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Background and contributions to the field

Professor Dodds has significantly influenced this field of research through three kinds of contribution: to political theory, to bioethics and to relevant policy-making and debate about policy-making. All of her published work and conference papers reflect her strong grounding in political theory, philosophy of feminism and applied ethics: the intersection of these three are central to this project. Dodds has an international reputation in bioethics, evidenced by her election to the position of co-coordinator of the International Network on Feminist Approaches to Bioethics (FAB), 2003-2005. FAB is the largest and most successful network of the International Association of Bioethics. At the level of policy development, she has contributed to human research ethics committee policy in Australia through two federally commissioned reports S. Dodds, R. Albury and C. Thomson, Ethical Research and Ethics Committee Review of Social and Behavioural Research Proposals. (Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 1995) and NHMRC Human Research Ethics Handbook (2002) (with P. Komesaroff, P. McNeill and L. Skene) She has contributed to debate and institutional research ethics policy development in Ireland, spending a month in Ireland in 2002 as a consultant assisting the National University of Ireland system to develop processes, policies and management structures to ensure compliance with the Wellcome Trust 'Guidelines for Good Research Practice' supported by the Irish Higher Education Authority.

In 1998 Dodds was employed as a specialist consultant to the Statement on Ethical Issues in Research Involving Humans drafting committee of the Australian Health Ethics Committee, commenting on the draft Statement. Dr Dodds has also written a large number of submissions or responses to consultation and exposure drafts on a range of health and medical research policy issues particularly those involving processes of health research ethics review.

Dodds' role as co-ordinator of the International Network of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics (FAB) has given her primary responsibility for directing the conference organising committee for the Fifth Conference of the International Network of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics (Sydney, 2004), in conjunction with the 7 th World Congress of the International Association of Bioethics.

Dodds' recognition as an important scholar in this field is demonstrated by her roles as an assessor or reader for a range of ARC grants programs, and NHMRC Research and Development Grant Advisory Committee (RADGAC) Program. She is also in demand as a referee for the following journals: Australasian Journal of Philosophy; Australasian Journal of Professional and Applied Ethics; Bioethics; Canadian Journal of Law and Society/ Revue canadienne de driot et sociéte; Journal of Medical Ethics; Journal of Political Philosophy; Monash Bioethics Review; Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society; Social Theory and Practice . She has reviewed bioethics book proposals and manuscripts for Bradford Books, MIT Press.

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