Dr Peita L. Richards is the recipient of the Office of National Intelligence, National Intelligence Postdoctoral Grant, 2023 (project 202308). Her research is focused on extending methods developed in her doctoral research to the national intelligence priority area of “measuring reliable behavioural indicators of multiple social identity features in real world settings”.

Since submitting her PhD in 2022, Peita worked across post-doctoral research associate roles, where she supported projects focused on Indigenous communities. Her work included policy briefs for professional organisations on online safety for employees from diverse backgrounds; policy evaluations of social media training programs for Indigenous children entering high school; and policy evaluations of Aboriginal led, community-based programs to combat family violence. A Wiradjuri woman herself, Peita also worked as a Research Associate on an ARC Linkage Grant, investigating potential interventions to support Indigenous girls who runaway or are reported missing during their teenage years.

A NESA accredited teacher, over the last nine years, Peita has taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level, across three universities. She has been active in units of criminology, peace and development, Indigenous studies, social psychology, international law, international security, and social research methods. Additionally, she has worked extensively with dedicated First Nations mentoring and tutoring supporting programs across two universities, assisting students in a one-to-one capacity to achieve their own academic and professional goals.

Prior to entering education, Peita worked in the United States, where she undertook a variety of roles in political communications. Building upon a professional communications background in Australia, she was able to develop policy analysis and development skills; liaise with stakeholders; and communicate findings to a diverse range of audiences.

Peita is strongly committed to, and passionate about, solutions based research.