QUT - Academic profiles - Dr Alexandra Williamson

Biography

Alexandra is an Adjunct Research Fellow in the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS).  Her research interests focus on the accountability of philanthropic foundations, and place-based approaches to giving.

Alex completed her PhD in mid-2019, exploring the accountability of Public Ancillary Funds.  She holds a Master of Business (Philanthropy and Social Investment) from Swinburne University of Technology, and a Master of Business (Research) from QUT looking at the accountability of Private Ancillary Funds.

Alex has more than a decade of experience working in the philanthropic sector in Melbourne, first with one of Australia’s largest private foundations, and then within the charitable trusts team of a national trustee company.   Alex was part of the research team working on Giving Australia 2015-2016, the largest ever Australian study into philanthropic giving.

She is a Co-Editor of the journal Third Sector Review, a member of the Editorial Board of Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, and a Non-Executive Director of Australia & New Zealand Third Sector Research (ANZTSR).

Alex is also a  member of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR), and the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management  (ANZAM).

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

Pronouns: she / her

+61 7 3138 2739

a3.williamson@qut.edu.au

View location details(QUT staff and student access only)

QUT alumni

Personal details

Positions

Adjunct Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Business & Law,
School of Accountancy

Keywords

philanthropy, philanthropic foundations, structured giving, philanthropic organisations, accountability, private ancillary funds, public ancillary funds, nonprofit organisations, charitable trusts, giving

Research field

Accounting, auditing and accountability, Sociology

Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020

Qualifications

PhD (Queensland University of Technology)
MPhil (Queensland University of Technology)
MBus (Philanthropy & Social Investment) (Swinburne University of Technology)

Professional memberships and associations

Member of the International Society for Third-Sector Research (ISTR) International member of the Canadian Philanthropy Partnership Research Network (PhiLab)

ORCID ID 0000-0002-2462-709X

Google Scholar

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

Publications

Research outputs by year

Book
Chapter in Book / Report / Conference Proceeding
Contribution to a Journal
Contribution to a Newspaper / Magazine or Website
Contribution to conference
Working Paper
Other Contribution

{ "year": 2015, "totalForYear": 1, "totalCumulative": 8, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 0, "cat2": 0, "cat3": 1, "cat4": 0, "cat5": 0, "cat6": 0, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 0, "cat2": 0, "cat3": 3, "cat4": 2, "cat5": 3, "cat6": 0, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

1 new publication in 2015

{ "year": 2016, "totalForYear": 4, "totalCumulative": 12, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 0, "cat2": 0, "cat3": 2, "cat4": 1, "cat5": 0, "cat6": 1, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 0, "cat2": 0, "cat3": 5, "cat4": 3, "cat5": 3, "cat6": 1, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

4 new publications in 2016

{ "year": 2017, "totalForYear": 5, "totalCumulative": 17, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 2, "cat2": 0, "cat3": 0, "cat4": 0, "cat5": 3, "cat6": 0, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 2, "cat2": 0, "cat3": 5, "cat4": 3, "cat5": 6, "cat6": 1, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

5 new publications in 2017

{ "year": 2018, "totalForYear": 5, "totalCumulative": 22, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 3, "cat2": 0, "cat3": 0, "cat4": 0, "cat5": 0, "cat6": 2, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 5, "cat2": 0, "cat3": 5, "cat4": 3, "cat5": 6, "cat6": 3, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

5 new publications in 2018

{ "year": 2019, "totalForYear": 11, "totalCumulative": 33, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 2, "cat2": 1, "cat3": 3, "cat4": 1, "cat5": 3, "cat6": 1, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 7, "cat2": 1, "cat3": 8, "cat4": 4, "cat5": 9, "cat6": 4, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

11 new publications in 2019

{ "year": 2020, "totalForYear": 8, "totalCumulative": 41, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 2, "cat2": 3, "cat3": 0, "cat4": 2, "cat5": 0, "cat6": 0, "cat7": 1, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 9, "cat2": 4, "cat3": 8, "cat4": 6, "cat5": 9, "cat6": 4, "cat7": 1, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

