About Abigail Powell

Abigail Powell is an independent academic and consultant committed to facilitating positive social change. Her work is driven by a deep passion for social justice and equality, and underpinned by more than two decades of experience in research and consultancy across the UK and Australia.

Abigail is an expert in complex evaluation and impact measurement, applying these approaches to a broad range of social issues. Her research specialises in gender in education and the workplace, with a particular focus on gender in male-dominated fields such as STEM and the construction industry. She is also highly regarded in youth studies, having led research on young people’s mental health services, youth unemployment, and racism in higher education.

Abigail has published extensively in leading journals across sociology, social policy, management, and industrial relations, and is skilled at translating research into accessible outputs for diverse audiences including policymakers, practitioners, and the broader public.

A trusted collaborator and experienced project manager, Abigail is known for her strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills. She is committed to ensuring that research is both rigorous and accessible, and that it meets the real-world needs of clients and communities.

Abigail has held academic positions at the University of Lincoln, UNSW Sydney, and Loughborough University, and has secured over £2.6 million in research income.

She has worked with a wide range of organisations including:

The Film and TV Charity
University of Sydney
The British Philosophical Association
The British Psychological Society
The Royal Society of Chemistry
NHS East of England
John Holland
Macquarie Group Foundation
Homelessness NSW
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
The Paul Ramsay Foundation
yourtown
…and many more.

Why Wattle?

Wattle is a name rich with personal and symbolic meaning for Abigail. It combines the surnames of her and her partner - Watson and Powell (Wat-ell) - reflecting shared values and collaboration. It also honours Australia’s national floral emblem, the golden wattle, where Abigail lived and worked for over a decade. Beyond its personal ties, the wattle symbolises resilience, unity, growth, connection to place, and identity—all of which underpin the ethos of Wattle Insights.