ACU Researcher

Dr Marzena Baker

Head of Discipline – HRM / Management & OHSE
Senior Lecturer
Peter Faber Business School

Areas of expertise: “gender diversity”; “equality”; “women in leadership”; “diversity policies”; “diversity practices”; “work-life practices”; “neurodiversity”; “age diversity”; “construction industry”; “engineering industry”; “mining industry”; “male-dominated industry”, “effectiveness of diversity practices”, project-based organisations”

Phone: 07 3623 7639

Email: marzena.baker@acu.edu.au

Location: ACU Brisbane Campus

HDR Supervisor accreditation status: HDR Supervisor (Full)

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4108-5325

ORCID link: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4108-5325

Dr. Marzena Baker is a Head of Discipline – HRM / Management and a Senior Lecturer at the Peter Faber Business School, Australian Catholic University. With a keen interest in promoting workplace equity, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing she focuses her research and publications on effective workplace diversity policies, and practices. Her expertise lies in supporting women to occupy leadership roles in project-based organisations. Dr. Baker's recent publications, which have appeared in many high-quality management, project management, construction, and engineering journals, including the International Journal of Project Management, Australian Journal of Management, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Journal of Management in Engineering, Personnel Review, and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion International Journal, reflect her extensive research and dedication to this field.

Dr. Baker is an alumna of Queensland University of Technology, where she obtained a PhD and Master of Business degrees. She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Auckland University. Before joining Australian Catholic University, she was a Lecturer in Project Management at the University of Sydney.

Dr. Baker's professional experience spans over 25 years in senior corporate positions, where she has managed consumer research, marketing, and communication projects in fast-moving consumer goods, construction, and property development industry sectors. Her research has resulted in multiple conference papers and industry presentations.

Select publications

Published journal articles:

• Baker, M., Ali, M., Hassett, E., & Tumpa, R.J. (2025). Tapping the Untapped Resource to Address Construction Skills Shortages: Perceptions of Australian Women Career Changers and Construction Women. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 151 (4), 04025006.https://doi.org/10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-15382

• Danish, R.Q., Ali, M., Baker, M. and Islam, R. (2025). Influence of corporate social responsibility, green practices and organizational politics on sustainable business performance: the importance of employee pro-environmental behavior.  Social Responsibility Journal, 21 (1), 54-77.  https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-10-2023-0548

• Ali, M., Baker, M., Grabarski, M. K., & Islam, R. (2025). A Study of Inclusive Supervisory Behaviors, Workplace Social Inclusion, and Turnover Intention in the Context of Employee Age. Employee Relations, 47 (9), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-04-2024-0252

• Hackman, D. C., Pollack, J., & Baker, M. (2024). Individual perceptions of complex projects: A window into project team and stakeholder mental models. International Journal of Project Management, 102603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2024.102603

• Ali, M., Grabarski, M.K., & Baker, M. (2024), An exploratory study of benefits and challenges of neurodivergent employees: roles of knowing neurodivergents and neurodiversity practices. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, 43 (2), 243-267. https://doi.org/10.1108/edi-03-2023-0092

• Ali, M., Grabarski, M. K., & Baker, M. (2024). The influence of neurodiversity management on affective commitment and turnover intention: the role of neurodiversity awareness. Employee Relations: The International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-09-2023-0476

• Baker, M., French, E., Ali, M., & Tootoonchy, M. (2024). Influence of Work-Life Programs on Women's Representation and Organizational Outcomes: Insights from Engineering and Construction. Journal of Management in Engineering, 40(3), 04024005. https://doi.org/10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-5715

• Baker, M., & Clegg, S. (2023). Policies and practices of gender-based equality and diversity in Australian project-based organizations. Project Leadership and Society, 100087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plas.2023.100087

• Baker, M., Ali, M., & Crawford, L. (2023). What do women want? An exploration of workplace attraction and retention factors for women in construction. International Journal of Construction Management, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2023.2222987

• Baker, M., Ali, M., & French, E. (2023). Investigating how women leaders and managers support other women's entrance and advancement in construction and engineering. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 149(2), 04022166. https://doi.org/10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-12399 Editor's Choice Collection.

• Wanigasekara, S., Ali, M., French, E. L., & Baker, M. (2023). Internal and external networking behaviors and employee outcomes: a test of gender moderating effect. Personnel Review, 52(9), 2103-2132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/PR-08-2020-0641

• French, E., Ali, M., Baker, M., & Alsaree, L. (2022). Effectiveness of Gender Equality and Diversity Initiatives: A way forward in Dhakal, S., Cameron, R., & Burgess, J. (eds.), A Field Guide to Managing Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion in Organisations, Edward Elgar Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781800379008.00012

• Baker, M., Ali, M., & French, E. (2021). Leadership Diversity and its Influence on Equality Initiatives and Performance: Insights for Construction Management. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 147(10), Article number: 04021123. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002147

• Baker, M., French, E., & Ali, M. (2021). Insights into ineffectiveness of gender equality and diversity initiatives in project-based organizations. Journal of Management in Engineering, 37(3), 04021013. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000893 Editor's Choice Collection.

