Ms Gabrielle Ward
Gabrielle Ward is a PhD candidate in Anthropology at the Australian National University. Her research explores the ethical practices of finance content creators in Indonesia, focusing on how they navigate moral dilemmas in the digital economy. Using ethnographic fieldwork and digital analysis, she examines transparency, authenticity, and conflicts of interest within online financial communities. Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology) from the University of Queensland and a First Class Honours degree in Anthropology from the University of Sydney. Her previous research investigated Indonesia’s digital economy through the lens of financial influencers, drawing on Norbert Elias’ concept of figuration. She has also worked in digital product management, with experience in UX design, research, and project management.
Research Interest
Gabrielle Ward’s research focuses on the ethical practices of finance content creators in Indonesia, examining how they negotiate moral dilemmas in the digital economy. She is particularly interested in ethical reflexivity, transparency, and conflicts of interest within online financial communities. Her work applies Norbert Elias’ concept of figuration to explore the interplay between individual decision-making, social norms, and capitalist motivations. Her broader interests include digital anthropology, online communities, financial discourse, and the intersection of media, ethics, and economic behaviour in Southeast Asia.
HDR Supervisor/s
Eva NisaThesis Title/Topic
Ethical Practices and Digital Figurations: Negotiating Morality among Finance Content Creators in Indonesia