Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Professor Chris Wallace works in modern and contemporary political history and public policy with special reference to leadership, gender, transnational lives, and transformational change and the information strategies underlying it.
Wallace's latest book, Political Lives: Australian prime ministers and their biographers (UNSW Press, 2023), was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Prize in History. Her book on Australian Labor's shock 2019 election loss, How To Win An Election, (NewSouth, 2020), contextualised it against the backdrop of the last half-century of Australian federal elections. Previous books include The Private Don (Allen & Unwin, 2004), an exploration of the intense 30 year-long relationship between cricketer Don Bradman and his confidante, journalist Rohan Rivett; a biography of maverick Australian feminist Germaine Greer, Greer, Untamed Shrew (Pan Macmillan, 1997; Faber & Faber, 1999); and a biography of the then crusading neoliberal policy exponent John Hewson during his Opposition leadership in the early 1990s, Hewson: A Portrait (Pan Macmillan, 1993). She was the National Archives of Australia Cabinet Historian in 2020 and 2021 for the release of the 2000 and 2001 Cabinet papers.
Wallace gave the UC 2024 Aitkin Lecture at the National Press Club, Canberra, and the 2023 Seymour Biography Lecture at the National Library of Australia.
A first career as an economic and political journalist in the Canberra Press Gallery has contributed to Wallace's success in public-facing scholarly communications, including through The Conversation which has twice named her one of Australia's 'Top Thinkers' (2017 and 2019). Her occasional commentary and analysis can be read in Nikkei Asia, the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Saturday Paper. X: @c_s_wallace
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Australian National University
Award Date: 15 Dec 2015
Master, Master of Business Administration, University of New South Wales
Award Date: 12 Oct 2001
Bachelor, University of Sydney
Award Date: 5 May 1998
Bachelor, Australian National University
Award Date: 17 Apr 1980
External positions
Cabinet Historian, National Archives of Australia
17 Aug 2020 → 30 Mar 2022
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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Go Electric: Behavioural and Structural Policy Approaches to Speed ACT Households’ Gas to Electric Transition
SCHIRMER, J. (CI), WALLACE, C. (CoI) & RUSSELL-BENNETT, R. (CoI)
1/04/25 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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A bad week to be at sea
Wallace, C., 24 Feb 2024, The Saturday Paper, p. 1-1 1 p.Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Bulletin › Featured article
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As his voter appeal slides, Albanese must share spotlight with Chalmers
Wallace, C., 13 Jan 2024, The Saturday Paper, p. 1-1 1 p.Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Bulletin › Featured article
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Could Janet Albrechtsen have swayed Walter Sofronoff?
Wallace, C., 17 Feb 2024, The Saturday Paper, p. 1-3 3 p.Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Bulletin › Featured article
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Many Australians face losing their homes right now. Here's how the government should help.
Wallace, C., 23 Apr 2024, The Conversation, p. 1-8 8 p.Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Bulletin › Featured article
Open Access -
Peter Dutton is bringing Trumpism into Australian politics
Wallace, C., 20 Jan 2024, The Saturday Paper, The Saturday Paper, p. 1-1 1 p.Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Bulletin › Featured article
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The 18th UC Aitkin Lecture
WALLACE, C. (Speaker)
28 Oct 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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The Biographer's Contract
WALLACE, C. (Speaker)
7 Sept 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Australian Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Federal Election Workshop 2022
Wallace, C. (Participant)
2 Jul 2022 → 3 Jul 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participating in a conference, workshop, ...
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Australia's 2022 Federal Election – The Women's Election?
Wallace, C. (Speaker)
10 Mar 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk