Dr. Wendy O’Brien is a distinguished expert in criminology, currently serving with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna since May 2018. In her role, she has been pivotal in advancing global strategies to combat drug-related crimes and enhance criminal justice systems.

Parallel to her duties at the UNODC, Dr. O’Brien is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, a position she has held since March 2019. Her academic tenure at Deakin also includes five years as a Senior Lecturer in Criminology, where she contributed significantly to the field through both teaching and research.

Prior to joining Deakin University, she was a Senior Specialist in Research for the Australian Government, dedicating nearly seven years to policy and academic research in humanities and social sciences. Dr. O’Brien’s academic career commenced at CQUniversity Australia, where she served as a Lecturer from January 2000 to March 2007, developing expertise in humanities and social sciences. Her extensive experience and commitment to criminology and public policy underscore her standing as a leader in her field.