• Baker, M., Ali, M., & French, E. (2019). The impact of women's representation on performance in project-based and non-project-based organizations. International Journal of Project Management, 37(7), 872-883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2019.06.001

• Baker, M., Ali, M., & French, E. (2019). Effectiveness of gender equality initiatives in project-based organizations in Australia. Australian Journal of Management, 44(3), 425-442. https://doi.org/10.1177/0312896218805809

• Baker, M., & French, E. (2018). Female underrepresentation in project-based organizations exposes organizational isomorphism. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, 37(8), 799-812. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-03-2017-0061

Delivered Conference papers:

• French, E., Baker, M., Ali, M., & Islam, R. (2024). Gender equality in Male Dominated Organizations: Leadership is the key [Paper presentation]. In European Academy of Management (EURAM) Annual Conference, Bath, UK.

• Baker, M., Ali, M., & Hassett, E. (2024). An Exploration of Attraction Factors, Barriers to Working in Construction, and Factors for Leaving Construction [Paper presentation]. In 17th Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) International Conference, Seville, Spain.

• Ali, M., Baker, M., Grabarski, M., & Islam, R. (2024). Insights into Inclusive Supervisory Behaviors, Workplace Social Inclusion, and Turnover Intention in the Context of Employee Age" [Paper presentation]. In 17th Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) International Conference, Seville, Spain.

• Ali, M., Baker, M., Grabarski. M., & Konrad, A. (2023). Leadership Diversity Driving Pay Equity Practices and Productivity: Does Industry Gender Gap Matter? In 2023 Academy of Management (AOM) Conference, Boston, USA.

• Baker, M., Ali, M., French, E., & Tootoonchy, M. (2023). Work-life balance in engineering and construction and their effects on women's representation. In 2023 Academy of Management (AOM) Conference, Boston, USA.

• Grabarski, M., & Baker, M. (2023). Exploration of Neurodiversity Perceptions in Australian Retail. In 2023 Academy of Management (AOM) Conference, Boston, USA.

• Danish, R. Q., Ali, M., Baker, M., & Islam, R. (2023). Impact of CSR, Green Practices and Organizational Politics on Sustainable Business Performance: Moderating Role of Employee Pro-Environmental Behavior. In 2023 Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Conference, Wellington, NZ.

• Baker, M. (2023). How Effective is Implementation of Gender-based Equality and Diversity Practices in Project-based Organizations? In 2023 European Academy of Management (EURAM) Conference, Ireland.

• Ali, M., Grabarski. M., & Baker, M., (2023). The Relationships of Perceived Organizational Neurodiversity with Affective Commitment and Turnover Intention: The Case of the Australian Retail Industry. In 2023 Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) Conference, Toronto, Canada.

Projects

• 2024 Project Governance and Controls Symposium (PGCS) Academic Research Grant ($10,000) - project titled: Enhancing Infrastructure Project Governance Practices and Strategies to Engage Stakeholders in Creating and Distributing Social Value.

• 2022 Project Management Institute (PMI) Research Scholarship Grant (value of AU$ 67,000) - project titled: Influence of Gender Equality on Organizational Performance in Project Organizations: Is Employee Engagement the Key?

Awards

• 2024 FLB Executive Dean's Learning and Teaching Innovation and Impact grant.

• Equality Diversity Inclusion Conference 2024 The Emeral Conference Best Paper Award: Insights into Inclusive Supervisory Behaviors, Workplace Social Inclusion, and Turnover Intention in the Context of Employee Age.

• EURAM 2023 Most Inspirational Paper Award: How Effective is Implementation of Gender-based Equality and Diversity Practices in Project-based Organizations?

• JCEM Best Paper Award (2022): Leadership Diversity and Its Influence on Equality Initiatives and Performance: Insights for Construction Management. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management.

• Early Career Session research competition winner: Ineffectiveness of gender equality and diversity initiatives in project-based organisations. - "Project Leadership for a Changing World" International Symposium, John Grill Institute for Project Leadership, (2021).

• Editor's Choice Collection (2021): Insights into ineffectiveness of gender equality and diversity initiatives in project-based organizations. Journal of Management in Engineering.

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), (2020).

• Best Paper Award (2017), Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Conference, sponsored by Project Management Institute.

• Australian Postgraduate Award (APA), (2016 - 2019).

Appointments and Affiliations

• Member, National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) (2021- current).

• Member, Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) Conference Program Committee (2021-2023).

• Member, Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) (2019 - current).

• Fellow, Advance Higher Education, formerly known as Higher Education Academy, UK (2021 - current).

• Member, European Academy of Management (EURAM) (2020 - current).

• Member, State Committee, the Australian Marketing Institute (2018 - 2019).

• Member, State Diversity Committee, the Property Council of Australia (2017 - 2018).

Editorial roles

• Member of the Editorial Board for Australian Journal of Management - Scimago Q1/ABDC A (2022 - current).

International journal review panels

• Invited reviewer for the Journal of Management in Engineering (2020-current).

• Invited reviewer for Australian Journal of Management (2022 - current).

• Invited reviewer for Human Resource Management (2022 - current).

• Invited reviewer for International Journal of Project Management (2021 - current).

• Invited reviewer for the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: An International Journal (2015 - current).

Public engagement

• Mentor for 2023-2024 National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) 'International Women's Day Scholarship' recipient.

• Board Director - Carers Australia (2023).

• Recipient of 2022 Project Management Institute (PMI) Research Scholarship Grant.

• Mentor for 2021-2022 National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) 'International Women's Day Scholarship' recipient.