Dr. Flavia Bellieni Zimmermann is a Lecturer of Politics, Public Policy and International Relations at the School of Social Sciences. Flavia is also associated with the University of Western Australia Centre for Muslim States and Societies. She is a Brazilian born international relations analyst with expertise in Latin American politics focusing on Brazil, having published extensively in the field. She is also the former High Degree Research (HDR) Department Representative and Seminar Series Coordinator for Political Science and International Relations at the University of Western Australia. Flavia holds a Doctorate in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Western Australia, a Graduate Diploma of International Relations and Security Studies from Curtin University in Western Australia, and a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours from the Pontifical Catholic University from Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ), Brazil. Flavia is an award-winning scholar, and the recipient of the University of Western Australia Teaching Excellence Grant Award 2023, The University of Western Australia FABLE Teaching Fellowship 2019, and the Australian Institute of International Affairs Emerging Scholar Award 2016. Flavia is also the Commissioning Editor for the Australian Institute of International Affairs blog The Australian Outlook in Western Australia. She has contributed to CNN Brazil, The ABC’s Tripple J, SBS News, RTRFM On the Record, ABC Radio National, The Wire, and Australia’s Channel 10 The Project. Flavia's research interests include US Politics, Latin American and Brazilian Politics and Society; Global Populism, Populism in the Global South; Democratisation and Democracy in the Global South; BRICS and Geopolitics; Women in the Global South; Gender and Religion; Comparative Studies; and the relationship between State and Religion.

Flavia's research interests include Latin America Politics, Society and Policy; Brazilian Politics and Society; Women in the Global South; Gender and Religion; State and Religion; Women and Political Activism; Comparative Studies; Qualitative Research with vulnerable groups; Populism in the Global South; Democratisation and Democracy in the Global South; BRICS and geopolitics.