Allison Williams

Overview

Dr. Allison Williams is a Tier I Canada Research Chair in the Care Economy, Aging and Policy (2025-2032), as well as a Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2024) and Royal Society of Canada (2025) fellow. She is an internationally recognized scholar whose research has shaped global understanding of the gendered dimensions of the care economy, particularly concerning unpaid carers and carer-employees (CEs). Her research has centered on unpaid care through a feminist lens, highlighting persistent gender norms that position women as primary caregivers. She has held prestigious awards, including the CIHR New Investigator Award (2001-2006) and the Mid-Career Scientist Award in Women’s Health (2008-2013), and led a SSHRC/CIHR Healthy, Productive Work Partnership Grant (2018-2025). Her work emphasizes the intersections of sex, gender, work, and health, particularly for CEs who juggle paid employment with unpaid caregiving responsibilities. She has demonstrated that this dual role often leads to health strains, primarily for women, and has advocated for the implementation of carer-inclusive workplace policies (CIWPs) to mitigate these effects. Her leadership in policy-influencing research includes developing the Canadian Standards Association’s B701 Carer-Inclusive and Accommodating Organizations Standard and co-leading the creation of an international version (ISO 25551 Ageing Societies). This work supports and has attracted the attention of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality. Through scoping reviews, policy evaluations, and intersectional analyses, Williams’ work has informed national programs like the Compassionate Care Benefit and shaped inclusive workplace practices. As a prolific academic, she has authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles, 35 book chapters, and edited multiple scholarly books and series. Her contributions to therapeutic landscape theory further distinguish her in the geography of health field. Dr. Williams continues to influence global discourse, serving on technical committees and delivering keynotes for organizations like UN Women. Her research challenges entrenched gender roles, promotes workplace equity, and improves women’s health, solidifying her position as a transformative leader in both academia and policy.

Affiliations

• Professor
• Faculty of Science, McMaster University
• Tier I Canada Research Chair in the Care Economy, Aging and Policy (2025-2032)
• Member, McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA), McMaster University
• Associate Member, Health, Aging & Society, Faculty of Social Sciences

Education

• BA, Bishop’s University
• MA, University of Toronto
• PhD, York University