She has contributed to and published extensively on cultural heritage management in Australia, the US, China, Africa, and Cambodia for more than forty years. She has worked as a cultural heritage consultant for the Australian government, the World Bank, the World Monuments Fund, the Getty Conservation Institute, and the government of the People's Republic of China.
Professor Sullivan has been awarded an honorary doctorate from James Cook University and has been appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia and a life member of ICOMOS for her services in heritage conservation. She also is a recipient of the Rhys Jones Memorial Medal for Services to Archaeology.