Penny is a Professor of Educational Psychology and Head of the School of Education at the University of Wollongong (2022- ). She was formerly a Lecturer-Associate Professor in Educational Psychology and Associate Dean: Learning and Teaching at Macquarie University (2009-2021).
Penny's background is in developmental psychology. She completed her doctoral studies in the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales (2008), investigating how children develop autobiographical memory and emotion skills by reminiscing with their parents. She now applies her understanding of memory, emotion, and learning to the field of education, focusing on memory and learning, emotional development and wellbeing, and student-teacher relationships.