Politics, Religion, Social Justice
Researcher, Non-Executive Director, Consultant
Elenie researches and writes about religion, politics and society. Her PhD in Politics was awarded in 2021, and examined the discourses and the politics of religious freedom in Australia. She has significant research, policy and advocacy expertise and is a well-known public commentator on religion and politics, religion and society, social justice, and human rights in Australia. Elenie is an experienced non-executive director and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She also consults for not-for-profit organisations and civil society groups.
Research & Writing
Elenie is an Adjunct Fellow in Politics and International Relations at Macquarie University. Her research and writing is on the intersection of politics and religion and she is especially interested in how we talk about religion in the public and political space. She has a particular focus on the politics and the discourses of religious freedom. Elenie is a well-known public commentator on religion, politics and society and on issues of human rights and social justice.
Leadership & Governance
Elenie is an ordained minister in the Uniting Church in Australia. She has held numerous national and international leadership roles with the church and in civil society.
Elenie is a non-executive director of one of the country's largest providers of social services. She has served on numerous boards and committees including with the World Council of Churches, as chair of an international aid and development agency, and on the board of Australia’s peak body for community services. She has a long history of working in diverse civil society coalitions and has particular expertise in the areas of mission and strategy, organisational culture and ethics, public policy and government relations, social justice, environmental responsibility and stakeholder relations.
Consultancy Services
Elenie has over 20 years’ experience in policy and advocacy, government relations, media and public speaking. As the long-time national director of the Uniting Church in Australia’s justice policy and advocacy unit, she gained a deep understanding of values-based organisations and has significant experience working with complex national and international member-based organisations and diverse civil society coalitions.