Dr. Flavia Bellieni Zimmermann serves as an Adjunct Research Fellow in the School of Social Sciences, Political Science and International Relations at the University of Western Australia. She previously held the position of Lecturer of Politics, Public Policy and International Relations in the same school. Zimmermann earned her Doctorate in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Western Australia, a Graduate Diploma of International Relations and Security Studies from Curtin University, and a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A Brazilian-born international relations analyst, she has also been associated with the University of Western Australia Centre for Muslim States and Societies. During her tenure at UWA, she served as High Degree Research Department Representative and Seminar Series Coordinator for Political Science and International Relations.

Her research specializations include Latin American politics and society with a focus on Brazilian politics, women in the Global South, gender and religion, state and religion, women and political activism, populism in the Global South, democratisation and democracy in the Global South, BRICS and geopolitics, US politics, global populism, gender studies, democratic theory, populism and democratisation, and qualitative research with vulnerable groups. Zimmermann has produced 38 research outputs, including key publications such as 'Unpacking the Brazilian Capital Riots and the Relentless Threat to National Democracy' (Australian Outlook, 2023), 'Presidential Elections and Post-truth Politics: A Crossroads for Brazil’s Democracy' (Australian Outlook, 2022), 'How President Bolsonaro used COVID-19 to erode Brazil’s democracy' (Open Democracy, 2021), 'Brazil’s Coronavirus Hunger Games: Indigenous Communities and Their Struggle for Survival' (Open Democracy, 2020), and 'Gender Mainstreaming in Australia: Are We Doing Enough for Women and Girls' (Australian Outlook, 2020). Her forthcoming book is Honour Consciousness, Religion and Gender: Brazilian and Pakistani Lived Experiences in Australia (Brill, 2025). She has received the University of Western Australia Teaching Excellence Grant Award 2023, UWA FABLE Teaching Fellowship 2019, Australian Institute of International Affairs Emerging Scholar Award 2016, Graduate Research School Travel Award 2019, Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship 2018, and University of Western Australia Safety Net Top-up Scholarship 2018. Additionally, she is the Commissioning Editor for the Australian Institute of International Affairs blog The Australian Outlook in Western Australia and delivered the public lecture 'Brazil: Beyond Supermodels and Soccer' in 2023.

Professional Email: flavia.bellienizimmermann@uwa.edu.au