
Natalie Hēni Maihi Fennell
Natalie, a Ngāpuhi wahine, is a PhD candidate, teaching academic and research assistant within the School of Social Science. Her research interests sit at the nexus of her studies in Criminology and International Relations and explores how international justice institutions respond to acts of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Natalie’s doctoral research interrogates the normative conceptualisations of, and responses to SGBV, to expose the colonial and patriarchal logics which sustain violence through judicial mechanisms. Her work is informed by her Māori whakapapa (ancestry) and her experiences as a victim and survivor of domestic and sexual violence, and engages with mātauranga (Māori knowledges) and abolitionist principles to dismantle systems of harm through justice, compassion and accountability.
Natalie’s supervisors are Associate Professor Suzanna Fay and Dr. Joseph Lelliott.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts – Criminology and International Relations (2020)
- Bachelor of Arts – Criminology Honours Class I (2021)
Awards
- John Braithwaite Prize in Criminology (2021)
- UQ Future Leader (2021)
- HASS Tutor Award (2023)
- UQ Teaching Excellence Award, Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2024) - Transformative Justice: Providing a safe space for students to challenge normative assumptions about crime and criminal justice, through empathy, humanity and vulnerability.
Research Outputs
- Bennett, S., Colbert, P., Antrobus, E., Gilmour, J., Hartley, J., Waters, M., Anderson, K., Fennell, N., & Faa, J. (2024). Identifying effective diversionary practice: An exploration of policing, legal and youth justice responses to youth crime. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
- Bennett, S., Gilmour, J., Fennell, N., and Anderson, K. (2022). Effectiveness of police diversionary action. Queensland Police Service
- Fennell, N., & Fielding, I. (2022). The Protective Services Group and the Queensland Police Service: Cultural Analysis Project. Queensland Police Service.
- Bennett, S., Fennell, N., & F., Isabella (2021). Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Honours) Review: Focus Group Report. University of Queensland.
- Bennett, S., Elson-Green, A., Fennell, N., Fielding, I., & Haugh, K. (2021) Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Honours) Review: Survey Report. University of Queensland.
- Bennett, S., Fennell, N., & Fielding, I. (2021) Engaging Alumni feedback on the Current and Future Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Honours). University of Queensland.
- Bennett, S., Fennell, N., & Fielding, I. (2021) Engaging Industry feedback on the Current and Future Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Honours). University of Queensland.
- Bennett, S., Elson-Green, A., Fennell, N., Fielding, I., & Haugh, K. (2021) Engaging Student feedback on the Current and Future Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Honours). University of Queensland.
Presentations
- Justice for the invisible, inevitable and inescapable (2024), School of Social Science Postgraduate Conference. University of Queensland.
- The invisible inevitability: An investigation of sexualised war violence as an act of terrorism (2023), HDR Presentations (Justice and Society Research Cluster - School of Social Science).
- Justice for the inevitable, invisible and unspeakable: Responding to the use of sexual violence during conflict (2023), Transformative Justice Seminar. University of Queensland.