Dr Tira Foran
Interdisciplinary research for sustainable development
Biography
I joined CSIRO in 2010 as a human geographer to focus on international research-for-development. My background includes substantive work on water and energy governance, in eight Asian and African developing countries. My group at CSIRO applies capability in water-related analysis and governance to a variety of developing country contexts.
We aspire to improve decision making around water, food, and energy security.
We use transdisciplinary methodology to work intensively with state and non-state actors in developing countries, supporting stakeholder-formulated strategic planning, and inter-organisational collaboration.
Methodology that Tira Foran has developed draws on following tools and techniques:
analysis of governance regimes and institutions, allowing diagnosis of opportunities to improve horizontal and vertical coordination, and interest representation;
technical capacity building for in-country governmental partners and resource users (argumentation analysis; scenario thinking and modelling; multi-criteria analysis; options identification and analysis)
facilitating intensive, science-mediated communication between state agencies, and between state and non-state organisations.
Professional Areas
Current Roles
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Project Leader (2020-present) (CSIRO component)
Building Institutions for Sustainable Management of Artesian Groundwater in Myanmar -
Lead social scientist (2015-present)
Sustainable Development Investment Portfolio (Nepal) Project
Academic Qualifications
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2007
PhD
University of Sydney (Geography) -
1999
M.S.
University of California at Berkeley (Wildland Resource Science) -
1989
B.A.
Harvard University (Anthropology Magna cum Laude)
Professional Experiences
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2017-2019
Project Leader, Ayeyarwady Basin Exploratory Scoping Study
CSIRO -
2010-2011
Team Leader
CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences -
2007-2010
Research Fellow
Chiang Mai University, Thailand -
2006-2007
Research Fellow & Senior Program Officer
IUCN – The World Conservation Union -
2003-2004
Technical Advisor
IUCN – The World Conservation Union
Community and Corporate Citizenship
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2010-present
Reviewer for 16 academic journals: Asia Pacific Viewpoint, Ecology and Society, Ecological Economics, Energy Policy, Energy and Sustainable Development, Energy Efficiency, Global Environmental Change, International Journal of Water Resources Development, Landscape and Urban Planning, Socio-Environmental Systems Modelling,Third World Quarterly, Water, Water Alternatives, Water History, Water Resources & Rural Development, WIRES Water
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2015-present
Adjunct Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University