Donald's work is located at the intersection of human geography, economic sociology, spatial planning, and urban design and architecture, with a particular interest in the political and cultural economy of globalisation and cities. He is currently working with colleagues on ARC grants about the future of Sydney’s Chinatown, and on the social history of air-conditioning in South-east Asia, and has recently completed an ARC Discovery project, ‘The production and contestation of airport territory’ (2008-2010).