Contact details:
BRISBANE QLD 4001 AUSTRALIA
Biography
Kirsten Maclean is a Human Geographer who works as part of the Sustainability Pathways program based in Brisbane, Australia. As recognised leader in Human Geography and Sustainability Science, she uses diverse theory and participatory methodologies to co-produce knowledge and governance of complex social ecological systems undergoing change. In particular, she investigates the role of diverse people, their knowledge and values in relation to governance of natural and cultural heritage, interests and aspirations in regional and rural Australia.
Much of this work is developed in partnership with government agencies, industry bodies and community and Indigenous organisations to ensure it responds to relevant national, state and place-based challenges. Importantly and as appropriate, research is often conducted with Indigenous co-research partners who actively care for their traditional country via diverse governance strategies. Such work also aims to address the challenges of, and harness future opportunities for Reconciliation, to support Indigenous leaders and their research and innovation agendas, and to ‘Close the Gap’, all identified as areas of great importance by CSIRO and Australian Society.
Past research has developed processes and methods to integrate diverse knowledge, values and interests for improved governance outcomes in the domains of agriculture (in relation to: biosecurity; and the development of the Indigenous-led Bush Products sector, northern Australia), water, and biodiversity (including co-benefits of Indigenous cultural fire management). The outcomes of such research have been used by state and federal governments, peak industry organisations, non-government organisations and Indigenous and community organisations operating across these domains.
Professional Areas
- Sustainability Science
- Human Geography
- Cross-cultural environmental research and management
- Indigenous engagement
- Indigenous-led enterprise development
- co-research and research management with Indigenous leaders/partners
- co-benefits of Indigenous cultural and natural resource management
- Indigenous-led bush products sector, northern Australia
- qualitative and participatory research methodologies (including photovoice)
- industry and Indigenous engagement for biosecurity risk management practices
- regional and community based natural resource management
- social resilience in social-ecological systems
- government and non-government reporting and assessment frameworks for cultural and natural resource management
- boundary objects and boundary work
Fields of Research
Current Roles
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Team Leader
Collaborative Partnerships and Indigenous Science -
Project Leader
Biocultural assessment framework (risks and opportunities) of Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program technologies (part of RRAP Best Practice Engagement program of work led at CSIRO by Bruce Taylor, CSIRO) -
Project Leader (CSIRO)
Moving the Middle: Empowering land managers to act in complex rural landscapes (led by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, funded by NZ Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) -
Team Member
Indigenous Futures Strategic Intiaitive -
Advisor, ANU-CSIRO PhD student (Indigenous women's bush product enterprises)
Ms. Giselle Cruzado Melendez (Fenner School of Environment & Society)
Academic Qualifications
-
2007
Doctor of Philosophy (Human Geography)
The Australian National University -
2001
Masters of Philosophy (Geography: Environment and Development)
The University of Cambridge -
1999
Bachelor of Arts (Human Geography, Sociology)
Monash University -
1999
Bachelor of Science (Physical Geography, Conservation Biology)
Monash University
Professional Experiences
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2022-pres
Principal Research Scientist
CSIRO -
2015-2022
Senior Research Scientist
CSIRO -
2009-2015
Research Scientist
CSIRO -
2007-2009
Post Doctoral Research Fellow
The University of Queensland -
2006-2007
Fisheries Management Officer (Thursday Island, Torres Strait)
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Achievements and Awards
-
2024-2024
Recognition of contribution: Indigenous Knowledge & Science Community of Practice
CSIRO -
2023-2023
Recognition of contribution: National Climate Risk Assessment Project Team
CSIRO -
2022-2022
Excellence in leadership - facilitating, connecting and enabling (runner-up)
CSIRO L&W -
2022-2022
Excellence in clear communication of sustainability science (runner-up)
CSIRO L&W -
2021-2021
Caring for Colleagues (Managing our Boundaries team)
CSIRO Land and Water -
2021-pres
Homeward Bound Women in STEMM Leadership initiative and community
Homeward Bound -
2018-2023
Julius Career Award
CSIRO -
2017-2018
Ruby Payne Scott Award
CSIRO -
2015-2015
Award for successful Project Delivery
CSIRO -
2011-2011
Staff Development Award
CSIRO -
2008-2008
Desert Knowledge Innovation Award (Team Member)
Northern Territory Government
Grants
-
2024-2024
CSIRO Capability uplift grant (share research/build networks with colleagues working on marine socio-ecology at CSIRO and UTAS)
-
2022-2025
NZ Endeavour Fund (partnership led by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, 'Moving the Middle: Empowering land managers to act in complex rural landscapes')
-
2022-2024
Great Barrier Reef Foundation (Integrated Monitoring and Reporting of Stewardship on the Great Barrier Reef)
-
2021-2024
Great Barrier Reef Foundation (JCU Research Fellow, Reef Traditional Owners and Crown of Throwns Starfish on the Great Barrier Reef)
-
2021-2024
CSIRO Early Research Career Fellowship (Synthetic Biology and Indigenous leadership)
-
2021-2021
CRC for Transitions in Mining Economies (Foundational Projects: Indigenous strategic inclusion; Transitions, climate change, Indigenous perspectives)
-
2019-2020
CSIRO L&W Acorn Grant (Girringun Biodiversity Nursery Project)
-
2018-2019
CRC for Developing Northern Australia (Building the Traditional Owner-led Bush Products industry across northern Australia)
-
2009-2009
Travel Grant, The University of Auckland
-
2008-2009
New Staff Research Grant, The University of Queensland
-
2008-2009
Q150 Grant, Queensland Government
-
2008-2008
Travel and Conference Grant, Institute of Australian Geographers
-
2004-2006
Post-Graduate Award (Ph.D), Australian National University
-
2004-2006
Ph.D stipend and Research budget, Desert Knowledge CRC
Community and Corporate Citizenship
-
2022-pres
Working Group member, CSIRO Indigenous Knowledge and Science Cross Cutting Capability Community of Practice
-
2022-pres
Editor, Sustainability Science Journal (Springer Nature)
-
2021-pres
Honorary Associate Professor, ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society
-
2021-pres
Assessor, CSIRO R+ CERC Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
-
2020-pres
CSIRO Equity and Diversity contact officer, Dutton Park.
-
2020-2020
Managing our Boundaries L&W Working Group
-
2018-2018
Judge, 2018 Asia Pacific 3MT (3 minute thesis) competition, Springer Nature and The University of Queensland
-
2010-pres
Member, Indigenous Peoples' Knowledges and Rights Study Group, Institute of Australian Geographers
ORCID 0000-0002-5378-0245