Mrs Nadia Binti Zaini

Research project:
Housing as a feminist issue: The case of Kuching, Sarawak
Project description:
This research explores the intersection of gender and housing focusing on women’s housing needs in Kuching, Sarawak. By examining how socio-cultural and economic factors influence women’s access to adequate housing, the research highlights the unique challenges women face in securing safe, affordable, and suitable living conditions.
Using a feminist lens, the study employs qualitative and observation methods to uncover lived experiences. This research seeks to provide actionable insights to inform housing policies and practices that address gender inequality. The findings will contribute not only to Southeast Asia but also to global discussions on gender perspective in housing policy planning and housing practices.
Research interests:
Housing and gender, built environment, quantity surveying, construction management.
Principal Supervisor:
Assoc Prof Dr Dorina Pojani
Contact Email:
uqnzaini@uq.edu.au
Researcher biography
Nadia is a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, focusing on “Housing as a Feminist Issue: The Case of Kuching, Sarawak.” Her research examines the intersection of housing and gender, aiming to provide evidence-based recommendations for inclusive housing policies in Malaysia.
She is a lecturer in the Quantity Surveying Department, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). A registered professional quantity surveyor with the Board of Quantity Surveying Malaysia (BQSM) and a Member of the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM), Nadia brings over 10 years of experience in the private and government sectors to her academic career. She teaches construction measurement, cost estimating, construction technology, and construction economics.
Currently on study leave under the scholarship of the Ministry of Education, Nadia combines her professional and academic expertise to contribute to research and education in the built environment, with a particularly focus on equity and inclusivity in housing.