About
Azhar is an applied behavioural economist with expertise in evaluating programs and policies through economic and natural experiments, as well as randomised controlled trials. He is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Industry Fellow (2024–2027) whose focus currently centres on improving the educational and well-being outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, especially around the critical phase of transitioning from primary to secondary school. Azhar works in close collaboration with community organisations, schools and government departments to achieve these goals.
Azhar is particularly passionate about bridging the gap between academia and industry. His research is grounded in extensive field experience, including time spent living and working in remote Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland (Aurukun, Hope Vale and Cairns), where he co-designed health and education programs tailored to local needs. These experiences continue to shape his commitment to community and industry engagement, and to the translation of his work for real-world, practical application. Azhar’s contributions in this space have been recognised through multiple awards to date, including the ARC Industry Fellowship, an Outstanding Leadership Award from the Life Course Centre, and a high commendation from the Prime Minister and Cabinet Behavioural Economics Team of Australia for policy impact.