Biography

I completed a Bachelor of Arts in History (2019) and a Graduate Certificate in Museum & Heritage Studies (2022) at the Australian National University. I was also fortunate to spend a year studying abroad at the University of Leeds in 2017–18.

Professionally, I have worked with the Office of Australian War Graves and the National Archives of Australia, contributing to public history projects and conducting archival research for public reference inquiries.

I am currently a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, where my research focuses on the experiences of Anzac war brides of the First World War. My broader academic interests include women’s history, the social history of war and migration, and the personal stories that shape our past.

My academic interests are closely connected to my own family history. Three of my great-grandfathers served in the First World War - two with Scottish Regiments in the British Army and one with the Australian Imperial Force. My paternal grandfather served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and my maternal grandfather served with the Australian Army in Korea and Vietnam.

Migration is also a significant part of my family story. My mother’s grandmother was a war bride who came to Australia in 1919, and my father migrated from the UK with his parents and siblings in 1967.

I am an active member of the Australian Historical Association, the Institute for First World War Studies, and the Military Welfare History Network.

Outside of research, I enjoy travelling, staying active, and spending time with family and friends. I am also a proud member of the LGBTQI+ community. Visiting Australian war cemeteries in Belgium and at Gallipoli has been especially meaningful, deepening my passion for commemoration across generations.

I am currently based in Canberra and regularly commute to Sydney for seminars and other events.

I can be contacted at chew7252@uni.sydney.edu.au