8 new publications in 2020

{ "year": 2021, "totalForYear": 21, "totalCumulative": 62, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 7, "cat2": 4, "cat3": 1, "cat4": 4, "cat5": 2, "cat6": 2, "cat7": 1, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 16, "cat2": 8, "cat3": 9, "cat4": 10, "cat5": 11, "cat6": 6, "cat7": 2, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

21 new publications in 2021

{ "year": 2022, "totalForYear": 9, "totalCumulative": 71, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 1, "cat2": 2, "cat3": 1, "cat4": 1, "cat5": 0, "cat6": 3, "cat7": 1, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 17, "cat2": 10, "cat3": 10, "cat4": 11, "cat5": 11, "cat6": 9, "cat7": 3, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

9 new publications in 2022

{ "year": 2023, "totalForYear": 11, "totalCumulative": 82, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 3, "cat2": 2, "cat3": 3, "cat4": 1, "cat5": 1, "cat6": 0, "cat7": 1, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 20, "cat2": 12, "cat3": 13, "cat4": 12, "cat5": 12, "cat6": 9, "cat7": 4, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

11 new publications in 2023

{ "year": 2024, "totalForYear": 9, "totalCumulative": 91, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 5, "cat2": 2, "cat3": 1, "cat4": 0, "cat5": 0, "cat6": 0, "cat7": 1, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 25, "cat2": 14, "cat3": 14, "cat4": 12, "cat5": 12, "cat6": 9, "cat7": 5, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

9 new publications in 2024

{ "year": 2025, "totalForYear": 1, "totalCumulative": 92, "totalForYearPerCategory": { "cat1": 1, "cat2": 0, "cat3": 0, "cat4": 0, "cat5": 0, "cat6": 0, "cat7": 0, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 }, "totalCumulativePerCategory": { "cat1": 26, "cat2": 14, "cat3": 14, "cat4": 12, "cat5": 12, "cat6": 9, "cat7": 5, "cat8": 0, "cat9": 0, "other": 0 } }

1 new publication in 20252015201620172018201920202021202220232024202505101520253020152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

Hogan, A. & Williamson, A. (2023). Mapping categories of philanthropy in Australian public schooling. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 44(5), 651–666. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/230014
Williamson, A., Kingston, K. & Bennison, L. (2022). Similar or Different? Downward Accountability Across Civil Society Organisational Forms. Voluntas, 33(5), 1002–1014. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/227594
Williamson, A. & Luke, B. (2021). Exploring the accountability and organizational identity of public philanthropic foundations. International Journal of Management Reviews, 23(3), 394–410. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/209954
Williamson, A. & Luke, B. (2021). Mapping the field of public ancillary funds. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 80(4), 748–768. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/213528
Williamson, A., Luke, B. & Furneaux, C. (2021). Perceptions and conceptions of 'place' in Australian public foundations. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 50(6). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/208913
Williamson, A. & Kingston, K. (2021). Performance measurement, evaluation and accountability in public philanthropic foundations. Evaluation Journal of Australasia, 21(2), 101–119. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/209194
Williamson, A. & Leat, D. (2021). Playing piggy(bank) in the middle: Philanthropic foundations’ roles as intermediaries. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 80(4), 965–976. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/208151
Williamson, A., Luke, B. & Furneaux, C. (2021). Ties that bind: Public foundations in dyadic partnerships. Voluntas, 32(2), 234–246. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/203475
Seibert, K., Williamson, A. & Moran, M. (2021). Voluntary sector peak bodies during the COVID-19 crisis: a case study of Philanthropy Australia. Voluntary Sector Review, 12(1), 143–154. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/207487
Williamson, A. & Luke, B. (2020). Agenda-setting and public policy in private foundations. Nonprofit Policy Forum, 11(1). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/198074

QUT ePrints

For more publications by Alexandra, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).

