Professor Deirdre McGhee
IAS Spotlight: Women in Sport
University of Wollongong
Professor McGhee is an Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong and is also the Co-founder and Director of Breast Research Australia (BRA), an internationally renowned and innovative centre exploring breast-related issues that limit females’ physical activity and performance.
Deirdre's clinical background as a sports physiotherapist has enabled her to drive clinically focused research that addresses real-world, breast-related problems. Her research focuses on:
(i) breast injuries and breast protective equipment in female contact and combat sports;
(ii) sports bra design and fit for performance in female athletes and active women;
(iii) breast-related issues that limit physical activity and athletic performance in women living with breast cancer and pregnant and postpartum women.
Deirdre is passionate about women benefiting from her research and links with sporting, sports medicine, and community-based organizations to ensure her research outputs are integrated and translated.
Within sport, Deirdre is on the International Olympic Committee Consensus Committee to develop guidelines for exercise and sports for pregnant and postpartum women. She works with World Rugby, Rugby Australia, National Rugby League, Women's Tennis Association, International Cricket, and Australian Football. Within the breast health community, she is an Australian ambassador for The Sports Bra Project (TSBP), a not-for-profit foundation that provides free, new sports bras to increase women's and girls' access to sports. She is also an educator for Breast Cancer Network Australia and the McGrath Foundation.
During their IAS Fellowship, Professor McGhee will be collaborating with Dr Verity Postlethwaite from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.