Dr Joy Klammer | UNSW Research

Keywords

personnel selection

human resources management

employee performance appraisal

Fields of Research (FoR)

Industrial and organisational psychology (incl. human factors), Human resources management, Leadership, Organisational behaviour, Organisation and management theory

SEO tags

Management

Public services management

Personnel

Biography

Dr Joy Klammer is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Business at UNSW Canberra.

I am an Industrial/Organisational psychologist with a strong applied research background, particularly in personnel selection, leadership, and workforce management. Before transitioning into academia, I served in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for over 20 years, spending the first half of my career as operational aircrew and the second half in human resources. I later became a Defence Scientist with Canada's Department of National Defence, culminating in a role as Research Director overseeing three teams responsible for research related to CAF recruiting, selection, and retention.

My research focuses on optimising how organisations attract, assess, and develop personnel, with a particular emphasis on selecting for character to drive culture change and leadership effectiveness. I have led large-scale, high-impact selection projects, including the design of executive selection processes within the CAF, Canada's astronaut selection processes, and assessment centres for specialty roles within the military. Beyond selection, I have contributed to research that fosters inclusive organisational cultures. My research is deeply applied, with much of it implemented in practice or shaping policy at the national level.

Throughout my career, I have had the unique opportunity to apply research to practice in real-world settings, working in the military between my academic training periods. This hands-on experience shaped my research approach, ensuring that the projects I designed addressed operational realities and delivered practical, evidence-based solutions.

In addition to my defence research experience in Canada, I was actively involved in The Technical Cooperation Programme (TTCP), a research consortium between the Five Eyes nations, for several years, serving on two research panels and eventually chairing Technical Panel 23 (Human Resources). This role provided me with a broad understanding of the human resource challenges across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, further deepening my expertise in military and public sector workforce strategies.

I have recently joined UNSW's Public Service Research Group, where I look forward to contributing to research on workforce capability, public sector effectiveness, and evidence-based human resource practices.

My Qualifications

PhD, "Surface- and deep-level heterogeneity in teams: Exploring the moderators of time / contact and self-monitoring," Western University (formerly the University of Western Ontario), 2009.

MSc, "Speaking up in the workplace: Modeling the implications of procedural justice, perceived organizational support, being heard, and tokenism in the relationship between voice and civic virtue," University of Calgary, 1997.

BA, Psychology (Minor: English), Simon Fraser University, 1990.

Certificate in Liberal Arts, Simon Fraser University, 1990.

Leader Character Practitioner, Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership, Ivey School of Business, 2022.

Solution-focused coach, Erickson International, 2022.

My Awards

The Deputy Minister / Chief of Defence Staff (Canada) Organizational Culture Award for research supporting institutional culture issues and how to reform them (Team award), 2023.
The Chief of Defence Staff (Canada) Commendation for the development of and support to the executive cadre selection system, 2022.
Chief of Military Personnel Group (Canada) Commendation for conceiving of and leading a cross-functional team in the development of the aide-memoire on inclusive behaviours (Team award), 2022.
The Technical Cooperation Panel (TTCP) Letter of Commendation for outstanding leadership as the Chair of the Technical Panel 23 (Human Resources) research panel, 2021.
The 2017 Public Service Award of Excellence for Excellence in Profession, awarded to the Canadian Astronaut Recruitment Team (2016-2017), Canadian Space Agency.

My Research Activities

My research focuses predominantly on personnel selection, particularly in the Canadian military context, where I have designed and implemented various selection processes, including assessment centres (ACs) for a range of roles. I am especially interested in selection to identify the right individuals for complex and high-stake positions. Most recently, my work has centred on selecting for character—both at the executive level, where it plays a critical role in shaping organisational culture, and more broadly as a key component of effective personnel selection.

Beyond selection, I have contributed to research on workplace inclusion, translating competency frameworks into concrete behaviours that employees can use to foster inclusive environments. I have also worked on performance appraisal processes, ensuring they align with organisational objectives and support meaningful talent development.

Some of the most engaging projects I have worked on involve the design of ACs for highly specialised roles, including the selection of Canada's last two astronauts. These ACs were distinctive in that they assessed both behavioural and physical competencies, separately and in combination, to ensure candidates met the rigorous demands of their roles.

A key aspect of my research is its applied nature—nearly all of my work has been implemented in practice, shaping selection processes, guiding policy, and directly influencing organisational decision-making.

I have recently joined UNSW Canberra's Public Service Research Group and look forward to contributing to research that enhances public sector effectiveness and workforce capability.

My Teaching

I am interested in the psychology of organisations—how they attract, develop, and manage people, as well as the psychological factors that influence behaviour within them. My teaching has been focused on both the strategic and human elements of organisational success, including leadership, performance management, team dynamics, and workplace resilience. I explore how leadership shapes organisational culture, how individuals and teams function effectively, and how organisations can create environments that foster motivation, inclusion, and ethical decision-making.

My interest in education stems from a desire to bridge research and practice, equipping students with evidence-based insights to navigate the complexities of people management and leadership in diverse organisational settings.

Courses I am teaching* / have taught include: