Dr Michelle Zacharko is a Research Assistant with CERM PI, UniSA Business. Her research focuses on organisational culture and values, workplace sexual harassment, and the use of immersive technologies such as virtual reality to influence attitudes and behaviour.
Michelle recently completed her PhD, In Her Shoes – Using Virtual Reality to Change Male Mine Workers’ Sexual Harassment Attitudes. She also holds a Master of Business (Research) and a Graduate Diploma in Project Management. Her postgraduate studies were supported by Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarships for both her master’s and doctoral research.
Michelle contributes to CERM PI’s multi-year Organisational Culture Study for Australian local government councils and played an integral role in adding an organisational values component to the study. She also supports related industry research projects on psychosocial safety and respectful workplace culture. Her research is in preparation for publication, and she shares findings with academic and industry audiences as opportunities arise.
Through her doctoral and applied research, Michelle has fostered strong partnerships with the mining sector - both within Australia and in the United States - to advance workplace culture and safety initiatives.
Before joining academia, Michelle worked extensively as a project manager, project management advisor, and small business owner across public and private sectors. This background informs her evidence-based yet practical approach to research and collaboration with industry partners.