Allison Williams

Professor, Earth, Environment & Society

Allison is a Professor at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario CANADA. She is a social and health geographer with research interests in carer-employees, quality of life, critical policy/program evaluation and therapeutic landscapes. Her research focuses on improving workplace practices for supporting employees with adult care responsibilities. Allison has received various awards for her work, having had three 5-year Research Chairs funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She currently holds a McMaster University Faculty of Science Research Chair and leads a Partnership Grant made up of more than 50 collaborators which mobilizes carer-friendly workplaces. Allison has supervised more than 30 graduate trainees.

Allison works with UN-Women across the world, specifically engaging in research on UN SDG 5: Gender Equity, and Target 5-4: Value unpaid care and promote shared domestic responsibilities. In addition to co-editing the Routledge Geographies of Health Series, Allison has edited 5 books, 30 book chapters, and more than 180 peer-reviewed journal papers. Her most recent book is entitled ‘Geography, Health and Sustainability: Gender Matters Globally’ (Routledge, 2021). Allison has been PI of over 25 research projects and serves on a range of national and international adjudication committees. She is a mother of two beautiful children and cares for her 90-year old uncle and aging parents, both of whom are in their 80s.