View more publications

Filter publications:

2025

Williamson, A. & Luke, B. (2025). Giving journeys: The role of private foundations. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 35(3), 593–605. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/251674

2024

Weerasinghe, A., Chapple, E. & Williamson, A. (2024). Cultural diversity and Indigenous participation on Australian corporate boards: Harder but better decisions. Accounting and Finance, 64(1), 221–246. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/241727
Kingston, K., Rossi, S., Luke, B. & Williamson, A. (2024). Authentic Beneficiary Engagement in the Aged Care Sector: Advancing Non-profit Governance through Care. In Plaisance, G. & Goujon Belghit, A. (Eds.), Non-profit Governance: Twelve Frameworks for Organizations and Research (pp. 213–229). Routledge. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/248248
Lu, Z., Zhang, Y. & Williamson, A. (2024). Governance and efficiency in Chinese foundations. Financial Accountability and Management, 40(4), 520–548. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/248370
Bennison, L., Williamson, A. & Chapple, E. (2024). How accountability of Australian farmer co-operative members hinges on the farm gate. Journal of Co-operative Studies, 57(1), 24–38. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/250364
Doan, D. R. H., Patil, B. & Williamson, A. (2024). Voluntas Virtual Issue: Philanthropy. Voluntas, 35(5), 837–841. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/252282
Weerasinghe, A., Chapple, E. & Williamson, A. (2024). CEO Benevolence and Corporate Social Performance. Australian Accounting Review, 34(3), 195–218. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/252384
Mcgregor-Lowndes, M., Balczun, M. & Williamson, A. (2024). Tax-Deductible Giving in 2021-22: ACPNS Current Issues Information Sheet 2024/1. The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, QUT. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/252948
Mcgregor-Lowndes, M., Balczun, M. & Williamson, A. (2024). Ancillary Funds 2021-2022: ACPNS Current Issues Information Sheet 2024-2. The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, QUT. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/252947
Mcgregor-Lowndes, M., Balczun, M. & Williamson, A. (2024). An Examination of Tax-Deductible Donations Made by Individual Australian Taxpayers in 2021-22: ACPNS Working Paper No. 78. The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS), QUT.

2023

Hogan, A. & Williamson, A. (2023). Mapping categories of philanthropy in Australian public schooling. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 44(5), 651–666. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/230014
Weerasinghe, A., Chapple, E. & Williamson, A. (2023). Indigenous directorship pathways through transformative leadership: a content analysis of reconciliation action plans (RAPs). Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, 36(5), 1319–1349. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237272
Williamson, A., Leat, D. & Phillips, S. D. (Eds.). (2023). Philanthropic Response to Disasters: Gifts, Givers and Consequences. Policy Press. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/238834
Leat, D., Phillips, S. D. & Williamson, A. (2023). Introduction. In Williamson, A., Leat, D. & Phillips, S. D. (Eds.), Philanthropic Response to Disasters (pp. 1–25). Policy Press. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/238835
Williamson, A. & Leat, D. (2023). Roles of philanthropic foundations as funders and distribution agents in disaster response. In Williamson, A., Leat, D. & Philliips, S. D. (Eds.), Philanthropic Response to Disasters (pp. 76–90). Policy Press. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/238836

A complete list of publications is available at: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/a3.williamson

Awards

Type: Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year: 2021
Details: 2021 Outstanding Reviewer Award from the PNP Division of the Academy of Management. This award is given to 10 reviewers annually and is sponsored by the Public Management Research Association.

Type: Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year: 2020
Details: Recipient of the Executive Dean's Commendation for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award for 2019

Type: Editor/Contributor of a Prestigious Work of Reference
Reference year: 2016
Details: The Palgrave Handbook of Global Philanthropy was awarded the 2016 Virginia Hodgkinson Research Book Award, awarded by the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) for the best book on the nonprofit sector that informs policy and practice. The book presents and analyses the geographic, geopolitical, and cultural differences in 26 countries based on contributions by 55 scholars from world-renowned universities from all over the world. I was a co-author on the country chapter for Australia.

Type: Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year: 2011
Details: Professor John O. Miller, AO Award for Academic Excellence in the Master of Social Science (Philanthropy & Social Investment), Swinburne University of Technology

Dr Alexandra Williamson