Donella's research interests centre around pedagogy and the contested notion of quality teaching. In the global context, Donella's research is located within the field of Comparative and International Education (CIE) and explores the political economy of education, the intersection between critical pedagogy, education in development and international education policy. Her current research examines the role of international aid organisations in the globalisation of learner-centred pedagogy. Donella has worked as an educational consultant for UNICEF, UNESCO, MFAT and NGOs throughout Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
Within the local context, Donella has worked in collaboration with the Wilf Malcolm Institute of Educational Research (WMIER) to study the development of teacher identity in pre-service teachers. Donella's current research in this field explores pre-service teachers in the practicum setting, their transition into early career teachers and the relationship between teacher identity and pedagogy.
