People | University of Canberra Staff

Dr. Sidrah Asif

Associate Lecturer

Dr. Sidrah Asif is an early-career researcher and experienced academic with over a decade of teaching and professional experience across Australia and Asia. Her research interests span Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human Resource Management, leadership, and gender equity, with a particular focus on women’s issues in the workplace.

In her teaching role, Dr. Asif has delivered undergraduate and postgraduate units in Management and HRM at the University of Canberra’s Bruce campus, as well as offshore programs in China and Hong Kong. She consistently bridges the gap between theory and practice, providing students with experiential learning opportunities to support the development of their professional identities and workplace readiness.
Dr. Asif is currently involved in multiple interdisciplinary research projects. One project examines the impact of mindfulness training—delivered face-to-face and via self-paced modules—on couples working across various industries. Another, funded by the ACT Government, supports immigrant women entrepreneurs by delivering training to help scale their small businesses.

Before migrating to Australia, Dr. Asif held HR roles in both the public and private sectors in Pakistan. Notably, she worked as Assistant Manager (Training & Development) at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and in a private hospital, where she designed and implemented training programs for professional staff. She began her career as a counsellor supporting victims of domestic abuse, later transitioning to HR and academic work.

Dr. Asif earned her PhD in Management from the University of Canberra. During her early academic career in Australia, she also contributed as a sessional academic at the University of New South Wales @ ADFA and the Australian Institute of Business, while balancing her research and family responsibilities.’