Timothy O’Leary is a philosopher who moved from Ireland, to Paris, to Australia, to Hong Kong, and back to Australia again.
His research is in the area of contemporary European philosophy, in particular the work of Michel Foucault. He has published two monographs, edited several volumes, and published many journal articles on topics including the work of Michel Foucault, the relations between ethics and aesthetics, the ethical dimensions of literature, and philosophical approaches to happiness.
Before coming to UNSW in 2018, he taught philosophy for 17 years at the University of Hong Kong, where he also served as Associate Dean of Arts (Research & Postgraduate), the Head of the School of Humanities, and an elected member of HKU Council.
In his current position as Head of the School of Humanities & Languages at UNSW, he is particularly keen to promote the critical role of the humanities in our contemporary world of splintered politics, huge inequalities, and a growing environmental crisis.