ARCOM Conference, ARCOM, Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Lincoln, UK, pp. 105 - 114, presented at 31st Annual Conference of Researchers in Construction Management, Lincoln, UK, 07 September 2015 - 09 September 2015, http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/25820/1/221650_PubSub3434_Raiden.pdf
2015
McDermott V, 2014, 'Legitimacy and Consensus in Moral Panic Theory', in The Annual Conference of The Australian Sociological Association, University of South Australia, Adelaide, presented at Annual Conference of The Australian Sociological Association, ‘Challenging Identities, Institutions and Communities,, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 24 November 2014 - 27 November 2014
2014
McDermott V; Henne K; Connor JM, 2013, 'Legitimating the fight? Questions about cross-cultural perspectives on anti-doping strategies in the Pacific', in Osbaldiston N; Strong C; Forbes-Mewett H (eds.), Legitimating the fight? Questions about cross-cultural perspectives on anti-doping strategies in the Pacific, Reflections, Intersections and Aspirations 50 years of Australian Sociology, Monash University, presented at Reflections, Intersections and Aspirations 50 years of Australian Sociology, Monash University, 25 November 2013 - 28 November 2013
2013
McDermott V, 2012, 'Legitimating the Fight against Drugs in Sport: The Australian Government and the Australian Football League', in The Annual Conference of The Australian Sociological Association 2012, ‘Emerging and Enduring Inequalities’, The Australian Sociological Association (TASA), The University of Queensland, presented at Annual conference of The Australian Sociological Association 2012, ‘Emerging and Enduring Inequalities,’, The University of Queensland, 26 November 2012 - 29 November 2012
2012
Journal articles
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Connor J; McDermott V; Gillies W, 2022, 'Passionate projects: practitioner reflections on emotion management', International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, vol. 15, pp. 865 - 885, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-08-2021-0208
2022
Yang RJ; Gunarathna CL; McDermott V; Lingard H; Zhao H; Liu C, 2020, 'Opportunities for improving construction health and safety using real-time H&S management innovations: a socio-technical-economic perspective', International Journal of Construction Management, vol. 20, pp. 534 - 554, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2018.1490866
2020
McDermott V; Hayes J, 2018, 'Risk shifting and disorganization in multi-tier contracting chains: The implications for public safety', Safety Science, vol. 106, pp. 263 - 272, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2016.11.018
2018
McDermott V; Henne K; Hayes J, 2018, 'Shifting risk to the frontline: case studies in different contract working environments', Journal of Risk Research, vol. 21, pp. 1502 - 1516, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2017.1313764
2018
Hayes J; McDermott V, 2018, 'Working in the crowded underground: One call services as a boundary object', Safety Science, vol. 110, pp. 69 - 79, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2017.09.019
2018
McDermott V; Zhang RP; Hopkins A; Hayes J, 2018, 'Constructing safety: investigating senior executive long-term incentive plans and safety objectives in the construction sector', Construction Management and Economics, vol. 36, pp. 276 - 290, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2017.1381752
2018
McDermott V; Hayes J, 2017, '"We're still hitting things": The effectiveness of third-party processes for PIPELINE strike prevention', Journal of Pipeline Engineering, vol. 16, pp. 33 - 43, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000395838600003&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1
2017
Henne K; Koh B; McDermott V, 2013, 'Commentary: Rethinking WADA: What exactly are we reconsidering?', Performance Enhancement and Health, vol. 2, pp. 58 - 59, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2013.08.003
2013
Henne K; Koh B; McDermott V, 2013, 'Coherence of drug policy in sports: Illicit inclusions and illegal inconsistencies', Performance Enhancement and Health, vol. 2, pp. 48 - 55, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2013.05.003
2013
Connor J; McDermott V, 2013, 'Service teaching and the sociological critique: Lessons from a military academy', Journal of Sociology, vol. 49, pp. 501 - 514, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1440783313504061
2013
Mazanov J, 2009, 'The case for a social science of drugs in sport', Sport In Society (Formerly Culture, Sport, Society), vol. 12(3), pp. 276 - 295, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17430430802673635
2009
Reports
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Connor J; McDermott V; Henne K; Foenander J; Borg J, 2022, The Legitimacy of the Fight Against Doping in Sport: Stakeholder Perceptions
2022
McDermott V; Williamson S; Connor J; Yates S; Williams J; Beacham L; May K, 2021, A Program Logic to Progress Gender Inclusion and Capability in the Australian Defence Force
2021
Connor J; Williamson S; McDermott V; Yates S; Noack-Lundberg K; May K, 2021, Benchmarking Gender Equality in the Australian Defence Force, Department of Defence, Canberra
2021
Williamson S; Yates S; Connor J; McDermott V; May K, 2021, Progressing Gender Inclusion in the ADF
2021

McDermott, V. & Hayes, J. 2016 ‘We’re still hitting things’: the effectiveness of third party processes for pipeline strike prevention, in Proceedings of the 11th International Pipeline Conference (IPC), 26 – 30 September, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Best Paper Award Runner Up.

Lingard, H., Harley, J., Pink, S., Hayes, J. and McDermott, V. 2016 Breaking the Rules: Using Video To Understand Sub-Contracted Workers' Safety-Related Rule Violations And Errors, in Proceedings of the 32nd ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September, Manchester, United Kingdom, Best International Research Paper.

McDermott, V. 2011 Conceptualising Legitimacy, Moral Panics and PEDs: Crisis? Whose Crisis?, Sports Medicine Australia, ACT Sports Research Awards, Canberra, Winner of the 2011 ACT Sports Research Award – Open Category.

Connor, J., Williamson, S. and McDermott, V. 2021 Defence Gender Research Program, Australian Department of Defence (completed).

O’Neill, S., Glennie, M., Farmer, J., Caponecchia, C., McDermott, V., Blackman, D., Rooney, J. Huron, V. 2021 Mentally Healthy Workplace Measurement and Reporting Guides, The National Work Initiative and The National Mental Health Commission (completed).

Connor, J., Henne, K. and McDermott, V. 2013 Legitimating the Fight? Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Anti-Doping Strategies in the Pacific, funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency (ongoing).

Owen, J., Connor, J., Linger, H., Algeo, C. and McDermott, V. 2012-16 The Project as a Tool of Policy Implementation: The Role of Project Management in Health, on behalf of the Project Management Institute (completed).

Hayes, J., McDermott, V. and Holdsworth, S. ‘Urban Planning for Pipelines: evidence-based recommendations for policy change to support public safety and community welfare’ (completed, at RMIT).

Anti-doping regulation / governance; sport regulation; corporate governance, organisational / worker safety, evaluation

Organisational units
lensPublic Service Research Group
lensSchool of Business
Sub Theme
lensSustainment and Network Collaboration
lensPublic Service Management