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Professor Azadeh Dastyari
Director
Professor Azadeh Dastyari is a leading scholar in human rights law, dedicated to challenging systemic inequality and transforming the conditions that silence and marginalise communities. Her work focuses on dismantling structural barriers and amplifying community-led solutions through rigorous research, deep collaboration, and strong public engagement.
She has been a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School (as the highest ranked postgraduate Fulbright scholar in Australia and as a Lionel Murphy scholar), the European University Institute, Georgetown University, and the University of Bologna. Her legal and policy expertise has been sought by Australian parliamentary committees, Members of the European Parliament, and United Nations bodies.
Before joining the Centre, Professor Dastyari was Director of Research and Policy at the Whitlam Institute, where she led a broad portfolio of high-impact, equity-focused initiatives. Her work spanned civic participation, digital inclusion for First Nations communities and the people of Western Sydney, and the advancement of social, political, and human rights. She has published widely in the areas of international human rights law, anti-discrimination law, and constitutional law.
Professor Neil Perry
Chief Economist
Professor Perry is the Chief Economist at the Centre for Western Sydney and the School of Business at Western Sydney University. He brings expertise in housing economics, environmental natural resource economics, and transitioning economies, using tools such as cost-benefit analysis and economic impact modelling to inform policy and planning. His applied work has included assessing the economic benefits of Sydney Metro North West, cooperative housing models, and the transitioning economies of the Hunter, and Lithgow regions under progressive climate policy.
Professor Perry’s research integrates social, cultural and ecological values into economic modelling, and has been published in leading journals such as Ecological Economics, Journal of Economic Perspectives and Wildlife Research.
He has served on several advisory bodies, including the Advisory Committee of the Maldhan Ngurr Ngurra – Lithgow Transformation Hub, the Strategic Reference Group for the Lithgow Emerging Economy Plan, and the NSW Government’s Regional Expert Panel for the Central West.
At the Centre for Western Sydney, Professor Perry leads economic analysis across key projects such as Unlimited Potential: An Economic Plan for Western Sydney, and Unlocking Women’s Potential, to shape a more inclusive and sustainable economic future for the region.
Dr Anastasia Mortimer
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Anastasia Mortimer is the Centre for Western Sydney’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow.
Anastasia is a social sciences researcher who explores issues related to internal disaster displacement, climate justice, emergency shelter and housing, and sustainable development. She has recently completed her PhD from the University of Newcastle, and her thesis examined the displacement crises following the Eastern Australian Floods.
She has worked in academic positions as a lecturer in sociology and social justice courses, and in research, community engagement and project management positions for environmental NGOs, humanitarian organisations and research centres. Through this expertise, Anastasia has developed skills in mixed-methods research design, community consultation, knowledge translation, and project management.
Her research and advocacy aim to draw attention to the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, as well as intersecting human rights challenges within the social and ecological nexus.
Dr Rifaie Tammas
Impact and Evaluations Coordinator
Dr Rifaie Tammas leads the Centre’s Impact and Evaluation stream. He oversees a range of projects that seek to measure and maximise the impact of programs, initiatives and infrastructure in Western Sydney.
Rifaie brings over a decade of experience in research, monitoring and evaluation in higher education and community development projects in Australia and overseas. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Sydney and has provided extensive media commentary for BBC, ABC News and Al Jazeera. Rifaie is a native Arabic speaker and was the winner of the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition at Macquarie University in 2017.
Prior to joining the Centre for Western Sydney, Rifaie worked as a Senior Research Associate at Macquarie University. He has also been involved in the development and coordination of several mentoring programs for students and academics from refugee backgrounds at several Australian universities and delivered training to hundreds of academics and students across Australia and the UK. Rifaie worked as a citizen journalist in 2012 and 2013, reporting on the Syrian Uprising from his hometown in Syria.
Joelle Sassine
Research Assistant
Joelle Sassine is a Research Assistant at the Centre for Western Sydney, supporting research and advocacy initiatives focused on equity, civic participation, and regional development.
She has worked closely with local stakeholders, NGOs, community groups, and policymakers to campaign, advocate, and co-design programs that promote community-led change.
As an Associate Research Fellow at the Whitlam Institute, she contributes to projects advancing youth civic participation and social justice across Western Sydney.
Joelle is a Dalyell Scholar graduate from the University of Sydney, with a background in International Relations, Politics, and Socio-Legal studies. Her interdisciplinary experience spans social justice research, policy development for communities facing systemic challenges, and regional equity initiatives.
Joelle is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering community-driven approaches to systemic change.
