Vale Professor Marian Simms

We mourn the passing and celebrate the life of an outstanding member of our University community, Marian Simms. An expert of international renown in the fields of gender studies and political science, Professor Simms held a variety of senior roles across Australia and New Zealand, including President of the Australasian Political Studies Association, and Executive Director for Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences at the Australian Research Council.

Professor Helen Sullivan, President of the Australian Political Studies Association speaking on behalf of the APSA Executive Committee said of Marian’s career:

“Professor Simms studied and worked at a range of Australasian universities throughout her career, in all cases leaving a legacy of innovative research, inclusive scholarship and inspiring teaching across a number of fields including gender studies and political science, ethics governance and Indigenous research policy. She was an influential figure in the study of Australian party politics, as author of A Liberal Nation (1982) and editor of The Paradox of Parties (1997), and as co-editor of six of the volumes analysing Australian federal elections between 1996 and 2019. Her scholarship was and is internationally acclaimed and she contributed to the development of gender studies in political sciences globally.”

Born in Canberra, Marian graduated with Honours from ANU in History and Political Science. Her time at ANU was an influential one, inspiring her focus on research culture and closing gender disparity. She subsequently accepted a teaching fellowship at the University of Adelaide, before undertaking a Master of Arts at the University of Melbourne, and completing her PhD at Latrobe University, looking at aspects of the Menzies Government.

Marion returned to Canberra with roles at both the Canberra College of Advanced Education (later University of Canberra) and at ANU, joining as a Lecture in Political Science in 1985 and progressing to become Head of School in 1996. Should would subsequently lead the departments at the University of Otego (becoming the first woman to hold the role and serve as Chair in Politics) and Deakin University.

From early in Marian’s career she fostered new ideas and new insights, often in the pursuit of gender equity. Early in her career at ANU she was part of the group that established an Australian first survey of political candidates, mirroring similar efforts overseas. Marian was involved in the Women’s Caucus of the Australian Political Science Association from its inception, and during her time with the ARC regularly gave insights into women’s experiences of the ARC process. Co-editing the Australian Journal of Political Science for six years, Marian ensured transparency in gender statistics.

Marian’s published works are extensive. She was author or co-author on five books, edited nine books, and published over 50 chapters in edited collections.

You can read more about Marian’s life and work on The Australian Women’s Register.